Chatuchak guide
Undeniably, Chatuchak Market is a must-experience market for all tourists visiting Thailand for the first time. The market offers various street food stalls and affordable stylish clothing stores that will tempt you to open your wallet.
Here’s our Chatuchak guide to the market for your next trip to Thailand. These shops are our top picks for where you should visit, or at least tell your friends to look out for if they’re headed there for the first time in a long while.
Let’s go find out what is included in this Chatuchak guide.
-Must-eats at Chatuchak Market-
1. The OG coconut ice cream — your ice cream cup is literally a coconut
First up on our Chatuchak guide is the coconut ice cream stand.
For just ฿50 (~USD2), you can get three scoops of coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell. The price also includes toppings like peanuts, corn, jellies and lychee.
The ice cream is also served in the fruit’s casing, which means there are also bits of coconut for you to munch on alongside the creamy dessert.
Be sure to tell the hawker if you’re allergic to nuts.
You can – and should – find this little cart in section 20.
The coconut ice cream here had a more milkier taste than what we were used to – combine that with the overall creamy frostiness of the dessert and you have the perfect combo for your next Songkran trip to Chatuchak.
After all, did you even go to Chatuchak if you didn’t get coconut ice cream served in a coconut?
2. Pad Thai Big Prawn — a platter of Pad Thai with large, juicy prawns
Pad Thai is a globally recognised Thai dish that many happily gobbles down.
Located around Section 23 of the market is Phad Thai Big Prawn, a hawker that serves jumbo-sized prawns with their signature noodle dish.
We ordered their “small-sized” Pad Thai Noodle Big Prawn that cost ฿280 (~USD9), and got a generous serving of Pad Thai along with four large prawns
While we do wish the prawns were a tad fresh, the unbeatable serving size and overall taste helped us forget about that.
Considering Phad Thai Big Prawn was even featured in Chinese-speaking media, this restaurant should be at the top of your list.
Image credit: Prowd Issarasena
Address: 350 Soi 31/1 Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Telephone: +66 8 3079 2231
Google Maps
3. Miruku Pure Milk Chatuchak — icey milkshake
Located in section 8, Miruku Pure Milk Chatuchak is a tiny shack that reminds us of our travels to Japan.
The shop was made with strips of dark wood and had different coloured flags with Japanese characters printed on it. Kind of like what you’d see at Asakusa.
For only ฿45 (~USD2), we got their signature Original Pure Milk milkshake. As you’d expect from a milkshake, the drink was creamy and icy – perfect for a hot day at Chatuchak.
Although the stall doesn’t use milk from Hokkaido, we bet you wouldn’t be able to tell if we didn’t already mention it.
Address: 61/3 Pracha Chuen Rd, Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210
Google Maps
4. จตุจักรเฉาก๊วยโบราณ Since 1999 — traditional grass jelly in tea & smoothie
Image credit: จตุจักรเฉาก๊วยโบราณ via Facebook
If you love Thai desserts but have missed out on this grass jelly, it’s time to give it a shot now.
The reason we recommend this shop is that it serves grass jelly in tea and smoothies that help you refresh yourself amidst the heat. Or, you can just enjoy it plain with ice in a bowl topped with sugar at ฿25 (~USD0.69).
Image credit: จตุจักรเฉาก๊วยโบราณ via Facebook
The shop is just a small stall, so pay attention when looking for it. It is located in Section 6 close to the walking road.
Address: Address 107, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Opening hours: Sat-Sun 9am-6pm
Google Maps
5. Viva 8 — Its paella is a must-try dish
Image credit: Viva 8 via Facebook
Looking for a place to rest with good music and drinks? Don’t skip this Viva 8 in Section 8. The restaurant will serve you as a hangout spot with good food and drinks. A multitude of people chilling out here will confirm that.
Image credit: Viva 8 via Facebook
The highlight food here can be nothing else but paella — a Spanish fried rice cooked in a sizeable pan. You’ll see a lot of tourists standing and enjoying watching it being cooked at the front. The dish costs about ฿160 (~USD4.39) more or less.
Address: 375-367 Section 8 Soi 16/1 Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Opening hours: Friday-Sunday 9am-9pm | Tuesday-Thursday 9am-5pm, closed on Mondays
Google Maps
Interesting shops worth checking out in Chatuchak Market
If you visit Chatuchak Market, you might feel overwhelmed by the large number of shops scattered around the market. It can be hard to visit all the shops in one day. Don’t worry, we just want to collect some interesting shops that are worth visiting when you’re there.
