The riverfront night market along the Nan River is the social heart of Phitsanulok in the evenings. Stalls set up along the east bank selling grilled meats, pad thai, fresh fruit, and the local speciality, phak bung fai daeng — morning glory fried with a theatrical toss into the air that sends the vegetable flying across the kitchen before landing back in the wok. The show is as much a draw as the food.
Moored along the same stretch are the raft restaurants — floating dining rooms anchored to the riverbank where you eat over the water with a view of the lights reflecting off the Nan. The food is standard Thai with an emphasis on freshwater fish, and the setting compensates for any shortcomings in the cooking. These are popular with Thai families and office groups, which is a reasonable sign of quality. The market and most raft restaurants run from around 5pm until late.