A plate of somtam for 150 baht

 

Mae Rim deputy district official Boonyarit Nipawanit has taken action against food shops that overcharge tourists.

The action was taken after a number of tourists sent complaints to the Damrongtham Center in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai that many food shops have overcharged tourists, sanook.com reported yesterday (Dec 5, 2020).

In a random check on five food shops, the center found that a plate of ‘somtam’ is priced at 150 baht. ‘Namprik Ong’ and ‘Namprik Noom’ with cooked vegetables are sold for 200 baht.

A 600 cc bottle of drinking water is also more expensive than what is sold in the market.

https://thairesidents.com/local/a-plate-of-somtam-for-150-baht/

Were the prices not displayed ?

A plate of SomTam costs about 300 baht in a New York City restaurant.....so I guess it's still a relative bargain

14 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

Were the prices not displayed ?

Seems not

6 minutes ago, tonray said:

A plate of SomTam costs about 300 baht in a New York City restaurant.....so I guess it's still a relative bargain

Thats cheap in NY 

Not surprising. But hey there are plenty of shops. Just go to another and get some somtam for 30-40 THB.

 

Next time, you could ask how much and then say no, it's too expensive and walk away!?

 

Time to learn some Thai! Maybe?

 

How many chili do you put in yours? 3 for me.

1 minute ago, Solinvictus said:

Not surprising. But hey there are plenty of shops. Just go to another and get some somtam for 30-40 THB.

 

Next time, you could ask how much and then say no, it's too expensive and walk away!?

 

Time to learn some Thai! Maybe?

 

How many chili do you put in yours? 3 for me.

I speak more than enough Thai, that was about local people complaining 

20 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Thats cheap in NY 

...yes but they charge $1.50 for a glass of ice water...

32 minutes ago, tonray said:

A plate of SomTam costs about 300 baht in a New York City restaurant.....so I guess it's still a relative bargain

500 Baht in Sydney 

An opportunistic price gauging they call it, i make a habit to either ask or look at the menu before ordering, saved me a lot of arguments over the years...

3 minutes ago, dbrenn said:

500 Baht in Sydney 

Yes...but in Sydney it's likely made by a Thai in the kitchen...in NYC 100% certainty it's made by a Mexican cook

7 minutes ago, ezzra said:

An opportunistic price gauging they call it, i make a habit to either ask or look at the menu before ordering, saved me a lot of arguments over the years...

Me too, I was about to order chicken fried rice one night in a bar then I clocked the price 190 Baht all of a sudden I wasn't hungry, another night I thought I will have a naam soda 85 Baht and thats just in a local bar, I actually pointed that out to the owner he got the hump with me, 

In a new low for Thai visa forum farangs are now complaining about the price of som tam. 
 

Where will it end?

2 minutes ago, Natai Beach said:

In a new low for Thai visa forum farangs are now complaining about the price of som tam. 
 

Where will it end?

If you click the link it was Thai people complaining, I still wouldn't pay 200 Baht, nothing to do with money Im not playing their stupid games 

Water was cheaper at the market (like all other things)

i used to pay 7 USD per 5 liter of water in cambodia since i wasnt used to USD and sorta assumed a store that sells in bulk

wasnt going to rip me off

 

Checking the menu/asking the price first is an absolute must in Thailand, by "tourists" I presume this story is about Thai tourists, you'd think they'd know better. 

13 minutes ago, TSF said:

by "tourists" I presume this story is about Thai tourists, you'd think they'd know better. 

It was

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Thats cheap in NY 

the thread isn't about NY.

 

Considering I could have a fried rice chicken meal for 50 baht, even allowing for inflation, 150 is taking the **** IMO.

1 hour ago, tonray said:

Yes...but in Sydney it's likely made by a Thai in the kitchen...in NYC 100% certainty it's made by a Mexican cook

That's a surprise. Are there really no Thai cooks in NY?

49 minutes ago, Natai Beach said:

In a new low for Thai visa forum farangs are now complaining about the price of som tam. 
 

Where will it end?

The Sewer

1 minute ago, dbrenn said:

That's a surprise. Are there really no Thai cooks in NY?

The restuarant may be owned by Thais...but in NYC by far the go to kitchen staff for ANY ethnic cuisine is Mexican. It's not just cheaper...but there is a city in Mexico (I forget the name) that actually preps locals for kitchen jobs in America...by the time they land they know how to chop shallots, make basic sauces, cook fish, etc. So most owners in NYC use this pipeline for their staffing...more reliable than dealing with others who may not be as well prepped on day one. (My friend used to own a place in NYC and one in NJ...this is what everyone does)

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

A plate of somtam for 150 baht

 

Mae Rim deputy district official Boonyarit Nipawanit has taken action against food shops that overcharge tourists.

The action was taken after a number of tourists sent complaints to the Damrongtham Center in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai that many food shops have overcharged tourists, sanook.com reported yesterday (Dec 5, 2020).

In a random check on five food shops, the center found that a plate of ‘somtam’ is priced at 150 baht. ‘Namprik Ong’ and ‘Namprik Noom’ with cooked vegetables are sold for 200 baht.

A 600 cc bottle of drinking water is also more expensive than what is sold in the market.

https://thairesidents.com/local/a-plate-of-somtam-for-150-baht/

 

This is truly shocking ????

The real story here is that officials are only interested and take notice when it's Thais complaining. What about all the overcharging of foreigners for a whole host of things and not just somtam?

 

57 minutes ago, Natai Beach said:

In a new low for Thai visa forum farangs are now complaining about the price of som tam. 
 

Where will it end?

555555555555555555

Another poster complaining about posters complaining. Irony much?

I have had some good and bad som tams. If they don't overcharge then they can come out with a really small amount of papaya, or way too much salty sauce, or no chilis for tourists.  The good ones though are worth it and if they have  fried chicken and a beer to go with it all the better.  

Maybe they were trying to take advantage of the scheme a few people in Phuket have been done for it

277 people had filed complaints via the department's hotline 1569 about stores taking undue advantage of the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let's Go Halves) scheme.

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Considering I could have a fried rice chicken meal for 50 baht, even allowing for inflation, 150 is taking the **** IMO.

Talk's cheap on the 'net. In reality they'd charge you 150 baht for your fried rice chicken meal as well. Why not?

Tan Chamao restaurant next to the National Park (Khao Chamao, Rayong). 

40 baht. 

Cheap bottles of beer. 

Brilliant. 

Can't go wrong! 

Suggest one chillie.

 

150 baht is still cheaper than 40 baht + hospital bill

Seems like some Thai tourists to Chiang Mai got a farang tourist experience. 

 

Will they be back?  No.