4 Best Restaurants in Kanchanaburi, Around Bangkok

For cheap eats, the market opens early in the evening, with dozens of vendors selling Thai soups, rice dishes, satays, and other delights. The blended frozen fruit drinks are particularly good. All sorts of electronics, clothing, and other goods are also for sale.  On Saturday evenings, the street heading west from here to the river is pedestrian-only, and even more vendors line the road.

With a great view of the River Kwai Bridge from its terraces and lots of lush greenery, this floating restaurant has a sophisticated yet comfortable feel. It caters mostly to Thais, so the food can be quite spicy—if you can't handle it, ask the waiter to tone the heat down (say "mai phet").

This is a great option for tasty vegetarian and vegan specialties from the northeast of Thailand, including curries that pack a fiery kick. The eponymous owner also offers cooking classes and it's clear from the punchy dishes that she has plenty of wisdom to pass on. Desserts of mango or jackfruit with sticky rice provide a toothsome finale to any meal. 

Follow the crowds to this open-air floating restaurant in the shadow of the railway bridge, where the offering includes aromatic Thai favorites and seafood freshly caught in the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi rivers. The chefs tone down the food considerably for foreigners, so if you want yours spicy, you’ll have to say so.