Si Racha, (Siracha,
Si Racha or Siracha), Chonburi, Thailand. Si Racha district is in Chonburi
province of Thailand about one hour's drive from Bangkok. Si Racha's port
and nearby Laem Chabang, the largest port in the country serve the eastern
seaboard industrial provinces. Pattaya is 30km south. 10 km north of Si Racha
is Bang Saen, a seaside resort popular with locals. Chonburi province is one
of the more industrialised provinces of Thailand. Most of the province
however is hilly agricultural plantations.
The area
has lots of seafood restaurants, many of which sit on stilts and piers along
the shore in town and north up the coast to Bang Pra. The area has some of
the best and freshest seafood in the country. The seafood tends to be
Chinese-Thai style. Si Racha Night Square, a covered market with central beer garden
and lots of small shops has a great selection of food. Pacific Park Mall (Robinson)
offers the usual restaurant chains like Fuji (which remains the best value
Japanese food in Thailand), BBQ Plaza/Joom Sep Hut, MK Suki, etc.
Ge Mon (seafood) - on the front in Bang Pra. Not the most attractive
but the freshest and most delicious seafood restaurant in the area.
Laap
Ubon (Isaan) - Opposite Night Square. Excellent Isaan food, always
busy. Three branches to choose from.
Moom Aroy (Seafood) -
Situated on a cliff top opposite Samithivej Hospital. A huge restaurant that was
previously wooden and rustic, but recently upgraded. Very popular in the evenings. Good selection
of seafood and extensive menu of popular food.
Jan Pa
Seafood - Bang Pra - very pleasant garden restaurant on top of the
small cliff overlooking the sea.
Mai Wan (Vietnamese) - Bottom of Surasak 1, opposite and up the road from the
Tsutaya VCD/DVD rental. You will recognise it when you get there. Small and
busy. Great value, fresh, healthy and delicious.
Nay Daeng /Chun Hua (Ba Mii-Giaw) - on the pavement opposite the public park gate next
to Bayview Condominium. Excellent value yellow noodles, won ton, pork etc.
Always crowded due to its top quality, huge, delicious portions.
Giaw Pla Bang Pra - on Sukhumvit Rd, about 400m north of
the market. Delicious home made fish won ton and fish balls with a superb
choice of very interesting noodles and an ever growing menu.
Naay Boon (Raad Naa) - excellent raad naa with
mee krob. Tessaban Soi 1. New branch now
open in #$%#$%#$%#$%
Nawa Chai Hat (Seafood) - just north of Si Racha harbour. Big Chinese-Thai
seafood restaurant on stilts over the sea. Great food.
Moo Yang Kawlii - Cook your own Thai barbeque, Korean style, at the table
in an outdoor setting. Good fun. Lots of restaurants to choose from opposite the
night market.
Sawasdee Coffee - just up from Phyathai Hospital, opposite
'Web Site' club. Charming cafe open quite late.
P. Yooyen Rosden - just down the street from the Bank of
Ayuthhaya in Tessaban Soi 1 - Delicious Chinese/Seafood restaurant.
Kanary
Bay - where you go if you are
in need of a club sandwich. Sister hotel/serviced apartment Karavel
House has a "California" steak house.
Japanese
Food - lots of it, everywhere; from the Thai chain Fuji in Pacific Park to small shophouse restaurants
owned and managed by Japanese expats, where you can often find some excellent
meals. As with many Japanese restaurants worldwide, some restaurateurs feel
justified in charging huge prices for nothing, but most here are pretty good value for money.
bars, pubs
etc ...
In the last few years there has been a huge growth in the number of "pubs" in Si Racha. Nearly all are located in the centre
of town, behind Robinson. Many offer live music, a large selection of (not
the best) food, big projection screens showing all kinds of stuff. There are
several plush karaoke bars and cocktail lounges that cater to the
Japanese expatriate community. Many new younger crowd pubs have sprung up, with some
interesting small places in the Night Square but these tend to open and
close and change with regularity. There are a few nightclub/discos ('teks') in town
with dancers and live bands. Take in your own whisky, pay for
mixers and sit around tall tables on stools. Order some snacks and get
looked after by a huge number of staff who fill up your glass after each sip
you take.