A brilliant idea transformed a fishing boat when a 49-year-old man converted it into a light-adorned mobile grilled squid shop selling to riverfront rafts, generating thousands of baht per night.
The sight has fascinated tourists and locals along the Chao Phraya River in Chaiyo District, Ang Thong Province, as they see a fishing boat converted into a mobile grilled squid shop cruising past river rafts, glowing with decorative lights that catch the eye.
The mobile grilled squid shop is the creation of Mr. Wanchai Rungroj, known as “Water Squid Elephant,” a 49-year-old man who refurbished his beloved fishing boat by installing a charcoal stove, grill racks, and squid grinding equipment, along with a special dipping sauce recipe served fresh daily to tourists docked at the rafts, making it a unique and talked-about attraction.
Mr. Wanchai explained that he had long worked as a fisherman on the Chao Phraya River and once considered opening a steak restaurant on a boat for tourists. However, inspired by a friend selling ground squid from a mobile cart, he decided to retrofit his old fishing boat, emphasizing eye-catching colorful lights visible from afar to attract tourists at the rafts. He also carefully selected quality dried squid, packaging it in hanging bags priced from 30 to 50 baht each.
He shared that at first, daily sales were only a few hundred baht, but the novelty and delicious taste have since boosted daily revenue to over 1,000 baht, providing a solid income to support his family.
For those wishing to taste Mr. Water Squid Elephant’s grilled squid by the riverside, the boat operates along the Chao Phraya riverbank in Chaiyo District, Ang Thong Province, starting at 6:00 p.m. Inquiries about the boat’s location can be made by calling 097-9618220.