Chatuchak Weekend Market is no doubt the most well-known day market in Bangkok and for many good reasons too—the sheer size of this outdoor market makes it impossible for you to cover the entire place in a day.

Covering 27 acres of land in total, Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest market in Bangkok and is home to over 8,000 stalls featuring Thai street food, fashion, homeware, flowers and so much more.

For first-timers to Chatuchak Weekend Market, it can be quite intimidating to try and navigate your way around. However, you have nothing to fear! Our guide to all the amazing street food you have to try there will help you narrow down your choices so you know what to look out for.

Here is a guide on 12 Street Food At Chatuchak Weekend Market You Have To Try.

#1 FISH CAKES

Thai fish cake or known as “tod mun pla krai” in Thai is a snack that is extremely popular among the locals. You will find a few stalls offering this delicious finger food when you walk down Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Apart from deep frying the fish cakes, there are also pan-fried versions which may be slightly healthier as there is significantly less oil used. Of course, we think that every diet plan should be thrown out of the window when you visit this weekend market!

#2 FRIED QUAIL EGGS

For those who have been to Bangkok, you would know that fried quail eggs or “khai nok kra-ta” is a common street food found in most night markets. Try it for yourself to see why this simple recipe is a local favourite!

#3 GRILLED SKEWERS

You can tell that a stall is selling grilled skewers on charcoal from afar—the heavenly aroma will hit you first before you even set eyes on it. From meat to seafood and fish cakes, there is really no stopping once you start indulging in them!

#4 GRILLED SAUSAGES

Many of you will agree with us that sausages are one of the best light bites to munch on. If you are not feeling adventurous that day, you can always fall back on grilled sausages because the taste will never go wrong.

#5 KEBAB

There is no such thing as too much meat and a kebab is probably the best way to get all the energy you need for shopping around the enormous Chatuchak Weekend Market.

#6 THAI CRISPY PANCAKES

Also known as “Khanom Bueang”, these crispy pancakes make wonderful snacks if you are not looking for anything too heavy. The pancakes are made from rice flour and filled with coconut cream.

Decide on which toppings you prefer; there are sweet and savoury ones such as shredded coconut and fried egg yolk.

#7 TOASTED BREAD

Don’t be surprised to see stalls selling warm toasted bread when you are at Chatuchak Weekend Market. While it looks unassuming as compared to other street food, it is a comforting snack to munch in between full-flavoured food.

#8 RED RUBY

It is easy to be tempted by a bowl of Red Ruby dessert when you are walking in the sweltering heat.  For those who have no idea what a Red Ruby is, you will find some water chestnuts and glutinous rice flour balls in sweet coconut milk.

#9 TRADITIONAL THAI MILK TEA

Thai milk tea is possibly one of the best beverages you can find at Chatuchak Weekend Market. We were so amazed by their ‘tea pulling’ technique which involves pouring the milk tea from one tin jug to the other. Sometimes, those who are really skilled can even make a full turn while pouring the tea!

Of course, there is also the ready-made version of Thai milk tea sold in many stalls along the way as well.

#10 COCONUT ICE CREAM

Coconut ice cream is iconic in Thailand and you have to try it at least once during your trip. Scoops of coconut ice cream are served on coconut husks and some come with extra toppings including peanut, aloe vera and atap seed.

#11 ICE POPSICLES

The street vendors pour in juice and soft drinks to make ice popsicles and they can be found along the streets of Chatuchak Weekend Market. Not only do they make great desserts, these colourful ice popsicles also brighten up your Instagram feed!

#12 ICE CREAM CUBES

We found this small stall selling creamy ice cream in cubes. Nothing really outstanding in particular but you can choose a number of flavours and prices are very affordable.

OTHER INTERESTING STALLS TO SEE

Fresh fruit juice for you? There are plenty of street stalls offering fruit juice and whole coconuts for you to quench your thirst.

Those who want to escape the heat can choose among many established eateries or restaurants in Chatuchak Weekend Market. You can also find classic Thai dishes there but bear in mind that prices are generally higher and the places are more commercialised.

Once you are feeling full from all the food you have been enjoying, go ahead with some retail therapy! You can find many decent deals and bargains at the day market, no matter what you are looking for.

Chatuchak Weekend Market
587/10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd
Bangkok, Thailand
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest BTS: Mo Chit

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Read our Bangkok food and travel guides to find the best places to visit in Bangkok.

