Ayutthaya has a distinctive local food identity that goes well beyond the standard tourist fare you find in Bangkok. The city’s signature treat is roti sai mai, a uniquely Ayutthayan confection that you will not find anywhere else in Thailand done quite the same way. It consists of thin, crepe-like roti wraps filled with wispy threads of spun palm sugar candy in pastel colors. The combination of the soft, slightly chewy roti with the melt-in-your-mouth sugar floss is addictive. You will find roti sai mai vendors along the main road near the old city, particularly on U Thong Road, where several shops have been making it for generations. A bag of wraps and candy costs around 40 to 60 THB and makes a great snack or edible souvenir.
Boat noodles (kuay teow reua) are another essential Ayutthaya eat. These small bowls of intensely flavored pork or beef noodle soup have roots in the canal-side dining culture of central Thailand. The portions are deliberately small, so the tradition is to eat several bowls, mixing up your choices of noodle type and meat. Near the historical park, a few restaurants serve boat noodles in the traditional style at around 15 to 20 THB per bowl. The rich, slightly sweet, aromatic broth made with cinnamon, star anise, and dark soy is what sets boat noodles apart from ordinary Thai noodle soup.
For a proper meal, the riverside restaurants along the Pa Sak and Chao Phraya rivers are a highlight. Several wooden deck restaurants serve fresh river fish, stir-fried dishes, and cold beer with views of the water and temple spires. Prices are higher than at street stalls but still very reasonable by international standards, with most main dishes running 80 to 150 THB. Baan Watcharachai and Tony’s Place are popular spots among both locals and visitors for reliable Thai food in a pleasant riverside setting.
The Hua Ro Night Market near the old clock tower is the best place for evening grazing. Operating from late afternoon into the evening, it brings together dozens of stalls selling grilled meats on skewers, papaya salad, fried chicken, mango sticky rice, and fresh coconut ice cream. The atmosphere is lively and local, with far fewer tourists than you might expect. On weekends and holidays, a larger walking street market sometimes appears along the riverfront, expanding the options further.
If you need a quick bite between temples, small restaurants and food carts cluster near the entrance to Wat Mahathat and along Naresuan Road. Here you will find standard Thai staples like pad Thai, fried rice, and som tam (papaya salad) at prices ranging from 40 to 80 THB. Several coffee shops along the same road serve iced coffee and fruit smoothies that are a lifesaver in the afternoon heat. For something more substantial, the area around the train station has a handful of simple rice-and-curry shops where you point at the dishes you want and a plate of rice with two or three toppings costs around 50 THB.