6. Toy shop at the old Japara Perfume stall
The Toy Shop is run by a man with an inventory that rivals Mister Geppetto’s from Disney’s Pinocchio.
From Hello Kitty to Jack Skeleton and Disney films, this Geppetto IRL is highly likely to carry toys from whatever franchise you stan.
The shop sits where the since-closed Japara Group CO., LTD used to be in Section 2.
Address: Soi 41/1 Room. 281-282, Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Google Maps
7. Cotton Fabric — Japanese meme printed clothes
Image credit: Prowd Issarasena
Just a little further down from Mister Geppetto’s little toy collection is Cotton Fabric. The vendor sells t-shirts with animals and Japanese words on them.
Shiba Inu fans and cat slaves, their stall is just right for you – you’ll be able to proudly present your undying love for your furry kids with Cotton Fabric’s shirts.
Prices vary from ฿150 (~USD5) to ฿200 (~USD6).
8. Bohemian wear for your 2024 wardrobe
While many of us have become much more accustomed to shopping online for boho wear, Chatuchak Market offers a larger variety.
From accessories to sun hats, and other glad rags, Section 2 of Chatuchak Market gives you the chance to update your wardrobe with affordable options.
9. Smart casual clothes for WFH online meetings
While working from home, we tend to wear our PJs to our Zoom meetings. This may be the new normal – but smart casual wear will always be in style. Especially if we want to close sales deals with our potential clients or impress our bosses, a bossed-up WFH attire is essential.
We managed to find plenty of shops around Sections 3-4 that sold business casual stapes like collared shirts and pleated trousers for only ฿200 (~USD6) to ฿300 (~USD9).
It won’t cost you much to invest in a fit that’ll seal the deal.
10. Karakoram — secondhand vintage American apparels
Image credit: Karakoram via Facebook
Head over to Karakoram in Section 5 if you’re into vintage clothing; they have a fantastic selection of rare pieces that will excite you. The owner is really welcoming, and the shop has signs in Thai, English, and Japanese, showing that it is popular among foreigners.
Image credit: Karakoram via Facebook
Whether you want casual tees, shirts, trousers or big winter jackets in earth tones, they have those for you. Pick out some pieces for mix-and-match styling and make a stylish impact wherever you go.
Address: Section 5 Soi 1 Phahonyothin Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Opening hours: Sat-Sun 10am-7pm
Google Maps
11. Dilok Books — an old bookstore with cheap secondhand books in Thai and English
Image credit: @Katelyn Foley via Google Maps
Let us end our Chatuchak Guide with this old bookshop — Dilok Bookstore.
Dilok Bookstore has been here for such a long time. Used books come in a variety of genres in Thai and English. You can get some at low prices if you save money by not buying a new one from a bookstore like Asiabook. So, if you have time, drop by here and take a look around.
Address: 1/100, Section 1 Soi 35/1, 259-262, Chatuchak, กรุงเทพมหานคร, 10900
Opening hours: 10am-7pm, Daily
Google Maps
Save this Chatuchak Guide and go explore the market!
Whether it’s the coconut ice cream cart or a boho-clothing store, visiting these vendors at Chatuchak Market lets you step into the world of those who have been part of one of the country’s fastest-growing marketplaces.
After the COVID-19 situation has gotten better, we’re excited to see the smiles on the vendors’ faces once they realise that their livelihoods are back up and running.
You can visit Chatuchak Weekend Markey by riding the MRT to Kamphaenphet Station or the BTS to Mo Chit Station and walking to the market in 6-7 minutes.
Hopefully, you’ll find this Chatuchak guide useful.
For more guides, check out Guide to Phang Nga, Phuket’s low-key sibling, the ultimate Patong Beach guide for first-timers, and 12 things to do in Phuket Old Town
Opening Hours: Friday-Sunday 5am-6pm
Address: Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Telephone: +66 2 2724 813
Nearest Train Station: BTS Mo Chit, MRT Chatuchak Park or MRT Kampaeng Phet
Google Maps
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Thailand
The article was originally published by Prowd Issarasena in October 2021, and last updated by Bank Fasaisirinan in March 2024.
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