Top 2 Seafood Restaurants in Hua Hin Thailand | Chao Lay VS Saeng Thai

Located near the famous Hua Hin beach, Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant is one of the famous seafood restaurants to go in Hua Hin. Another recommended seafood restaurant will be Saeng Thai (Sangthai) which will be covered in the later part of this blog post. A place where you can grub into the richest seafood, while enjoying the tranquil sea breeze and a panoramic view of the Hua Hin beach. Savour Chao Lay recommended seafood dishes such as Grilled Scallop, Steamed Squid, Stir Fry Green Curry prepared in a traditional way of Thai cuisine. Eat at ease, the menu is also in English. Furthermore, the friendly staffs do speak and understand English. Foods were served quickly after order is placed. Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant was only half occupied on a weekday lunch. It’s best to visit for lunch to avoid the huge dinner crowd.

Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant

Steamed squid served hot with garlic and lemon sauce. Price: 300 baht (~S$11.70).
Sliced squid is appetising with strong lemon sauce and easy to chew. It is good for a starter. For non-chilli or light chilli lover, may request to set chilli apart away the main dish.

Fried rice in Chao Lay Style. Price: 100 baht (~S$3.90).
Although this is their signature fried rice, I found that was pretty plain and normal.

Grilled scallop with butter and garlic. Price: 200 baht (~S$7.80) for 6 pieces.
Soft and fresh scallops grilled with fragrance of butter and garlic was perfect. I believe that I could finish all 6 pieces myself.

Broccoli in oyster sauce with prawns. Price: 200 baht (~S$7.80).
I guess that I’ve a very picky tongue on broccoli and prefers to eat broccoli from Australia. This was pretty much broccoli from China. However the prawns were very fresh and crunchy! Something to add on, calling out Kang Kong lover, it is labelled morning glory in Thailand.

Hot and spicy fish meat clear soup. Price: 350 baht (~S$13.70).
Whenever I see hot and spicy, I would request to separate the chilli from the main. So, I get a pot of clear soup with strong lemongrass, ginger and lime leaves. Although these were sliced fish, presence of fish bones are also unavoidable. So do take extra cautious while eating.

It comes with three conditions namely fish sauce, sweet and sour sauce and mixed chilli in soy sauce.

Many loves for bottled soft drink in Thailand that is of less gas and sweetness.

View on a sunny afternoon from Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant.

Entrance to Chao Lay seafood restaurant.

Chao Lay‘s preparation kitchen on level 1.

Chao Lay seafood restaurant not only serves Thai food and also Western food.

Stairs to Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant dining area at level 2.

You may also wish to try Saeng Thai (Sangthai) Seafood Restaurant which is within walking distance from Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant along Nares Damri Alley Street. Saeng Thai (Sangthai) Seafood Restaurant layout is different from Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant. Welcome diners with a spacious live seafood area offering lobsters, prawns, crayfish, crabs and more!

Saeng Thai (Sangthai) Seafood Restaurant

Crowds started swarming after 5.30pm.

Pomfret fish steamed with soy sauce and ginger. Price: 450 baht (~S$17.60).
This was one of the most satisfactory dishes at Saeng Thai (Sangthai) Seafood Restaurant. Fresh pomfret is best served with the simplest cooking style, steaming. When it comes to steaming, some of you might be wondering whether it would taste tasty. Yes, it is still tasty and even better. I can taste the sweet essence from the fresh pomfret and also the condiments from the ingredients like mushroom, ginger, cabbage, chilli and soy sauce that blends perfectly.

Steamed mussels in pot. Price: 200 baht (~S$7.80).
A love and hate pot of green mussels. My love for the strong and flavourful lemongrass and fresh mussels. My hate for the poor handling of mussels. Debris found on mussels’ shell and stuck-on seaweed that sticks with the mussel meat. Readers with sensitive stomach are not recommended to try out this dish.

Oysters omelette. Price: 150 baht (~S$5.90).
Fat and juicy oysters in deep fried egg till golden.

Asparagus with fried oyster sauce. Price: 200 baht (~S$7.80).

In a nutshell, I would prefer to visit Chao Lay Seafood Restaurant for its fresh seafood and good hygience. Staffs wait patiently for our order. Saeng Thai (Sangthai) Seafood Restaurant food seasoning is great. However due to poor mussel handling and impatient staffs kept rushing for order that loses some service standard. This food review wasn’t perfect as I did not order the same dishes to compare. Do let me know your food experience by leaving a comment below 🙂

-We paid for our trip.

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