A Food Trip to Ayutthaya: Siam's Ruined Capital

Almost every week, whenever we talk about anything related to Thailand, our stories somehow trace back to Ayutthaya. Even in videos about Japan, Portugal, or almost anything related to trade or exploration or cuisine- all roads lead to the ancient capital of Siam. Destroyed in 1767, only recently have visitors rediscovered the seat of the Siamese Empire. But hidden between the restored monuments and commercial buildings, the old soul still survives- as do the dishes that tell the story of the history of this part of the world.
-
Please consider supporting OTR on Patreon and thanks so much to anyone who does; your support truly keeps us going. / otrontheroad
Website: www.OTRontheroad.com
Instagram: otr.offther...
FB: / otr-106170292218693
-
0:00 - Introduction
1:21 - Up the Chao Phraya
2:35 - Breakfast
4:47 - The Story of Ayutthaya
7:06 - Onto the Island
8:59 - Uncle Lek's Boat Noodles
12:02 - Stories From an Old Explorer
15:47 - Ruins
19:21 - The Food of Ayutthaya
22:54 - Roti Sai Mai
25:48 - The Empire Falls
30:05 - Sena
33:11 - The Meal We Came For
35:13 - Last Thoughts
37:10 - South Again
-
Video Credits:
• Grand Palace Bangkok T...
• Chinatown, Bangkok 202...
• I am from Siam 1930
• 🇹🇭 4K HDR | 2024 Bangk...
• Making Massaman Curry ...
• Khao chae: A tasty, re...
• "Roti Sai Mai" The num...
• 미슐랭이 선정한 태국 아유타야 명물, 로...
• Roti Sai Mai - Micheli...
• BAMBOO SHOOT Curry wit...
• Cooking traditional fo...
• Grill Salt Fish Cruste...
• Thai Yellow Curry Chic...
• C/w Nana: Lao Cassia S...
• Simple Thai fish cakes...
• Great Skill of Fish Ca...
• Discover the Flavors o...
• How to Make Fish Cakes...
• The History of Southea...
• DJI Mini 2 Cinematic F...
• CHEAP Michelin Starred...
• I am from Siam 1930
• Thailand Agriculture A...
• Thailand (1953)
• Bangkok 1980s Nostalgi...
• Bangkok - Lumphini | T...
• Roti Sai Mai - Micheli...
• Exploring Thailand's A...
• a PERFECT Itinerary fo...
• Ayutthaya on a $30 Bud...
• เกาหลีสองมอเตอร์ไซค์หน...
• Explorando AYUTTHAYA. ...
• We Finally Got A Break...
0BSNLR633OXDX9GT

[@OTRontheroad]

This week's locations: First place: maps.app.goo.gl/LaPBzHbqupjeBoqU6 Boat Noodles: maps.app.goo.gl/suoMgQkrGBsq3Aaf9 Roti Sai Mai Alley: maps.app.goo.gl/piHSEVVCN1R981Et9 O Phochana: maps.app.goo.gl/B6sLanARkeppZCK5A

[@djay75]

Would you be able to put all the places on a single map with links to the videos like this? maps.app.goo.gl/KdGdzBGsvi49vQaG9

[@uvirasiri3396]

Thank you for making this very informative video. My ancestors are one of those old families who built Ayutthaya and later move south to now Krungthep you mentioned. You had said imagine what someone like me would feel like. I can tell you that my personal feelings is that I am Very proud of being decedent of one of the most civilized cities of the world and I feel very sad that it was All destroyed by the War. My Siamese and Portuguese ancestors were those lived inside the wall which was All destroyed; no, after all these over 200 almost 300 years passed, I would never considered moving back to Ayutthaya. Parts of your narrative in the video especially in the end had brought tears in my eyes 😢.

[@OTRontheroad]

Thanks for taking the time to write that comment!

[@jnhkz]

Just curious, did your family need to be kind of upper class to be able to trace your ancestor back to Ayutthaya, or just being Thai is enough to do? Sometimes I read that, in the past, only upper class write down their bloodline history. For me as a Thai Chinese descent, I can only trace back to smth like great great grandfather, around 189x and that's all. It would feel so cool to be able to trace that far back in the history.

[@BornKafir]

​@@jnhkzit really doesn't serve any purpose though. Why stop at a few centuries ago? Why no desire to trace it all the way back to the first bipedal ancestors? What about our pre-human ancestors? Why not trace it and romanticize our ancestors that far back?

[@jnhkz]

@@BornKafir I know you said it sarcastically. But tbh, tracing back to monkey or smth sounds cool though lol.

[@JWnFlorida]

Honestly, this is one of the best channels anywhere. Fantastic job, and thank you.

[@fuyahanabi1304]

Very appropriate to have a video about the ancient culture right after Songkran

[@EllisWR]

Top stuff mate. Love a bit of roti sai mai we do.

[@OTRontheroad]

Lol that deserved a segment of course.

[@user-wl5ro7jj6q]

You must have so much fun doing the research for your channel. I have a major in Engish, a minor in biology and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary biology. I am searching to find a way to travel more for work without having to do the backbreaking field work anymore. Your channel gives me lots of ideas, not a vlogger but as a global nomad!

[@kyonkochan]

The Boat Noodles debate is like so many foods. Italy didn't have tomato for over 3/4 of their recorded history but pizza is so strongly associated with Italy. Ramen is ubiquitous with Japan but only shows up in the last 100 years.

[@louisazraels7072]

Technically Italy always had tomatoes, its a pretty young country afterall

[@dodril17]

Funnily enough Ramen seemingly is only hyped by people ignorant of its origin as “Lamien” in general China.

[@zeitgeistx5239]

Ramen is La Mien brought by Chinese immigrants along with dumplings. They have a ramen museum that explains how ramen originated in Chinese restaurants in Japan. OP is probably not from Asia because if they were this would be obvious to them.

[@Jumpoable]

@@louisazraels7072

[@OTRontheroad]

@@zeitgeistx5239 not at all a fair assumption, ramen in a Japanese context dates to the 20th century. It’s not an incorrect statement as it’s reference was to the Japanese use of the dish. Let’s not make assumptions about other people- it’s a bad look.

[@leehaseley2164]

As this was released, I was just leaving Ayutthaya wth my family, on route from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin. I pulled out your info about the Japanese and Portuguese quarters of Ayutthaya and impressed my family. 👊

[@noneyabizness7288]

Thank you for this show. It is amazing seeing what I miss while I experience so much. I was in Ayutthaya in 2015 and it was empty except for some Thais on holiday. The next time I went was after the Thai drama Love Destiny and Ayutthaya was packed with Thais all dressed up in traditional clothing. I was thoroughly confused until someone explained about the TV show. Last December (2023) we were there during a festival and it was another amazing visit. As far as the food goes, next time it will be a boat noodle and Roti Sai Mai adventure!

[@iaspace6737]

Deep research makes the channel interesting.

[@pannachawangkul585]

Hi Adam, watching you with the mustache at a certain angle I can't help thinking how much you look like the great Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmens) & you have the gift of story telling just like him. All you need is a long wavy hair on top of your head, then you would be the re-incarnation of him. 😊

[@niamtxiv]

I'm going to Thailand next month. Love that country

[@viriya24]

Another gem, thank you for making this episode

[@TT-fx2se]

Thank you for making this video, your narrative is my favorite for Thai food related channel.

[@hollish196]

Another fine video. Love the history that wanders into the food culture.

[@joelcoblenz5113]

This was great work. Sorry we missed you last month.

[@eswillie]

Once again, all I can say is thanks for another winner. I guess the reason I never got to Ayutthaya back in '69 was that nobody was doing anything with the ruins until a few years later. Those dishes in that last stop with the river prawns and fish cakes, etc., were something different, and it's funny, since talking about fusion foods and many cultures coming together, I actually made a pho this morning and for want of any other protein I put in some wild caught sardines to go with my Thai curry pastes and other ingredients. And now I have to find a copy of Mendes Pinto's memoir/bio; he sounds like my kind of guy for sure.

[@sh3n3ng]

very fascinating episode.

[@dw3514]

Great work, as usual!

[@GAMERAakaGMRA]

Awesome channel , Interesting to hear about Thai history.

[@sts0868]

Yes, Ayutthaya is really fascinating - Thanks for that great documentation!

[@firstnamelastname-im5iz]

Wow! Great storytelling again!

[@Weesc]

Congratulations on another well-researched episode, Adam. You’re much more than just another food vlogger - but I’m sure you know that. Keep it up.

[@mylesjude233]

Fantastic stuff here mate, really made the period of Ayyuthaya come alive ❤

[@nulachisa8013]

Gorgeous content again ❤❤❤

[@eternaaly]

You and your team make such great videos. I appreciate your dedication and attention to detail. Your passion for history and the ability to present it so thoughtfully is admirable. I look forward to catching up on your new content.

[@JBW-Phuket]

Very well done as usual.

[@veryviews]

ชอบช่องนี้มากกกก เป็นกำลังใจฮะ

[@sanithsirichandhra2038]

I love watching your show. I was born and raised in Thailand and grew up in America. Both countries make me who I’m and I love how you see things in your perspective base on great history.🤍💛🩵💚💙💜❤️

[@Nomad35292]

As a khom citizen I enjoy this video ❤

[@Lennon909Rev]

You truly are the Best Thai Food KZbin Channel

[@ChineseKiwi]

Man OTR is doing so damn good tourism advertising for me with all these food videos…and that unknown-in-the-West food history! *sigh* Time to binge these videos and bookmark all those restaurants in Google Maps 😂

[@jampasurprenant1794]

Thank you for the awesomeness of the ancient history the first capital of the ayuthaya And the history behind it.

[@Rocknaverdie]

Nice videos 🤙🏻💕🇹🇭🥊

[@Bird-Come-See-WoW]

ประวัติศาสตร์ การท่องเที่ยว และ อาหาร อยู่ในวีดีโอเดียวกัน อย่างชอบ😊😊😊

[@Bird-Come-See-WoW]

🎉🎉🎉

[@ilakya]

Welcome to Ayutthaya!

[@tarjei99]

This went very well with my dinner!!

[@A--L]

Not sure if you have seen Love Destiny, a Thai drama about a girl time traveling back to Ayutthaya. It's really fun especially if you already know so many important people in history.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you!

[@OrionMyoho]

Love this one. I’d love it if you followed it by going to Sukhothai since it was the capital before Ayutthaya

[@OrionMyoho]

My wife and I love your show and she’s from Sukhothai (The dawn of happiness)

[@raens9256]

I'm at about the half way point in this video: Oh, man. Ayutthaya was one of the most profound parts of our trip for me, personally. We, who did not have a car, caught a train up to it - I want to say it still took us about an hour, and the cost was negligible - then rented bikes and pedaled our way around it just as two people exploring the area, no tour company involved. We saw some of the famous sights (I am shocked - there's a shot of you walking in what I assume is Wat Mahathat and it doesn't look like you're being photobombed by a million tourists) but managed not to eat there. One of the most enduring impressions for me of being in that city was how much history is tucked away in nooks and crannies. On our bicycles, we would see something down a road we happened to be passing, would turn to follow it, and find a hundreds year old ruin tucked between electrical lines, an apartment complex, residential homes, and monastery. I can't imagine stepping out of my door and having that kind of history present and part of my daily morning coffee experience. As an aside to this, I have a Thai friend where I live in the States. Boat noodles are the thing that makes her jealous in our photos when we go to Thailand.

[@dammeedee]

ติดตามให้กำลังใจ สนุกมากค่ะ 😊

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I think people would benefit if you commented on the difference between shrimp and prawns.

