Bangkok | Fresh Market Guide

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Bangkok Fresh Markets Overview























































Or Tor Kor Market
This market is a great place in which to browse or buy. Here, you can see large and fresh fruit of all types, making it the most memorable thing about Or Tor Kor Market. Moreover, vegetables, pre-cut meats and flowers, and seafood can also be found here. However, it’s not just for healthy nuts, as Thai sweets of all kinds also grace the market. Such things as, sweet sticky rice, kanom bueng (coconut crepes) and kanom krok (grilled coconut pancakes) are included in the available sweets for purchase. Additionally, the market is in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district and is near the famous Chatuchak Market.

• Address: 101, Phahonyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Klong Suan Roi Pee Market
This 100 year old market is so much fun to walk around as it is a giant bazaar. Once stepping foot on the grounds here, visitors will feel like they are in an outdoor museum. Moreover, the market offers visual stimulation the way it is designed, in addition to offering snack options along the way. As it is located outside of Bangkok, this large, old market is set along with the Prawet Burirom Kong (canal). Additionally, the market’s location makes it a great outing to see a bit of local Thai life outside of the bustling capital.

• Address: Theppharat-Lat Krabang Rd, Ban Pho, Chachoengsao 24140, Thailand

Ta Tian Market
Located along the Chao Phraya River and opposite Wat Pho, this market is often missed by tourists. However, its charm and food selection makes a trip to this market worth it. The entrance is in the middle of a U-shaped heritage-style building. Moreover, taking a stroll through this market feels like you are in a maze as it is fun and challenging to make your way through the walkways.

• Address: Maha Rat Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Sampeng Lane Market
This Chinatown market is a great indicator of what a market in China actually looks like. The market is very busy during the day and the narrow lanes are often crowded with vendors peddling a variety of goods. Visitors here will undoubtedly enjoy navigating through the crazy atmosphere, while they find a cool souvenir to bring home. Moreover, if you haven’t guessed what else you can find, we will help you: Chinese food. Here, you can find the best Chinese street food around, or sit down for a nice Chinese meal. However, the market’s madness may be the most memorable experience of your trip.

• Address: Soi Wanit 1, Yaowarat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

The Circle Ratchapruk
This modern, themed market is overflowing with brightly coloured buildings and shops. Additionally, the market features European-inspired decor, with stores focused on selling locally-designed products. The market itself has about 100 shops and stalls, and is quite popular with young families. Moreover, the market is spread out over 7,000 square metres, making it a fun place in which to spend the evening. Furthermore, the market’s artwork, educational shops and other events make it great for any age of visitor. And, if you are looking for a taste of Western fast food, the market offers several chain restaurants like McDonald’s and MK Restaurant.

• Address: 39 Ratchaphruek Rd, Taling Chan, Bangkok 10170, Thailand

[Wasabi]

The Or Tor Kor Market | Bangkok


Or Tor Kor Market is not your average market. Due to its cleanliness, selection of high quality produce, and a jaw-dropping selection of ready-to-eat food, Or Tor Kor is not necessary the best market in Bangkok (in my opinion), but it’s certainly in a class of its own when it comes to quality. That’s one of the reasons Or Tor Kor made CNN’s list of best fresh markets in the world. The market is known throughout Bangkok as a high end market – in other words if you’re looking for perfectly ripe Thai mangoes that don’t even have a single scratch on them and are the most beautiful yellow color and shape that you’ve ever seen, Or Tor Kor market is the spot to come shopping. Also, it’s worth pointing out that Or Tor Kor is not nearly the largest market in Bangkok, however, at the market you’ll find a food court, takeaway prepared food, fresh ingredients that you could make just about every Thai recipe with, and even kitchen supplies, all under one spacious roof.

One of the reason to come to Or Tor Kor Market is for the beautiful fresh market section. You’ll find just about everything from fruit, vegetables, seafood, and meat. Most of the ingredients are expensive by Thai standards, but very good quality. I especially enjoy the seafood section, probably because of my obsession with eating seafood. Even if you don’t have a kitchen when you’re in Bangkok, the market is still a wonderful place to walk around, learn about and admire the abundance of fresh ingredients used in Thai cooking.

Cooked Food Section
In the cooked food section of the market you’ll discover a bedazzling selection of Thai food ranging from steamed seafood to buffet lines of colorful curries, to all sorts of different dry and fresh nam priks (chili sauces and dips). In this part of the market, many people come and buy things for takeaway, however if you see something that looks particularly delicious, you can buy it right then and there, and either eat it on one of the benches in the middle of the market, or head over to the adjacent food court section and grab a table. There are a number of famous places to get different Thai nam pirks – which are chili sauces and pastes. The dozens of different mixtures and combinations include dry chilies, dry fish, crab, tamarind, salted egg, and shrimp paste, just to name a few. These types of nam priks are typically eaten with rice or vegetables. Within the cooked food section of the Or Tor Kor Market there are all sorts of Thai snacks and desserts available. Last time I was there, along with Dwight, we ordered some Khanom Buang, the traditional style including thin crispy crepes topped with either sweet and salty shrimp or foi tong, the stringy version of egg yolk candy (an influence of Portuguese). Other things like pork satay, Isaan sausage, grilled skewers of chicken and pork, and even harder to find regional Thai delicacies like Sai Ooah - Northern Thai Sausage) are all available within the wide and spacious alleys of delicious food. There are a number of stalls that specialize in cooked seafood, like this trophy stall packed with the meatiest of all crabs, roasted jumbo freshwater shrimp, and a number of different types of shellfish. Although you could spend a small fortune on the seafood here, it sure looks unbelievably good, and I always love the display.

