Government Plans 40-Baht Meal Scheme Nationwide

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is preparing to launch a nationwide programme encouraging participating restaurants to sell rice-and-side-dish meals and other ready-to-eat dishes for no more than 40 baht per plate, with government financial support to help offset ingredient costs. The proposal is intended to reduce living costs, particularly for salaried workers, while allowing restaurants to join the scheme voluntarily.

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Announced on 11 July 2026, the initiative is tentatively named the Khao Kaeng Thai Chuay Thai (Thai Helps Thai Rice-and-Side-Dish Programme). Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said the project would build on the existing Thai Help Thai Plus programme as part of broader government efforts to ease household expenses during a period of rising living costs.

Under the proposal, participating restaurants would offer selected ready-to-eat meals meeting agreed quality and portion standards for a maximum price of 40 baht per serving. A typical meal would consist of rice served with at least two side dishes.

To help businesses manage costs, the government plans to provide subsidies for cooking ingredients. Officials are considering support packages worth 3,000 baht, 5,000 baht or 10,000 baht for each participating restaurant.

The Commerce Ministry expects to begin the pilot with 100,000 restaurants drawn from a network of around 250,000 eateries already affiliated with the ministry or taking part in the Thai Help Thai Plus programme. The pilot is expected to run for at least three months and could begin immediately after receiving Cabinet approval.

The Department of Internal Trade is finalising the proposal before submitting it to the Cabinet during the third week of July. Suphajee stressed that participation would be entirely voluntary and that the government would not impose price controls on restaurants.

Instead, businesses choosing to join the programme would receive financial assistance in return for providing affordable meal options. Participating restaurants would also receive official signs to display outside their premises, making it easier for customers to identify outlets offering the subsidised 40-baht meals.

Khaosod reported that if the pilot proves successful, the Commerce Ministry plans to expand the programme by increasing the number of participating restaurants across the country. The results of the initial three-month trial will help determine whether the scheme becomes a longer-term measure to support consumers and food businesses.

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12 July 2026