Seafood lovers traveling to popular main cities often face soaring food prices during peak tourist seasons. Sometimes, dishes with blue crabs or giant freshwater prawns become so expensive they strain the budget.
The secret for true food enthusiasts is to target "secondary coastal cities," which are home to local fishing boats bringing in fresh daily catches. The seafood is sweet and firm, and importantly, the prices are budget-friendly—2 to 3 times cheaper than in main tourist cities.
Thairath Online has compiled five must-visit secondary seafood cities where you can enjoy fresh shrimp, shellfish, crab, and fish at comfortable prices.
1. Trat
At Thailand's easternmost point, Trat province is renowned for its natural richness, especially around "Laem Ngop" and "Khlong Yai" districts, featuring fish piers and local fishing communities along the coastline.
Trat's highlight is its blue crabs and black crabs with firm, sweet meat, freshly caught and sold affordably. Large blue crabs or black crabs full of roe are nearly half the price compared to major tourist cities. Additionally, there are fresh squid, sea prawns, and scallops available for home-style dishes like tom yum, spicy stir-fry, or steamed with lime—all at very reasonable prices that let you eat to your heart's content without overspending.
2. Chanthaburi
Moving a bit further, Chanthaburi stands out for its "seafood homestay" strategy, especially in Laem Sing and Khlung districts, surrounded by lush mangrove forests.
The value here lies in enjoying seafood in Chanthaburi, where most accommodations offer all-inclusive packages costing just a few thousand baht. These include lodging, boat activities, and the highlight: an unlimited seafood buffet dinner featuring large steamed crabs, grilled river prawns, fried snapper with fish sauce, and unlimited spicy seafood dips, refilled until full. This is ideal for groups or families wanting to eat seafood without worrying about per-dish prices.
3. Chumphon
Heading south to Chumphon, a coastal city with a long shoreline that still preserves traditional local fishing lifestyles. Notable spots include Pak Nam Chumphon and Hat Sai Ri.
Beachside restaurants here serve fresh catches brought in daily by fishing boats. Must-try dishes include sweet boiled squid, fresh squid sashimi, large succulent tiger prawns, and spicy southern-style sour curry with grouper or large snapper chunks. Receipts often shock visitors with the low prices given the quality and freshness.
4. Trang
For those wanting Andaman Sea seafood without paying tourist prices typical of major destinations, Trang province—especially Pak Meng Beach and Kantang district—is a great alternative.
Here, seaside restaurants offer fresh Andaman seafood like steamed razor clams with delicious seafood sauce, seven-color lobsters, large blue crabs, and richly flavored southern-style fish kidney curry. The food is boldly spiced in authentic southern style at prices much lower than Phuket or Krabi, allowing guests to enjoy sunsets over the Andaman Sea while savoring tasty dishes.
5. Nakhon Si Thammarat
Finally, Nakhon Si Thammarat, particularly Pak Phanang and Khanom areas where the Gulf of Thailand meets mangrove ecosystems, resulting in especially abundant and large seafood.
Highlights include large fresh oysters the size of a palm, sweet and juicy with no fishy smell, served with accompaniments like acacia leaves, chili paste, and fragrant clams. Other popular dishes include large tiger prawns stir-fried with tamarind sauce and garlic-fried mantis shrimp—delicious, affordable local street foods.
One way is to buy directly from fish piers. If staying in rental houses or resorts with grilling facilities, wake early to visit local fish markets and buy fresh ingredients straight from fishermen, then grill them yourself for the freshest seafood at half the usual cost.
Also, eat seasonally by asking locals which seafood is in season during your visit—such as when crabs are full of roe or squid is abundant—to enjoy the best quality at the lowest prices of the year.
Seafood lovers should consider turning into these secondary coastal cities. Not only will you help distribute income to local fishing communities, but you’ll also enjoy fresh, spicy seafood at extremely wallet-friendly prices.
Photo: istock