Jatujak Green—or commonly known as JJ Green Market—is one of our favourite night markets in Bangkok. Situated near to the popular Chatuchak Market, JJ Green Market is where you will find both locals and tourists indulging in Thailand’s best street food, haggling prices with retail stall owners and chilling the night away with a beer or two.

The crowd starts coming in after 5pm and the place is most happening from Thursday to Sunday nights. If you are not planning to take a cab because of the peak hour jam, you can take a slow walk from Mo Chit BTS Station.

Not sure what to do or eat there? Take a look at our guide to JJ Green Market.

#1 HAVE YOUR DINNER AT ONE OF THE MANY EATERIES THERE

There are many Thai eateries in JJ Green Market serving a range of local and fusion food. Depending on your preference that day, choose to have a hot bowl of tom yum goong or go for some Japanese-inspired ramen noodles that day.

What we would recommend though, is this Thai boat noodles (small – THB35/S$1.45, large – THB50/S$2.05) in JJ Green Market. It was hands down one of the better ones we have tried in Bangkok and judging from the crowd that night, we are sure many locals and travelers agree with us too.

The flavourful broth and tender meat won our hearts in an instant and we found ourselves polishing off the bowl within minutes. In fact, it was so good that we would come back to JJ Green Market just to have this again!

Watch the chefs in action as they whip up your food right in front of your eyes.

#2 MUNCH ON FINGER FOOD AND LIGHT BITES

If you are not having a meal there, go for some snacks instead. It is impossible to resist the strong aroma of street food when you are walking around JJ Green Market. What we suggest for you to do is to munch on some light bites along the way as you wander around the market.

Cheese toasties are all the rage now and you can find them at JJ Green Market too! We decided to go for extra cheese which set us back at THB65/S$2.67.

The cheese toasts are first grilled on a hot pan with generous amounts of butter. Thereafter, a handful of cheese bits will be placed in between two pieces of hot toasts. While the flavour is exactly how a normal cheese toast would taste, the cheese pull is definitely Instagram-worthy!

Grilled skewers are a must-have when it comes to night markets and that is exactly what we ordered there too. Choose from a selection of savoury meat including pork, chicken and even seafood.

We popped by a random grill stall and was surprised by how intense the marinate was; it was so sinful yet so delicious.

#3 TREAT YOURSELF TO DESSERTS

When you are ready to move on to some sweet treats, JJ Green Market has plenty to offer. Share a crepe with your friends or cool off from the heat with scoops of ice cream sitting on attractive cones.

#4 CHILL AT BARS WITH LIVE MUSIC

Nothing feels more relaxed than a chill drinking session with your squad at JJ Green Market. Many of the bars there come with a live band so you can sing along to your favourite tunes or dedicate a song for your loved ones.

Party animals would be glad to know that some of the bars open till wee hours of the day, so you can party the night away!

#5 SHOP TILL YOU DROP

The endless rows of fashion retail stalls make JJ Green Market a shopaholic’s heaven. This is where you can get your hands on the latest fashion hauls and cheap accessories. If you are looking for souvenirs to bring home, you can actually find great deals there without having to purchase cliche items such as key chains and magnets for your friends.

Yes, you can find snacks that are going for only THB5/S$0.20 to THB20/S$0.80! The range is extensive too so take your time to pick what you like.

JJ Green Market
1 Kamphaeng Phet 3
Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand
Thu to Sun: 5pm – 2am
Nearest BTS: Mo Chit

Read: 7 Reasons Why You Must Visit ChangChui In Bangkok

Talad Neon is a new night market in Bangkok that has been making rounds on social media this year. It is just like any other night market in Bangkok but here’s what sets them apart from the rest—they offer extremely photogenic or ‘Instagram-worthy’ food which will gain the envy of all your friends.

Located near to the popular Platinum Fashion Mall, many young locals and tourists make their way to Talad Neon after 5pm to indulge in street food and shopping for the latest fashion apparels.

Is this popular hipster night market in Bangkok worth going?

This downtown night market in Pratunam is home to over 900 stalls ranging from food to fashion and even a hipster barber shop housed in a shipping container! Talad Neon is best visited during the evenings from Wednesday to Sunday.

We are always up for anything with cheese and could not tear our eyes away from this stall. Imagine hot crispy fries drenched in rich nacho cheese—we died and went to cheese heaven.

