MUST-TRY Pomelo Salad + Pomelo Mocktail!

Riverfood by the river - It just only makes sense! River fish, shrimps, right from the Chao Phraya river and we eat them just by the river! What about the exotic Pomelo dishes and drinks? How does that sound?

Spoiler alert! I'm bringing you to a good one in Chainat, a slow life province by the river.

Chainat (ชัยนาท)

Before moving on to the food and where I get it, I would like to introduce you guys to this super underrated province in Thailand, Chainat. It's almost like the door to the north. Very untouched and so local. Almost every restaurants or cafes we went, my bf had a hard time understand the menu because there's not even English on the menu. Not gonna lie, I think that's a good thing and I sure would love it to stay that way. All the food is good. The nature is still so rich. The people are also nice and kind. We were just impressed.

TL:DR, I would live here for a bit if I could.

Samrab Kabkaow (สำรับ กับข้าว)

There are a dime a dozen of restaurants by the river because you know, they got a big river passing through the province so might as well, take a good advantage of that. Great view, fresh river food but the question is, which one to choose? Luckily I got some local friends who I know from highschool and they highly recommend 'Samrab Kabkaow (สำรับ กับข้าว)'. So there we went!

The Place looks real nice and we got such warm welcome since we step in so that's already first impression. Food also real nice!

Pomelo Salad (ยำส้มโอ)

Pomelo is the fruit that Chainat is famous for. They have so many dishes and drinks invented with pomelo as an ingredient. Pomelo Salad is one of the dishes and that I would say it's quite rare to find this so when I'm at it, I try to stuff as much of it #lol Imagine a very juicy sweet, a little fruit with some hint of spiciness and saltiness. (and a little fishiness if some places decide to just sprinkle some dried shrimps in) Exotically refreshing. Must try!

Deep fried little shrimps with garlic & chillis (กุ้งฝอยทอดพริกเกลือ)

Ooooh.. honestly I had never tired this dish in my life until I'm here in Chainat. They use quite small size of shrimps, deep fried it real good and stir it with salt, chillis, and other Thai herbs. Totally a good snack with a cold beer or also good with hot steamed rice. This one I also consider it exotic and dang delicious! I love it so much, honestly!!

TL:DR Place it in front of me now and I will eat the whole thing. #yes

Tomyum Catfish (ต้มยำปลาคัง)

Tom yum is probably one of the most well known Thai food. -- Used to Tomyum with coconut milk, aren't you? Only seen Tomyum with shrimp, haven't you? This one might give you a new idea. We got many kinds of Tomyum here in Thailand and you can dump any kinds of meat or seafood (or riverfood as we're close to the river here) in.

So when you're anywhere near the river, order catfish Tomyum!. Get that freshness out of the river fish. The spiciness, the sourness and the heat. This is probably one of the best Thai pallet cleanser or throat burner depends how well you can handle the spices.

Mocktails at its best view

Samrab Kabkaow (สำรับ กับข้าว) is also well known for their Mocktails and the one the waitress really insisted was 'Pomelo Mojito'. It's just everything regular mojito has but plus their well-known fruit of the province, pomelo! I found this menu item really interesting as I have never seen it elsewhere. It's western mix with Thai local fruit.

Pomelo gives the drink a little sweet and citrusy building that unique taste and smell. Really, another must try if you ever make it here!

This also reminds me of one coffee shop I stop by and I got a chance to try Pomelo coffee.. ooooh! Check out that Pomelo coffee here!

Like it a lot here. I would be back to Samrab Kabkaow (สำรับ กับข้าว) again next time I'm back to the province.

Check them out!

https://goo.gl/maps/MjQXVhbphyAoDofy7

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For the best experience view this post on Liketu