[@noknatchanok5010]

ขอบคุณค่ะ เป็น VDO ที่ดีมาก

[@thasneebkk9271]

Thank you for your research in the history🎉 by the way, my great grandmother is from Ayutaya , when she was alive, her menu always with coconut milk curry almost every day but she never had high cholesterol maybe because of eggplant and galingale

[@arjuna03]

Ayuthaya is a local version of the name Ayodhya city in India (temple architecture is one small proof). SE Asia was heavily influenced by Hindu India before Islamic Invasion of India which reduced its influence there after till to this day.

[@yujilee112]

islamic is like c@ncer they destroyed everything on it way.

[@zhalvia]

Not really, the name of ayhtthaya came from the name of the city of Rama's (as seen in the Indian Ramayana). So you can said that these 2 city share the same name. But Ayutthaya city was not directly inspired from the city Ayodhya in India. But yes it was influenced by Indian culture.

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Wonderful update mate.. nice .. Thai curries are always special to me.. Nice.. Pork sausage THAI is lovely.. Cheers from #pollachi #coimbatore #tamilnadu #southIndia

[@wenzdelul]

yep " tom klong" is a root of all spicy soup in thai if im not wrong

[@ampfat]

On the fish cake, or Tod Mun Pla, in some part of Thailand such as Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Suphanburi, nearly all of those historic big cities, old people or in some older restaurant they call it = Pla Hed , misunderstoodably Fish Mushroom. Pla = Fish , Hed = Mushroom but it is not that way Pra-het/Bro-het/ ប្រហិត in khmer/Cambodian language means = meatball, any grind/pounded meat put together with some herbs. Interestingly, those cultural interchange creates amazing flavours!

[@yuppywjt2525]

It is a documentary that is both informative and delicious. Adventure on the Thai food route .I'd love to see you do more about coffee in Thailand. Now that many tourists come to Thailand to visit coffee shops, some people call cities like Chiang Mai the capital of coffee shops.

[@OTRontheroad]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKWYanuOiayCp8k Please enjoy!

[@babusastry]

Now I am convinced it follows the famed Ayodhya.

[@TeddyLingAnawat]

Would love to see you to go to different Thai province other than Bankok. That would provide you some more of food povs.

[@osnisida]

my favorite culinary anthropologist back at it again

[@gaeseki1]

Yup! Ayutthaya is possibly the most miserably hot part of Thailand. And it looks like you hit it up during the hottest time of the year.

[@user-eg8qh1hu8c]

ไหน ๆ ก็ทำอยุธยาแล้ว แนะนำ อาหารสมัย อาณาจักรสุโขทัยครับ เช่น ข้าวเปิ้บ สุโขทัย ข้าวแคบ ข้าวพัน อุตรดิตถ์ ครับ

[@jimmyboy223335]

We have boat noodle here in Fort worth too.

[@polipop1113]

If there was Facebook back then, I definitely would follow that Mandes dude.

[@lalida6432]

I swear, when we’re in Thailand we probably eat 5-6 times a day. It’s a way of life.

[@wariwanda1]

คลิปวิดิโอมีคุณภาพมาก

[@MadhukarDhuri]

Ayutthaya and Thai King Ram is highly influenced by Indian kingdom of Ayodhya Shri Ram. From Bangkok airport I straight went to Ayutthaya and further exploration of North.

[@autumn_in_myheart]

Don't foget to go try "ped yang Phimai" Phimai roasted duck,Nakornratchasima province.very delicious.

[@polipop1113]

Rotee Saimai is one of the most underated snacks in Thailand. Its not easy to find in BKK so whenever I see one, I have to get it.

[@TheSpawol]

Theres one wholesaler shop near victory monument, heard its from Ayutthaya

[@schellmann]

Roti Sai Mai FTW!

[@paul-martintandetzki731]

Early gang 😎

[@tigger1719]

:D

[@theauthor3259]

Its name very similar to indian city of Ayodhya, birthplace of God Rama...how the Thai city got its name?

