Are they all prawns caught in the rivers of Ayutthaya?
You cannot tell from the name of the dish alone. If you want to know the real origin and whether they are farmed, ask about the prawns you are going to order.
Grilled River Prawns
Grilled River Prawns · กุ้งแม่น้ำเผา
If you are looking for a meal to share in Ayutthaya, pick grilled river prawns. The prawns are grilled and you peel the meat to eat it, so it suits a group with rice and other dishes. The price changes with the size of the prawns and the selling unit, so look at the prawns you will order first and then choose.
Kung kam kram · Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Resized for display · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 3.0
What does it taste like?
You enjoy the aroma of grilled prawns and the texture of the meat. Try the meat on its own first, then add a little of the sauce that comes with it. Eat it with rice and you taste the sauce too.
Ask whether the unit is per prawn or by weight.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Grilled River Prawns · Grilled River Prawns
- Thai name
- กุ้งแม่น้ำเผา
- Type
- Sides & grilled
- Region
- Central Thailand · A well-known dish of Ayutthaya
- Key ingredients
- River prawns, grilled. The size of the prawns, the sauce served with them and the selling unit differ from restaurant to restaurant.
The dish and where it comes from
River prawns are a well-known ingredient on a trip to Ayutthaya. If boat noodles are a one-bowl meal, grilled river prawns are a dish to pick when you share with your companions. You do not have to assume from the name river prawns that they are wild or that they were caught in the rivers of Ayutthaya.
How to order and eat it
- Ask first whether the price is per prawn or by weight. Even for the same grilled prawns, the price differs with size and the way they are sold.
- Decide the size and the number of prawns and get the order total. It also helps to check whether rice and other dishes are included.
- Peel the prawn and eat it as it is first. Add a little sauce and share with your companions.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I expect to pay?
It depends on the size of the prawns and how they are sold, such as per prawn or by weight. If you get the price for the size and number you chose before you order, it is easier to set the cost of the meal.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
Sharing image credit: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0