Nakorn Pathom

Nong Great

Right across from Phutthamonthon Park, you'll find this superb Southern restaurant that offers a huge pile of vegetables on every table for you to enjoy. If you’re afraid of all the heat, head for the air-con room as the alternative is like an outdoor food court with no walls. The must-try dishes include the kua kradook on (stir-fried baby back ribs with chili paste, B60), which is full-on fiery, and the moo krob (deep-fried pork, B60) that will help balance out your meal. This is the place for those who crave Southern food the way it’s really served down South. 

Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Rd., 089-777-4875. Open daily 6am-3pm (close on last Thu and Fri of the month)

Chachoengsao

Baan Paa Nu

Set in an adorable 100-year-old wooden house facing Bang Pakong River and serving delicious, fresh homemade food, Paa Nu makes for a great stop-off on a culinary tour. This family-owned restaurant puts the focus squarely on local ingredients, evidenced by dishes like the gaeng kiew waan (green curry with fish, B120), in which they use local toddy palm, and the nicely rounded namprik khai poo (chili paste with crab, B120).

Talad Baan Mai, Supakit Rd., Mueang, Chachoengsao, 089-400-0805, 038-817-336. www.baanpanue.com. Open daily 10am-9pm

Ayutthaya

Ton Nam

With its great view of the Chao Phraya River, Ton Nam is a must on the checklist for anyone chasing gung mae nam (river prawns) with big, fatty heads. The other dishes don’t quite stack up, but this place is the real deal when it comes to those grilled prawns—perfectly cooked and very, very fresh. We recommend going for the medium size (B600-B700 per kg, 2-4 prawns). Add a drop of nampla prik for an unbeatable taste.

Baan Lane, Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, 035-261-006, 035-262-398. Open daily 10am-8:30pm

Pathumthani

Pae Pochana

Hidden in Talad Rahaeng, Pae Pochana boasts a classic wooden terrace over a small canal, resulting in a laidback country vibe. Unlike other restaurants here that specialize in only a few dishes, ordering can be difficult as all the options are pretty impressive. We say take the chance to order some not-so-common dishes like the tomyam kraproe moo (spicy soup with pig’s stomach, B120), krueng nai moo tord kratiem (stir-fried pig’s intestines with garlic, B120) and pla chon bai tung oh (stir-fried snakehead fish with Chinese spinach, B150). Even though the lunch crowds might be very hungry, you won’t see anyone complaining as the owner is a bit of a notorious grump.

Talad Rahaeng, Lat Lum Keaw, Pathumthani, 02-599-1398. Open daily 8am-2pm

Suphanburi

Kui Mong

Open for more than 90 years now, Kui Mong is known for its very comforting dishes, particularly their huge prawns (it’s quite normal to find a 1kg prawn here). The place does a delicious gung tord gluea (fried prawn with salt, B600-B900) that is lightly fried to aromatic perfection. We recommend going for the B500 option if you love the super juicy head fat. But do call ahead as sometimes they run out pretty early. Another great choice for Suphanburi is the famous restaurant Mae Buay (across the street), which we think is equally impressive and makes the drive all the more worthwhile. 

Amphur Bangplama, Suphanburi, 035-587-256. Open daily 10:30am-3pm

Samutsongkram

Jae Maew

Jae Maew might not draw the biggest crowds, but their dishes outshine anyone else’s in their neighborhood, which is famous for seafood. The kitchen is run solely by a friendly auntie, while the restaurant is managed by her husband. The super fresh seafood and the succulent dishes include the soothing gaeng som (spicy soup with tamarind) and the stewed pomfret with pickled plums (pomfret is B1,000/kg) which put the spotlight on her skillful cooking.

Mueng, Samutsongkram, 034-713-911. Open daily 11am-7pm