Somphet Market - Food Carts On The Road Are Gone.

[whimsy]

Since about a week ago, all the food cart noodle and soup vendors both day and night have been cleared under police orders from the road outside Somphet market opposite Spicy. Was told an interesting story about why that happened. Ask a local trader.

I wonder when or if they will be allowed back? I think both toursists and locals enjoyed eating there. It adds character to the tourist area.

[damian5000]

Since about a week ago, all the food cart noodle and soup vendors both day and night have been cleared under police orders from the road outside Somphet market opposite Spicy. Was told an interesting story about why that happened. Ask a local trader.

I wonder when or if they will be allowed back? I think both toursists and locals enjoyed eating there. It adds character to the tourist area.

What a fuc_king drag. I actually stay on soi 6 sometimes and this was one of my favorite places to eat. Really some bullshit. Sure it has something to do with cleaning up Chiang Mai's "image".... The Thais are inexplicably retarded at times.

[Ulysses G.]

I totally agree. The food carts at Somphet Market are the kind of thing that make the "real" Thailand so interesting and fun, and you have to love a place with so many dishes at such reasonable prices.

Thais do indeed seem intent on killing the Golden Goose in a wild attempt to get rid of middle-class travelers and lure 'quality" tourists who are willing to just throw their money away.

[Priceless]

Isn't it time to revive the old idea of barbequeing the animals at Night Safari and serving them to the visitors. That ought to really lure the 'quality' tourists...

/ Priceless

[malcy]

oh dear this will really upset my wife , she used to eat there about 17 times a day

[ollylama]

Since about a week ago, all the food cart noodle and soup vendors both day and night have been cleared under police orders from the road outside Somphet market opposite Spicy. Was told an interesting story about why that happened. Ask a local trader.

I wonder when or if they will be allowed back? I think both toursists and locals enjoyed eating there. It adds character to the tourist area.

so what was the story you heard?

[whimsy]

so what was the story you heard?

Sorry, I won't be repeating it here. I'm sure there are other members here who know or could find out. We will see if they would like to post it.

Edited January 20, 2008 by whimsy

[realthaideal]

Come on Whimzzy! Give us a hint. I went by the other day in search of my favorite smoothie guys and was sad to see everybody gone. Nobody hinted that there was a 'reason' to it. Other than maybe new rules. I'm gonna find out n tell it! You afraid everyone's gonna be like "Well... Whimzy said this and Whimzy said that, I suggest the Mayor go talk to Whimzy...??" Better to say nothing than to tease.

And as far as Somphet goes, the Talaat is the dregs of Thai fresh markets, so sad to see how many cooking schools herd them thru that ghetto ar$ed market. It also proves very authentic and exciting to budget travelers who never venture too far from the GH's back there. For me as a local, the best thing Somphet had going for it was those food carts. Sorely missed, and hopefully to be reversed just like th no-selling in front of Thapae Gate in the Walking Street. And! I've got more.... If I had to pick a place where the stopping n shopping and the choked up traffic makes for a dangerous sitchee-ation, Somphet wasn't one of them, I'd pick either CM Gate Mkt, or the Chang Puak food carts North of the Moat. For a short while they banned car parking there in front of the Chang Puak carts and traffic was way less hazardous. But that's already gone the way of the of the dodo bird, and back to stop-n-start herky-jerky. You can quote me.

[lannarebirth]

If they clean up the filth and rats that surrounded those carts night and day, I'd like to see a comeback. I love eating off the street from foodcarts but never at Somphet Market. Just too dirty.

[ollylama]

are the evening food carts still gone from somphet market? still wondering about the "inside scoop" - why they got banned.

o