MAYUU AYUTTHAYA HOTEL

This cosy shop bathed in natural light serves 50 to 70 types of authentic Thai desserts. They freshly squeeze coconut milk each morning for rich flavours and aromas. As well as the signature khanom mo kaeng (silky Thai custard), you can sample sweet sorghum, thua paep or piak pun.

U-Khao, or ‘land of plenty’, has two dining areas smartly decorated in white and blue. The menu serves up the nostalgic flavours of the owner’s childhood, as it’s based on her mother’s Thai recipes. They use traditional cooking methods presented with a modern aesthetic. The stir-fried stinky vegetables with shrimp is worth trying for its unique flavor. The grilled shrimp relish with vegetables is also highly recommended for its spicy kick and smoky aroma.

This third-generation family-run street food joint has been offering tasty boat noodles for over five decades. Try their pork or beef boat noodles for great value — it comes in a small bowl, so more than one may be needed to truly enjoy it.

With a whitewashed interior and views of the garden and river, Kaow Laor feels like a modern country home. The Thai menu is replete with grandma's recipes, offering giant river prawns, featherback fish balls and other local river fish. Each dish is expertly cooked and seasoned, and it’s like eating authentic Thai food at home. The imported mackerel with fish sauce is prepared with a light crispy skin, an aromatic fish sauce, deep-fried edible flowers and a spicy dressing.

On Ayutthaya-Ang Thong Road, near Wat Phanom Yong, the shredded chicken noodle soup needs no extra seasoning. The tom yum broth is perfectly balanced; chicken is tender, while slow-cooked chicken feet are an option. Available for breakfast and lunch only.

Opened in 2017, this restaurant serves authentic Isan food in a commercial building on Rochana Road. Air-conditioned and spread across two floors, the casual dining room is decorated with wood panelling and other touches that suggest traditional Thai houses. The skilled chef cooks halal-friendly food following recipes from his grandmother, who is from Nakhon Phanom. The signature dish is Kampun grilled chicken, but their grilled beef is also interesting and worth trying.

This well-known restaurant, whose name means ‘raft at the old city of Ayutthaya’, started selling food on the river in 1966. It has since moved into a traditional Thai house, where diners can enjoy flavoursome Central Thai cuisine; local ingredients are used in dishes like their signature green curry with fish balls. The huge river prawns are charcoal-grilled by the restaurant’s entrance, creating a wonderful smoky aroma for everyone who visits. Sit on the terrace for a river view.