Thailand’s Hidden Beachfront Restaurant – Rimtalay Kitchen

Written & Photographed by Li Xinyi

On the way from Bangkok to Hua Hin, you’ll pass through Samut Songkhram, a low-lying province rich in seafood, sea salt, and fruits – especially sea salt. Along the highway, you’ll often see small stalls selling bags of sea salt, both large and small. The salt here is very affordable, with a big bag costing just 20 baht. Tour guides recommend mixing some sea salt with essential oils to create an economical homemade exfoliating scrub.

Samut Songkhram is located about 10 kilometers off the main highway between Bangkok and Hua Hin. Tucked away there is a beachfront restaurant known only to locals – Rimtalay Kitchen. Its seafood comes fresh from nearby fishing ports and requires little cooking to bring out its naturally sweet flavor. This restaurant is highly recommended by local guides. Since it hasn’t been promoted overseas, there’s no website, and it’s not even mentioned in travel books. To find this hidden beachfront gem that guides rave about, you’ll need to ask locals and have a bit of luck on your side.

Rimtalay Kitchen is a seafood restaurant constructed from bamboo, wooden planks, and thatched roofing. Inside, there’s a row of private dining booths, outside of which you can observe locals making salt. In Thailand’s heat, people love sitting in these booths with friends to enjoy affordable, delicious seafood, all while being gently caressed by the sea breeze – truly a delightful experience. Along the wooden walkway, visitors can be seen using ropes to fish for crabs on the beach. After catching them, they take photos before releasing them back.

The restaurant’s most recommended dishes include a plate of oysters for 120 baht, served with five different toppings – red, green, sweet, and sour – which you can mix and match according to your preference. Other popular dishes include shrimp in fish sauce, seafood soup, blood clams, pork satay, and grilled squid. The ingredients here are super fresh, and with simple cooking and minimal seasoning, the grilled squid, for example, tastes incredibly delicious right off the grill. Other dishes are equally tasty when dipped in a bit of spicy and sour sauce, offering an authentic Thai flavor.