Jaunted

Usually grilled, though they can also be fried, river prawns are a Thai local specialty that borders on delicacy. The blue-clawed one atop noodles above we consumed at the Deck by the River Restaurant of Arun Residence, a somewhat hard-to-find gem directly across the Chao Phraya river from Bangkok's Temple of the Dawn, Wat Arun.

The river prawns don't necessarily come from the Chao Phraya that runs through Bangkok, which looks more like a frothing chocolate milkshake than a river you want to eat out of. The prawns are pulled from the many rivers in the area, specifically from the smaller tributaries off the Chao Phraya in the region around Ayutthaya.

So many travelers come to Thailand to experience the authentic version of what they often order off to-go menus at home. You can't say you have until you've cracked open a river prawn and sucked out the good stuff. Then we can talk.

A more informal presentation at a night market

Disclosure: We were a guest of the Travel Authority of Thailand for some travel and accommodations, but rest assured all photos and opinions are completely our own.

[Photos: Cynthia Drescher for Jaunted]