[@user-et5gk3ck4t]

City take it name from that India city. Also the offical title of the King of Siam and now Thailand current dynasty is Rama too. (Rama is King of Ayodhya in that india epic)

[@jaiku99]

The King who built it called himself Rama. So naturally he called it Ayodhya, that became Ayuthia

[@samwrought5650]

I would say Mon and Khmer, we have settled around the same time in Southeast Asia, they mainly settled in the Irrrawaddy Delta Region and it was Mekong Delta for us.

[@OTRontheroad]

it's certainly close and I can't know for sure- but all archeological and linguistic evidence shows the Mon entering Myanmar around 3500 BC, and the Khmer people between 2500-3000 BC.

[@tktyga77]

What Burmese influences might be found in the places visited in this video beyond food ones?

[@Ith007]

No burmese influences whatsoever. The burmese never really got to occupy Ayutthaya, since the subsequent siamese king chased the burmese army out 7 months later.

[@shanicestella2226]

*When Thailand and Vietnam seeing Laos utilize the papaya in a smart way* Vietnam : Really Laos knows how to utilize that fruit into salad , by the way , Those fruits actually coming from where ?? Thailand : The Portugese and Spanish traders and sailors always says that fruit coming from New World (( South America )) I should thats a smart way to utilize the fruit Should we move bit faster to claim it ? Vietnam : Yes ** Thailand and Vietnam moving their phase faster to claim papaya salad**

[@ThBKK]

The fact about Roti - Saimai that every Thai people knows, is tthe Roti sheet always run out before the Saimai. 🤣

[@liamburns8554]

Mendes Pinto sounds more like an old time Steven Seagal rather than Forrest Gump!

[@dougsinthailand7176]

24:34 That guys beard, no offense intended, looks like it might wind up in the dessert.

[@jasonkurtrix357]

The world noodle for Thai language is actually stolen word from Teochew

[@tonybrain5937]

Thank you for another informative and interesting episode. I am in Old Sukhothai (very similar ruins to Ayutthaya but beautifully presented). I asked the mother in law what she mostly ate when she was young. Her answer Nam Prik Fish. I hope you can visit Sukhothai one day.

[@RoutierNordAmericain]

I bet it was a humbling experience, considering, that your homeland of the USA was not conceived yet in the year of 1766, when, Ayuthaya was at its peak, eh, Adam? LOL All jokes aside, I've always enjoyed my past visits to Ayuthaya, as well as, being able to dine on the city's famous grilled river prawns.

[@OTRontheroad]

Well technically 1776- although if we’re splitting hairs, that is still older than the country of Thailand! I don’t like the argument about the “age of countries”- everything comes from something that was there before

[@babusastry]

Phonetically it sounds like 'Ayodhya' of Indian history (Rama's birth place)

[@user-vt5sx7zm9w]

ภาคอีสานไทยก็มีสิ่งมหัศจรรย์เยอะ ที่คนทั่วโลกยังไม่เคยเห็น ต้องสัมผัสเอง มันเยอะอธิบายไม่ไหว ต้องมาเห็นกับตา ถ้าคนชอบเที่ยวชอบผจญภัยในไทย😊

[@namkun78]

the 'tache distracted me.....

[@Shichman]

I could not see anyone playing the guitar.....

[@TheKingOfBeans]

Ok

[@iceberg420boi]

Khom ≠ Khmer

[@despoonsamy4624]

Hi There, I absolutely love your stories and videos, they are excellently filmed and researched and even though I have been living here much longer, I've learned so much about Thailand and Thai food from you. May I, however, make a small observation. I love your language and speech when you're on camera in the videos, you are very natural, but this is not so when you narrate "B" roll. Here I think you're trying too hard to be clear and you come across as if you're 'singing'. Your stresses and intonations are totally incorrect here. Try to emanate the style that you use when you talk in the video. Please do not take this as a negative comment and once again thanks for the outstanding videos

[@jimmiephilavanh9730]

I cần tell you Papaya Salad is Laos Dish and also Sticky Rice with the Sticky Rice Basket are 100% Laotian food that started from Laos 🇱🇦 well good hunting my friends!

