Locals in Nakhon Si Thammarat love dining at Tha Sala Seafood by the riverside, where the area’s abundant freshwater seafood from Sala Bay shines.
The second time I dined by the river was a warm, bright midday in Tha Sala District.
After a morning of sightseeing, we were famished as our van pulled up to the restaurant.
Even on a weekday, the seafood restaurants were bustling with locals, and our small group was the only group of tourists.
We had made reservations in advance and were lucky enough to get a table by the river, right next to the floating fish cages.
The sweet aroma of shrimp grilling on hot coals greeted us as we arrived.
A Perfect Seafood Lunch at Tha Sala Seafood
Our day is perfect: clear blue skies stretch above, and a cool breeze gently skims across the almost still river.
The water flows gently yet strongly, creating ripples around the floating cages where the fish are farmed.
Although the restaurant is packed, we don’t mind waiting for our food.
The waiters are friendly and efficient.
As we chat, we enjoy huge coconuts filled with refreshing water, slurping the sweet, soft, fragrant flesh in anticipation of a delicious seafood lunch.
Tha Sala Seafood Thai Floating Restaurant
Many floating restaurants in Thailand sit on old wooden piers, and Tha Sala Seafood is no exception, serving delicious seafood meals.
The locals love eating by the river, drawn in by the restaurant’s simple formula: fresh catch cooked quickly with local herbs to create a great dipping sauce.
While we waited, we were served two types of dipping sauces, and our eyes widened with excitement.
Thai seafood dipping sauce is a treat—flavorful and hard to replicate at home.
Fragrant Thai limes play a key role, adding tartness and a mouthwatering aroma.
The sauce ingredients include garlic, cilantro, cashew nuts, green chilies, raw onions, and roasted aubergines.
One sauce was salty with fish sauce, palm sugar, and heat from bird’s eye chilies, cilantro roots, and garlic.
The second had raw onions, bird’s eye chilies, palm sugar, and fish sauce.
Both were delicious, so we ended up mixing them and dunking our seafood in both.
The restaurant’s seating is casual, with wooden tables and white plastic chairs.
A zinc roof provides shade, and a wooden railing keeps diners safe from the river.
Eating Fresh Crabs at Tha Sala Seafood Restaurant
For lunch, we had steamed fresh crabs with juicy, meaty white flesh that was sweet and addictive—no fishy smell in sight.
We quickly grabbed a crab, broke the body meat in half, and sucked out the golden roe.
Next, we cracked open the legs and claws, using a skewer to pry open the claws and pick out the flesh.
No conversation was necessary; we happily indulged and ate with gusto.
Later, we enjoyed barbecued sea clams served with a green chili and garlicky lime sauce.
Though the sauce looked mild, it was surprisingly spicy!
The highlight of the meal, however, was the whole river fish baked in foil.
Worth the wait, the fish was fresh with sweet, firm white flesh.
The fish are farmed in the river. Photo: Doris Lim
The restaurant overhangs onto the river! Photo: Doris Lim
Fresh fleshy sweet crabs with delicious roe. Photo: Doris Lim
We love fresh blanched clams! Photo: Doris Lim
A delicious grilled fish. Photo: Doris Lim
Tha Sala Seafood Review
We enjoyed the experience very much, and it is one of the best experiences of eating fresh and memorable seafood in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Overall nice atmosphere with fresh, delicious seafood for a reasonable price.
Tha Sala Seafood
Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Business Hours: Daily 10.00 AM to 9.00 PM
Telephone: +66 75 522 744
Blog Disclosure:
This is a sponsored blog post, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you, Tourism Authority of Thailand, for the wonderful travel blog invitation!
