Thread: which fish to buy ?

Hi everyone ,
Since moving to Thailand I have been impressed with the quality and availability of excellent fish dishes .
I have decided to attempt to cook some fish myself but apart from Plaa Nin I am not familiar with which to attempt .
Could any one please advize on any other type of fish which is readily available to buy in the local markets .
Thanx in advance ,
Rawky

Cheers Norton ,
I actually live near Nong Khai so the fish you mentioned should be available .

Originally Posted by Norton

Pla Chorn (snakehead)

BBQ a PlaChon (1/2kg fish for best flavour) and you will be happy. Goes very nicely with a beer or two too...

Cheers to everybody .

Your replies will help a lot I am certain .

Originally Posted by Norton

Pla Nin (Talapia grey) Pla Thaptim (Tilapia red)

Cheers Norton, I was gonna suggest Tilapia but didn't know the thai word.

Originally Posted by superman

John Dory. Sold filleted and frozen in Makro. 130 Baht a kilo.

You're the second person I've heard that from this week.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

You're the second person I've heard that from this week.

Well go get some and see what you've been missing.

I doubt it's john dory for that price actually- more likely silver dory. But it's still good eating.

Different fish suits different styles of cooking. Grouper is delicious steamed and served in the cantonese style, but wouldn't make a good battered & deep fried fillet.

For local fresh fish we keep to sea caught as Barracuda and Snappers. Delicious fried, cooked or smoked.

Once in a while, when going to Pattaya, we buy fresh Norwegian Salmon, fresh Tuna and frozen Cod in Makro.

Makro - one about 50km from here and will try next time we go through; plenty of freshwater fish here but to me simply not as good as saltwater fish

Fishing for your own Barracudas is fun. A day out from Sattahip and the freezer is loaded with delicious fish.

You need to use the right fish with the right cooking method.

Of the tilapias available, the grey's got most taste.

If you're in Nong Khai check how the do the pla duk, it's excellent. They call it sheet or sometimes even shit- fish in English.

Also check out the small platu, excellent for making salads (yam) with.

Originally Posted by rawky

Cheers to everybody .

Your replies will help a lot I am certain .

if you like to go fishing there is put and take lakes many places where you can have a nice day whith a nice hobby at the seaside there is boats for rent whith skipper for different pype of fishing just arsk the locals

Pla Kapong (sea bass) is used for pla nung manao among other dishes.

I have eaten most type of fish in my 60 year persuit of the finny buggers and without doubt my favourite are -

Freshwater

Trout - wild - not farmed like you get here
Minnows ! - yep ! the little stream fish you get in UK - deepfry them like whitebait

Sea fish

Rock Salmon - ok ok - dogfish in the UK !from a traditional chippie
Dorado ( Mahi Mahi) deep fried in beer batter !

Can get dorado here in Phuket straight off the boat - catch 'em yourself or ask the sea gypsies to get you a couple - bloody orgasmic !!!

i have tried the john dory from macro not bad but it is farmed fish but there is another john dory that comes filleted excactly the same but it has the label pacific john dory it is very much better in taste but it is 270bht a kilo it is worth it from home fresh

Fish here are from warm waters, if you like firmer flesh you need to buy frozen fish from colder waters. Applies to shellfish as well.

Originally Posted by taffyapple

270bht a kilo it is worth it from home fresh

Is that the one in The Mall ?

Originally Posted by rawky

Since moving to Thailand I have been impressed with the quality and availability of excellent fish dishes .

Strangely, I've found the fish is usually pretty terrible here. Most has more bones that should be physically possible and the Thais in general cremate the poor thing before it reaches your plate.

Very much doubt you can get john dory for 130 bht a kilo. It most likely will just be labeled "dory" which is often used to name Vietnamese river cobbler (Pangasius). It is a farmed fresh water catfish and is completely different to john dory.

Originally Posted by madjbs

It most likely will just be labeled "dory" which is often used to name Vietnamese river cobbler (Pangasius). It is a farmed fresh water catfish and is completely different to john dory.

On checking, you are 100% correct Mr Madjbs. Even so, I find it a very nice fish for the price. It's best eaten with a crispy batter coating.

home fresh in the mall korat it used to be packed in single fillets but last week i could only get bags of 5fillets deep fry make up a batter of gogi temper flour half vinegar half water or beer fck the colestral