Or Tor Kor Food Court
The final section of Or Tor Kor Market is the actual food court itself, which is right next to the prepared takeaway food section and the produce, sort of to the righthand side of the the market. Along with Silom Soi 10 for lunch, the food court at Or Tor Kor is one of my favorite food courts in Bangkok – there are so many great Thai foods to choose from, and it’s very clean and organized food courts – and you DON’T have to worry about using tokens or coupons like you do at mall food courts in Bangkok. The food court area reminds me of a hawker center in Singapore or Malaysia, mainly because it’s so clean, organizes, and well lit. Just like at most food courts in Thailand, after walking around and not knowing what to order, I ofter end up heading straight for the rice and curry stall – I do have soft spot in my heart for curry, but also because at Thai curry stalls they have so much of a variety. There are a good 3 – 5 different glorious rice and curry stalls (known in Thai as khao gaeng and all of them have a similar range of different dishes – some with a bit more of a regional, like southern Thai, influence. After you choose a rice and curry stall, the vendor will dish you out a plate of rice, and then you can just point and choose to whatever dish you like. On my plate pictured above is a Chuchee Pla Too which is a type of curry with a mackerel (one of my favorites), and a scoop of Moo Pad Sataw, pork with stink beans all stir fried in curry paste. Price – 70 THB – At other rice and curry restaurants in Bangkok you’ll pay 40 – 50 THB per plate like this, but at Or Tor Kor you pay a bit more, and it’s worth it.

Som Tam Or Tor Kor Restaurant
Another place I really like to eat at is called Som Tam Or Tor Kor Restaurant a stall right at the front of the food court that specializes in Isaan dishes, specifically green papaya salad. You can order whatever type of green papaya salad you prefer, including the sweet and sour version of the salad (Som Tam Tha) or green papaya salad with fermented fish sauce and crab (Som Tam Boo Pla Ra. As soon as you order, they will pound up all the ingredients, and make it fiery spicy if you ask them to, and then either dish out your som tam onto a plate to eat in the food court, or you can get it in a bag for takeaway. Som Tam Or Tor Kor Restaurant also serves grilled chicken (Gai Yang), which is fantastic. Last time I was there, I ordered a full chicken to go with my som tam, and I was impressed with how good it was. If you come to this market and want to eat some excellent grilled chicken and green papaya salad Som Tam Or Tor Kor Restaurant is a good choice.We paid 255 THB for a plate of green papaya salad, a whole chicken, and sticky rice.

Desserts
For dessert you can wander around and find plenty of Thai desserts at numerous stalls. One thing we enjoy eating is Nam Kang Sai, a choice of different candied ingredients like jackfruit, coconut jelly, water chestnuts, and other fruits and jellies, all topped with crushed ice and either coconut milk or sweet syrup.

Durian and Fruits
Lunch at the food court at Or Tor Kor Market is a great experience, but one of the best reasons to go to the market is to eat durian. At a number of fruit shops throughout the market, you’ll see near perfect looking durians stacked up like pyramids, some of them pre-peeled already and waiting to be purchased and eaten on spot. You can find all three of the major types of durian grown in Thailand, but the most popular throughout the market is toorien kanyao which is the long stem durian and often considered the best and most expensive durian in Thailand. If you choose a whole durian, it can be expensive, outrageously expensive – like Nonthaburi durian expensive – maybe 3,000 – 10,000 THB per fruit depending on weight. But especially during durian season (usually from around April – July annually), you will find packets of durian at the market that will set you back 150 – 300 THB, a well worth it stomach investment. The riper durian will be softer and more fragrant and pungent, while the less ripe durian will be more firm to the touch, and won’t be nearly as sweet or as pungent in flavor. I prefer very ripe durian so that it has a strong flavor, but if you’re concerned by the texture or smell (which you shouldn’t be!), choose a packet of durian that more on the firm side. Durian is often known as the King of Fruits while mangosteen is known as the Queen of Fruits – that’s because they are very complementary fruits. According to tradition, and maybe science, durian is a warming fruit (so it makes your body hot) while mangosteen is a cooling fruit (so it makes your body cool), and that’s why they should be eaten together. That’s a great explanation, but for me, I just like them together because durian is rich and buttery, while mangosteen is juicy and refreshing. Mangosteen can also be absurdly expensive at Or Tor Kor Market, but if you can get a couple, they should be incredibly good.

Notes
Bangkok is a city with a lot of markets. And one of the ultimate markets for Thai food lovers is Or Tor Kor Market (ตลาด อตก), located just across the road from Chatuchak Weekend Market. It’s a gourmet high end fresh market, that includes both fresh raw ingredients, and prepared Thai food. Also, and perhaps most importantly for me and you, there’s a wondrous food court at Or Tor Kor, that’s so good, I think eating there is one of the top things do in Bangkok. Along with a mouthwatering selection of food available at the market, another great thing about Or Tor Kor is how clean and well maintained it is. It’s so bright and spacious that it almost feels like you’re at a supermarket, but instead just open air, and with a much more abundant delicious selection of food. If you’re a food lover and you’re either living or visiting Bangkok, Or Tor Kor Market is one of the fresh markets and food courts that you don’t miss – and in fact, you want to go out of your way to eat here.There’s not doubt Or Tor Kor is an amazing market, but I would also encourage you to visit some other markets in Bangkok as well, like Khlong Toey or Phra Khanong Market, because Or Tor Kor lacks that nitty gritty and fast pace of other local Thai markets.

[Sundance2020]

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