[@ajtom4987]

No that’s not true at all. Som-Tum in Laos is influenced by the Thai (north eastern) instead

[@jimmiephilavanh9730]

@@ajtom4987 your definitely not Laos isan use to be Lao people all real Thai people know this but won’t admit it!

[@jimmiephilavanh9730]

@@ajtom4987 Tum Mak Hoorng came from Lao 🇱🇦 lil kid not Isan Thailand 🇹🇭 go ask your grandparents before you talk with grown ups no morals with these lil ignorant kids these days!

[@GSThai]

Bigger than Beijing?

[@OTRontheroad]

In what way? Population? Yes, for a short time around 1650-1750

[@GSThai]

@OTRontheroad I think you are correct, after a quick Google search. Excellent video!

[@florian8599]

Well, Mendes Pinto blended personal experiences with third-party recounts and fiction, so that his whole work must be critically read with care. Writers can lie, especially authors of egodocuments.

[@crixtus]

Ayutthaya อยุธยา....now everyone knows. 😑Now I gotta beat the rush. And fend off feckless fellow tourists.🤧

[@suhribzevolution645]

ผมว่าอยุธยาเป็นเมืองที่มีผังเมิองดีกว่ากรุงเทพมาก คงจะดีถ้าอยุธยาได้เป็นเมืองหลวง ไทยคงเจริญก้าวหน้ากว่าที่เป็น เสียดายทองด้วงไม่ได้คิดเรื่องนี้ก่อนย้ายเมืองหลวง

[@kriswillems5661]

Actually all dishes in this video are recent, having foreign ingredients, even the seafood sauce on the grilled shrimps has chili (which is foreign). I kinda wonder what the original Thai cuisine of that area looked like. I guess people just ate anything that could find and cooked or grilled it. This video was well made, but it kinda failed to answer the main question.

[@OTRontheroad]

There is no seafood sauce on the grilled shrimps. What main question did it fail to answer? Would strongly suggest exploring our channel for history videos about ancient food from the region. I think you’ll find any information you’re looking for.

[@Bangkoknoy]

ขอบคุณสำหรับทุกสิ่งที่คุณบันทึก 🥰🙏🇹🇭

[@thasneebkk9271]

Thai cuisine is base on coconut milk and river fish.

[@jaysaeng8842]

mighty khmare ? I am afraid you misunderstand about Khmare and Khom. Khmare is just a barbarian tribe migrating from Indonesia and be slave under Khom Empire

[@OTRontheroad]

you embarrass your country with racist nonsense like that. This is not a forum for nationalist racist garbage- either take the time to educate yourself on facts, or go find a fringe conspiracy theory message board to post on, not here. This is a history channel, we deal in reality.

[@EsEs-sv1qd]

Modern Thai food is derived and copied from neighboring states like Laos & Cambodia.

[@napattaraponsaetan8929]

Which modern food? Name it

[@remhk6672]

Stupid statement without facts and evidence to back it up. You're embarrassing yourself.

[@sithsuon5974]

😂 Q: if u ask Tai peoples what BANGKOK event mean? 2% probability < if ask Khmer 8% 😂

[@napattaraponsaetan8929]

Huh? The hell you mean? Bangkok name have notthing to do with khmer

[@mobylure]

Khmer has nothing to do here dude....please reconsider.

[@OTRontheroad]

Sorry man- your own bias and racism doesn’t change history. You might want to open your mind up. Or don’t, it doesn’t matter, it still doesn’t change facts. Maybe read Rama IV’s own writing about the Khmer history of Ayutthaya.

[@mobylure]

@@OTRontheroad It's the truth dude. Ancient Khom is not Khmer. The history doesn't change......dude.

[@foodhistory1387]

Awesome!