Pattaya food tour
Lunchtime in Pattaya is the culinary boiler room of the Chonburi coastline. While some tourists are just waking up, Naklua is the place where local flavours are forged every morning. Thereβs no tourist polish here; only the creak of wooden laneways, and the aroma of grill smoke drifting through this centuries-old fishing enclave.
Kick things off at a 40-year-old shophouse for a bowl of tom yum noodle soup β a sharp broth spiked with toasted chilli and lime, where the crunch of roasted peanuts meets the silky snap of hand-pulled rice noodles. See jaeng-lon fish-cake skewers being grilled over embers, releasing a fragrant core of red curry paste and kaffir lime.
Pivot to a small eatery where a couple escaped the Bangkok grind to serve up a vegetarian rebellion. Forget bland - this is isaan larb moo jay with a zip of fresh lime and mint, and golden tofu tossed in an addictive salt-and-chilli rubble. Your local foodie guide weaves through old shopfronts and narrow backstreets, passing stacked metal towers hissing with steam to find a pillowy bbq pork bun.
Pull up a stool for beef slow-rendered in a mor fai pot, submerged in a rich broth of cinnamon and star anise. Follow it with an icy-cold roselle hibiscus juice, before steering into the Lan Pho Na Kluea 'Old Market', the seafood hub where the dayβs haul is still thrashing on the scales.
Through hidden alleyways, we uncover the ghost-map of 'Old Pattaya'. Score a local favourite: jor pu crab meat rolls, paired with a preserved plum soda - a salty-sweet punch that doubles as a savoury dipping sauce. Amongst many more surprises, there are 15+ tastings packed into our four-hour gauntlet of the coast's best-kept culinary secrets.
Reward the morning's walk with a maritime spread at a harbour-side hideaway. Weβre talking squid sautΓ©ed into a deep-sea ink emulsion, and fried king mackerel with green mango salad. Finish off with lod chong - fluorescent-green pandan jellies swimming in a slush of ice and coconut cream. Itβs the final, cooling salute to a day well spent off-the-beaten-path.
This is the unfiltered, high-noon energy of Pattaya. Beyond the tourist trails, youβre instead witnessing the survival of a fishing community holding its ground against a skyline of resort towers. Itβs an invitation to sit at the tables of families who built this town, and to finally taste the real Chonburi.
Why this tour is awesome
While the rest of the city sleeps off the nightlife, join our lunchtime food tour in Pattaya to skip the resort menus and enter the local neighbourhood of Naklua. Itβs over 250 years of maritime history served one bowl at a time. There's 15+ tastings en-route, discovering hidden alleys and family-run eateries that you won't find in the guidebooks.
Your guide
A licensed Thai tour guide, Juen grew up moving between the chilli-spiked kitchens of his homeland, and in the slipstream of his fatherβs tour operations in Japan. Learning between two cultures - allowed Juen to blend Thai vibrancy with Japanese precision. He is a passionate cook and storyteller dedicated to sharing the deep-rooted traditions and bold flavours of Thailand. When he's not guiding, youβll find him in the kitchen refining traditional recipes or outdoors snapping with his camera.
Your guide
For Kak, the real Thailand isn't always found in a brochure; itβs forged over a smoky campfire or found in the crunch of a deep-fried fish and mango. Licensed guide, obsessive trekker, and a student of the fascinating story that is Thai culture. Whether he's leading a food tour or camping under a canopy of stars, Kak is a firm believer that you'll learn more about a place through its food than its monuments.
Your guide
Usa's life is a road trip, that includes a continuous inspection of the cafes and local landmarks that map out the Thai food experience. Usa is a firm believer that to understand a country, you have to feel it in your bones, which is why she's also trained in the Thai sauna and massage culture, perfect after a day's food expedition.
Jaeng-lon fish cake skewers grilling over charcoal
Tom yum pork noodle soup
Meet friendly food heroes at decades-old eateries
Discover Pattaya's seafood specialities
Our local insider guide uncovers the real Pattaya
Closely guarded family recipes in Naklua
Fishermen folk and their fresh catch of the day
Includes
- Price US $49 per person
- Tastings 15+ food tastings included, more than any other Pattaya food tour
- Drinks Bottled water included
- Transport / Walking Walking tour with 6-7 stops
- Small group tour Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
- Start Time 10:30AM
- Duration Around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the pace of the group
- Guide Led by one of our superb Pattaya food hosts
- Child Policy Children aged 3-12 years: 50% discount. Infants 0-2 years: free
- Instant Confirmation Book instantly on our live calendar. If your date is unavailable, please contact us
- Cancellation policy Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Language English
- Pick up / Drop off Not included. Easy to find meeting point for all guests
Dietary information
- General Advice Many streetside vendors specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Meat and seafood are used in 5-6 tastings with limited alternatives available
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood and eggs are used in over half the tastings
- Pescatarian Possible, though meat is used in 3-4 tastings with limited alternative available
- Pork Possible, though pork is used in 1-2 dishes. Unsuitable for halal diets.
- Halal Unsuitable, as there are few vendors on the tour route that hold halal certification.
- Gluten Intolerance / Celiac Disease Possible, though gluten is used in 1-2 tastings, and soy sauce in more tastings. Unsuitable for celiac disease.
- Lactose Intolerance Suitable for lactose intolerances
- Tree nut / Peanut Allergy There are no other known peanuts or tree nuts. Possible for mild allergies only.
- Seafood / Shellfish Allergy Possible for mild allergies, though seafood is used in 2-3 tastings with limited alternatives
- Severe Allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join our Pattaya lunchtime food tour, use the live booking calendar to select your date and secure your tour. If the date is unavailable, or for special requests and private bookings, pleaseΒ contact us. Safety and comfort of guests is our first priority, so if you have any questions on dietary information or food allergies, pleaseΒ contact usΒ before booking.
What to expect
This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. Itβs a walking tour, but the pace is gentle, the terrain flat and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the best PattayaΒ food tour in the city, you won't regret it.
Meeting point
This Pattaya lunchtime food tour starts at Naklua in North Pattaya. We'll meet at the main triangle entrance of Naklua Chalermprakiat Park. Itβs a short taxi ride from Pattaya City and features a beautiful waterfront view of the city skyline. At the end of the experience, your guide can help you find transport back if you wish. More details will be sent upon booking.
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps