Mengrai Seafood is a large, informal Thai seafood restaurant near Tha Phae Gate that draws crowds of locals and visitors for its whole fish, fresh prawns, and oyster omelettes. It's noisy, brightly lit, and operates at speed — the kind of place where the food arrives within minutes and the tables turn over fast.
Order the snapper steamed with lime and garlic, the stir-fried clams with chilli and basil, and the morning glory with oyster sauce. Prices are moderate. The restaurant has been here for decades and hasn't needed to update the formula — the food speaks for itself.