As we were queuing up for the cheese fries, we got distracted by the neighbouring taiyaki stall which offers this delicious snack in a range of flavours such as cheese and even durian.

Being cheese fanatics, we got our taiyaki with cheese fillings and boy, were we impressed with the generous portions of cheese found inside which spilled over when we tore the taiyaki apart. Don’t forget to capture a Boomerang video of that cheese pull!

Is there a better combination than meat and cheese? We highly doubt so. You can watch your meat being grilled right in front of your eyes at this stall called Meat & Cheese in Talad Neon.

There are four options for you to choose from—meat, meat and cheese, premium sausage and meat & sausage. Top up slightly more for the addition of bacon or cheese.

Those who are looking for a snack will find plenty there as well. All these small bites that you get along the way is enough to fill your tummy and keep you full for an entire night of shopping.

‘Bloody’ Drink may be gimmicky but we had lots of fun taking pictures with the blood bag. The blood bags are filled with fruit punch and those with a sweet tooth can consider getting this drink to cool off from the humid Bangkok weather.

How it works is actually pretty simple. Take a sip from the working tube that is attached to the bag and once you are done, just close the clip to prevent the water from leaking out.

Of course, no trip to Bangkok is complete if we skipped their traditional Thai milk tea. If you have seen videos of locals spinning around as they pour Thai milk tea in a thin stream, this is exactly what it is.

We were treated to a marvelous show where our milk tea was poured from one jug to the other. Doesn’t he remind you of our Singaporean teh tarik uncles?

Another reason why Talad Neon is an up-and-coming destination is that you can find affordable fashion hauls there as well. From clothes and bags to accessories and shoes, you probably can find something that suits your preference.

Since shipping containers are now in trend for many lifestyle destinations, Talad Neon is no exception as well. Look out for this vintage barber shop as you wander along the night market. If you are feeling up to it, you can even leave the place with a new haircut!

All in all, we felt that this hipster night market is a worth a visit if you are not willing to squeeze with the large crowds you will find at the more established night markets in Bangkok. However, we would not prioritise Talad Neon in our itinerary as it is not as interesting as the more popular night markets such as JJ Green and Rot Fai Market Ratchada and you are unlikely to find plenty of traditional Thai street food at Talad Neon.

Talad Neon
1087 Khwaeng Makkasan
Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
Bangkok, Thailand
Thu to Sun: 5pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest BTS: Chitlom

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/08/talad-neon-bangkok/feed/ 1 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/08/changchui-bangkok/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/08/changchui-bangkok/#comments Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:00:02 +0000 Julee Ooi http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=140989 Continue reading →]]>

One of the latest addition to Bangkok’s thriving night market scene is ChangChui in Thonburi district. The term ‘”chui” refers to being disorganised in the Thai language but do not be deceived by its name—the huge lifestyle space is a one-stop destination for everything art related.

Think fashion apparel stalls, concept cafes, food trucks and a vintage cinema for the film buffs. The creative co-working space looks more like a page in a fairy tale book than the usual boisterous Thai night markets you are used to seeing in Bangkok.

If you are thinking of visiting this creative night market in Bangkok, here are 7 Things Not To Miss Out When You Are In ChangChui.

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#1 THERE IS AN OLD AEROPLANE IN THE CENTRE OF CHANGCHUI

It is impossible to miss this old aeroplane right smack in the middle of ChangChui market. Yes, you can now imagine how enormous this market is; there is still plenty of space to roam around.

Spice up your Instagram feed by taking your OOTD pictures right in front of this aeroplane!

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#2 FOOD TRUCKS AND FOOD STALLS

The inner hipsters in us were thrilled to see all these food trucks around the market. If you are feeling hungry from all the shopping, head to any of these vans and get yourself some bites.

Check out this cheese toastie stall in ChangChui—the generous amount of melted cheese sandwiched in between lightly toasted bread is our idea of perfection. Do not forget to do a cheese pull for your Boomerang video!

You can get a cheese toastie for THB49/S$2.03 at ChangChui.

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There are many takeaway kiosks offering finger food such as grilled squid where you can have them on the go too. Those who are feeling peckish but not in the mood for a full meal can go around trying various kind of light bites as you walk around.

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For a taste of local food, drop by Mr. M food van and try their Green Curry Fried Chicken Rice and the Original Fried Chicken Rice with Spicy Sauce. While the food is not the best we have tried in Bangkok, they are decent for its price point.

