Locals in Nakhon Si Thammarat favor dining on Tha Sala Seafood by the riverside, showcasing the area’s plentiful freshwater seafood from Sala Bay.
The second time I ate by the river was warm, bright mid-day in Tha Sala District.
We had gone sightseeing that morning and were famished as our van rolled up to the restaurant.
Even on a weekday, lunch at the seafood restaurants is always busy and packed with locals.
There were no other tourists apart from our small group.
We had called for reservations earlier and could get a table by the river next to the floating fish cages.
The sweet shrimp aroma grilling on hot coals greeted us.
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.
The waiters are friendly and efficient.
Although the restaurant is packed, we don’t mind waiting for our food.
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.
They serve delicious seafood meals.
The locals eat by the river often.
Their formula is simple. They use the freshest catch.
They cook quickly.
They add local herbs.
They make a great dipping sauce.
They served us two dipping sauces while we waited.
Our eyes widened with excitement.
Thai seafood dipping sauce is tasty.
It is hard to make at home.
Fragrant Thai limes are important.
They add tartness and a nice smell.
The sauce has garlic, cilantro, cashew nuts, green chilies, raw onions, and roasted aubergines.
The smell of fragrant limes is mouthwatering!
Some people like a bold sauce with no sugar.
I prefer a balanced flavor.
I enjoy salty fish sauce, palm sugar, and heat from bird’s eye chilies, cilantro roots, and garlic.
The second sauce had raw onions, bird’s eye chilies, palm sugar, and fish sauce.
We picked one sauce at first, but both were good.
We got caught up in eating.
We mixed everything and dunked our seafood in both sauces.
The seating is casual.
There are wooden tables and white plastic chairs.
A zinc roof provides shade.
A wooden railing keeps people safe from the river.
Eating Fresh Crabs at Tha Sala Seafood Restaurant
They steamed fresh crabs for lunch.
The crabs had juicy, meaty white flesh that was sweet.
Good crabs have no fishy smell.
They are addictive.
We each grabbed a crab.
We broke the body meat in half and sucked out the golden roe.
We cracked the legs and claws.
We used a skewer to pry open the claws and pick out the flesh.
No conversation was necessary while eating crabs.
We happily indulged and ate with gusto.
Next, we had barbecued sea clams.
They came with a green chili and garlicky lime sauce.
The sauce looked mild but was very spicy!
The highlight was the whole river fish baked in foil. It was worth the wait.
The fish was fresh and had 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
