Thai Cuisine in Chiang Mai’s Alleys – All-You-Can-Eat Seafood for Just 250 Baht

Text & Photos byXiao Sheng

Seafood plays a major role in the essence of Thai cuisine. This all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant in Chiang Mai may not be top-tier gourmet (but it’s still quite good), yet it offers a feast of seafood prepared in various Thai culinary styles—definitely worth a try.

Andaman Seafood, located south of Chiang Mai’s Old City in the alley of Soi Mahidon 1 near the airport, was the only all-you-can-eat Thai seafood restaurant I tried in Chiang Mai. The restaurant is quite spacious and eye-catching, so it’s easy to spot once you step inside. However, since there aren’t many obvious landmarks nearby, I recommend searching “Andaman Seafood” on Google Maps to find the exact location.

First up is the shrimp dish collection. Since I don’t eat shrimp, I can only share the photos for you to admire. There are so many ways to prepare shrimp here—curry shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp cakes, and more. The best part? You can enjoy this seafood feast for just around 250 baht (excluding drinks). If you include beverages, the total might come to under 300 baht for a full meal. I think the price is quite reasonable.

Fried Fishis one of the most common fish dishes in Chiang Mai. Fried fish served with a tangy, spicy, and sweet sauce highlights the natural flavor of the fish—it’s a classic and delicious choice. By the way, since Andaman Seafood operates as an all-you-can-eat buffet, the portions are intentionally small. Especially since we went in a large group, almost every dish was gone the moment it was served XD. The upside is that the small portions allowed us to try many different dishes and flavors.

Fried Squidis served with a tiny bit of lettuce and sweet chili sauce, topped with sesame seeds that add a fragrant crunch. It’s tasty on its own, but the sweet chili sauce adds an extra layer of flavor.

Steamed Fishis another common Thai dish, though humorously, the sauce here completely covers the fish—just showing how small the portions are at Andaman Seafood XD. The steamed fish has a strong flavor but is less sour and spicy compared to other dishes, making it refreshingly light.

I’m not sure what to call this dish—the tender white fish is paired with a tangy and spicy sauce, seemingly with some garlic slices added. It has a refreshing yet slightly spicy kick, making it quite unique.

Cold Tossed Squidis served with glass noodles, featuring fresh and chewy squid paired with a tangy and spicy sauce that’s both refreshing and appetizing.

Curry Squid—Thai curry has a very distinctive flavor, and the chewy squid paired with the rich, aromatic, and mildly spicy yellow curry is truly excellent. It’s right up my alley.

These two dishes are another variation of squid preparations. Though the cooking methods differ, the flavors are all quite good, showcasing the squid’s taste through different techniques. I think it’s pretty impressive.

Red Braised Fishis a rare whole fish dish at this restaurant. The fish is tender and flavorful, paired with a tangy-spicy sauce and vegetables like green peppers and onions that add a fragrant kick. It’s quite delicious.

I also really like this fish dish. Though it’s not very spicy, the stir-fried fish slices have a bold flavor, which I, as someone who enjoys salty food, really appreciate.

Speaking of Thai cuisine, you can’t miss Tom Yum Goong. Compared to the usual version, this one has fewer seafood pieces—but since it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet, that’s understandable. For me, who doesn’t eat shrimp, it makes no difference—I just wanted to try the soup base. And the broth is rich, spicy, and packed with aromatic Thai herbs, making it incredibly delicious.

The restaurant also keeps the soup warm with a charcoal heater, ensuring it stays hot—a small but thoughtful touch.

Another soup we ordered was, if I remember correctly, a seaweed and fish soup. It’s also served with a charcoal heater, but compared to Tom Yum, this one is much lighter and has a different flavor profile.

Stir-Fried Cabbageis probably the only non-seafood dish we had. But after eating so much seafood, it’s nice to have some greens to cleanse the palate.

Overall, the food at Andaman Seafood isn’t particularly mind-blowing, but it’s solid and consistent. The variety is impressive—we ordered at least 20 different dishes that day. If you want to sample a wide range of Thai seafood dishes in a short time, this all-you-can-eat restaurant is a great choice.

Andaman Seafood
Add : Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
(Search for “Andaman Seafood Chiang Mai” to find it)
 

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey of wandering, every trip is about seeking—though I’m not even sure what exactly I’m searching for—but in the end, what I gain often turns out to be more than I ever imagined. That’s why my wandering journey will continue, without end.