Both are going at THB65/S$2.67 each.

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#3 SO MANY COFFEE SHOPS TO CHOOSE FROM

There is no lack of good coffee shops in ChangChui but the one that left the deepest impression on us was One Ounce For Onion. While the lifestyle cafe is not new to Bangkok, we would still recommend visiting this concept outlet at ChangChui.

Bookworms will enjoy browsing the collection of books displayed around the coffee bar. A night of reading paired with an aromatic cuppa is one of the best ways to unwind from the pressures of life.

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Prefer al fresco seating instead where you can take in the cool night breeze? Head over to Oldman Cafe where you can indulge in craft beers, live music and a menu showcasing a selection of western food.

#4 SHOP TILL YOU DROP

For the uninitiated, ChangChui is a project by Somchai Songwattana—the owner of Flynow which is an established fashion brand in Thailand.

As the brainchild of a clothing designer, you can expect ChangChui to be home to many fashion apparel brands. With so many options there, surely there will be something that will catch your eye!

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#5 GET YOURSELF A TATTOO

No creative space is complete without the addition of a tattoo parlour as tattoo art is an extremely popular way of self expression. If you are feeling up to it, you can even make a bold statement by getting an outrageous tattoo art. Just be sure you won’t regret it afterwards!

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#6 HAVE FUN AT SHOOTING GAMES

Are tattoos too extreme for you? Not to worry! You can try your hand at shooting games instead. We are more than glad to see this classic fun fair attraction in ChangChui as the game never gets old.

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#7 CATCH A FILM AT THIS VINTAGE THEATRE

Skip your usual cinemas and come to this vintage theatre instead. Instead of blockbuster movies, you can expect screenings such as documentaries and films by local talents. On top of that, do keep a lookout for occasional performances as well.

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Entry to ChangChui sets an adult back at THB100/S$4.11. However, it is complimentary for those who are disabled and all children below 120cm.

ChangChui
460/8 Sirindhorn Road
Bangpld, Bangkok
10700 Thailand
Tel: +66 81817 2888
Tue to Sun: 4pm – 11pm

For more recommendations, read our guide on 28 best cafes in Bangkok.

Shopping in Bangkok is quite an experience, be it spending a day at markets like Pratunam and Chatuchak Market, or visiting the shopping malls like Emporium, MBK Centre and Central World – there is so much to see and buy.

If you have never been to Bangkok, here’s a quick guide that can help you get started.

Bangkok = shopping + eating + going for massages + more shopping.

Platinum shopping mall

For girls, what better way than to spend an entire day at Platinum – the famous wholesale fashion mall – where you can embark on a wardrobe revamp. Expect arrays of trendy apparels, accessories of all sorts; shoes that would drive you crazy; bags for all occasions; and colourful cosmetics. On a side note, if you need a boost of energy, head to the food court at level six to treat yourself to typical Thai eats like pad Thai, kway chap, and beef noodles.

Pratunam market

Pratunam is a humble version of Platinum – but presented in a form of a street market. Located strategically across Platinum mall, you may chance upon similar stuff at wholesale prices, too. Shopping at Pratunam may be hotter, but there is really nothing to complain with all the steals you can get. Do note that they close early, though. Packing up starts at 3pm.

Siam Square

This is where local designers’ merchandise is curated and congregated at; think of alternative fashion and unexpected styles. Prices here are significantly higher than what you would pay at Platinum or Pratunam, but you can be assured of the quality.

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak weekend market, frequently called J.J, is the largest market in Thailand. This is one place you definitely would not want to miss when you are in Bangkok. Whether you are looking for cheap deals and small buys, or investing in more quality items, J.J market has all to offer.

It is a comprehensive place for you to get just about anything and everything – clothes and whatnot for both kids and adults, furniture and home accessories, chinaware and home fragrances, books and scrolls, fresh produce and local snacks, and even pets. The list goes on…

MBK Centre

MBK and shopping are synonymous when people talk about coming to Bangkok. While it has been overcrowded with tourists in the recent years, MBK is still a stop worth spending time at. There is definitely something for everything – be it food, movies, massages, beauty salons, and of course, everyone’s favourite induglence – retail therapy. Yes, lots to buy, from clothes and shoes to mobile accessories, and local produce and random little stuff.

Words by Melody Yap, photos by ladyironchef