🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Plenty of people come to Rayong just for the beaches and Koh Samet, but the food alone is why a lot of locals drive out here again and again — seafood pulled straight from the water in front of you, dried goods from Ban Phe market you can fill the car with for gifts, and orchard fruit eaten straight off the tree from May to June. We split it into three sections, so you can plan your meals by the time you finish reading.
Seafood and shellfish worth trying
Rayong has several fishing piers, so the seafood is fresher and the prices fairer than in a lot of towns. The dishes people order most are steamed crab, grilled prawns, herb-fried sea bass, and various spicy yum salads. Most of the shops sit around Laem Charoen Beach, Ban Phe, and Mae Ramphueng Beach. We picked the ones with a steady stream of real reviews.
Je Ueng Seafood (Ban Phe)
A long-running spot open more than 20 years, on Soi Sukhaphiban 2/8 in Phe sub-district. The dishes people order on repeat are live steamed crab and crab-roe yum salad — fresh, with a gentle, never-overdone hand on the seasoning. This is where Rayong locals take out-of-town guests.
Cher Cher Seafood (Laem Charoen Beach)
Right on Laem Charoen Beach, where you eat to the sound of the waves, with live music some evenings. Standouts are grilled river prawns, herb-fried sea bass, and stir-fried scallops with chili paste. Good for a dinner when you want a sea view with the meal.
Krua Ban Pla
A laid-back riverside place that leans homey, focused on quality seafood. The dishes people talk about are a rich coconut yellow curry, spicy mackerel curry, and steamed snakehead fish with lime. Good if you want proper home-style dishes over a set seafood spread.
Khru Mu (Ton Trakun Yomjinda)
A white wooden house on the Rayong River in the Yomjinda old-town quarter, bold with its curry pastes. The hits are creamy tom yum fish, an old-recipe glass-noodle stir-fry, and full-flavored curries done the proper Rayong way. The old setting is a nice place to sit.
Krua Maphrao On
Seating set among a coconut grove — good for groups or families, with several photo spots. Seafood and Thai home dishes come plated, so kids can run around while the adults settle in for a long sit.
Seafood tip
For fresh seafood at a good price, try buying it raw from the stalls at Ban Phe market and paying a shop to cook it (many places will, charging a cooking fee per dish) — it's easier to control your budget than ordering off a big restaurant's menu. And on long weekends, call ahead to book a table at the seaside spots.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Rayong food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Dried seafood and souvenirs at Ban Phe market
Ban Phe market (Ban Phe municipal market), in Phe sub-district, Mueang Rayong district, is where people stop for souvenirs before or after the boat to Koh Samet, since it sits right by the pier. There's a huge amount of dried and processed seafood — easy to carry home and keeps for a long time. Here's what people buy most.
- Dried squid / squid sheets — Ban Phe's top souvenir, in many grades and prices. Pick pieces that are fully dry with no dampness.
- Dried shrimp — look for a natural orange-red color and firm flesh; great for chili dips or som tam.
- Sweet fish / crispy fish — a popular snack, eaten as is or fried crisp and tossed in sweet fish-jerky glaze.
- Shrimp paste (kapi) — Rayong's fragrant kapi, the souvenir cooks grab as a cooking staple.
- Fried durian / fried jackfruit — sweet processed snacks from Rayong's own fruit, easy to bring home as a gift.
Nearby there's also Nuanthip market, another spot for dried goods and processed fruit that travelers stop at. If you have time, comparing prices across the two markets gets you what you want within budget.
Buy dried goods smart
Prices on dried goods depend on grade and size, so don't just compare price per bag — check the weight and how dry the product is too. You can taste-test at plenty of stalls, and if you buy several items, you can usually haggle for a set price.
Old-school noodle shops and one-plate eats
Beyond seafood, Rayong has old noodle shops that locals eat at regularly. Most open from morning into the afternoon — handy for a lunch stop on the way through.
Tom Yum Noodles (Pae Damrong / formerly Nai Chui)
Pork noodles from a recipe passed down through generations, in the Noen Phra area. The standout is fresh garlic-fried pork crackling made daily, in a tom yum bowl with just the right kick.
Sukhothai Noodles Kham Khun
Authentic Sukhothai-style noodles with house-roasted peanuts and house-roasted chili, seating in a shady garden. Around ฿50–70.
Lung Joi Noodles, Ban Don
An old-school shop in the Ban Don area, open early 06:00–15:00 — good for a breakfast or lunch stop before heading out to sea.
Orchard fruit and the Rayong fruit festival
Rayong is a real fruit town. May to June is high season for durian, rambutan, mangosteen, longkong, and salak. Many orchards open for visits, tram rides through the groves, and fruit buffets eaten fresh off the tree. Come at the right time and it's great value.
- Durian — the town's headliner, thick and soft-fleshed, found both at orchards and roadside stalls. Peak is May–June.
- Mangosteen — the queen of fruit, thin-skinned with sweet-tart white flesh, in season alongside durian.
- Rambutan — the Rong Rian variety, crisp flesh that comes clean off the seed, juicy-sweet and cheap when the crop is heavy.
- Salak / longkong — sweet-tart fruit that many orchards include in their buffets.
At peak season there's a Rayong fruit and local-goods festival that brings quality orchard fruit from across the province to sell at good prices. If you're planning to come during fruit season, check the festival dates first — it's a great spot to buy durian and mangosteen fresh and well-priced.
Make the most of an orchard visit
Most fruit buffets only open during fruit season (roughly May–June), so call the orchard ahead to check which rounds the fruit is ripening, and come in the morning for the freshest fruit before the heat sets in.
Plan a full day of eating and exploring in Rayong
See the Rayong travel guide →