Thai Ayutthaya Giant River Prawns Eats Better than Lobsters · Life Changing Must Try Food in Thailand

The first time I tasted Ayutthaya giant river prawn, it was life changing for me 😮 They were the tastiest prawns crustaceans that I have ever tasted. From then on, a taste of Ayutthaya giant river prawn is a must every time I am in Thailand.

Ayutthaya Giant River Prawns in restaurants weigh between 300 - 500 grams each. The bigger the better as they have more meat and more of the coveted head butter. They are simply butterflied or halved, and slow cooked by grilling over charcoal embers. There is no seasoning used.

The grilled giant river prawn has snowy white, ribbed looking flesh thick as rope. The head is covered with a yellowish, sometimes orangey blanket of creamy head butter.

Trivial you don't need to know 😬 👉 The head butter is actually the tomalley or hepatopancreas (liver and pancreas) of the prawn. It is not roe (by the way, prawns carry their eggs outside the body between their feet).

The thick snowy white flesh is muscular. It is tender (not soft), crunchy, springy to the bite and can be sinewy in some parts. Ayutthaya giant river prawn meat is firmer than any lobster meat that I have ever eaten.

The succulent meat is clean tasting and naturally, delicately sweet.

The kicker is in the head, that rich, creamy, butter, explosively umami head butter.

The Ayutthaya giant river prawn is usually served with slices of fresh lime and a dish of spicy sauce but, not wanting anything to disturb the prawn's exquisite natural flavours, I never used them.

I slather a little head butter over the flesh like a spread or dip the piece of meat in the pool of head butter. The sweet flesh and incredible umami of the head butter sent me to the seventh umami heaven with every bite ☁️

Pardon me, but in my humble opinion, Ayutthaya giant river prawns beat any lobster that I've ever eaten so far, both in texture and flavour. I strongly recommend Ayutthaya giant river prawns in your list of Must Eat Food in Thailand.

There are several places to get Ayutthaya giant river prawns in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Here are just two:

Restaurant name: Savoey Tha Maharaj เสวย ท่ามหาราช 👈 click

Address: Maharaj Road, Tha Maharaj, 2nd Floor, Building G, Bangkok 10200 Thailand

Tel: +66 2 024 1317

Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Restaurant name: Sampaonava สำเภานาวา 👈 click

Address: 4 ประตูชัย U Thong Rd, Tambon Pratuchai, เมือง Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand    

Tel: +66 65 554 2266    

Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm

One popular idea is to include Ayutthaya giant river prawns in your temple touring trip to Ayutthaya.

Do share your favourite places to eat Ayutthaya Giant River Prawns.

Written by Tony Boey on 21 May 2022