Thai Restaurant Industry Faces Crisis as Purchases Plummet by 40%

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

Perfect example of the Tourist Rip Off.

here's a tourist rip off for you.

600 Baht for 2 drinks (non alcoholic, juice and smoothie), fries, and spring rolls. 

but ... in a prime location AND a live band!

I was trying to impress a girl and didn't even bother looking at the prices ... but once you're in there, you look stupid if you complain about the prices. thank God she didn't order a full meal. would have set me back 2000 baht easily!

moral of the story: never try to impress a girl AND everyone gets ripped off sooner or later

 

[black tabby12345]

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

once you're in there, you look stupid if you complain about the prices.

 

 

Not my issue.

As I don’t go to these places out of vanity, in the first place.

As simple as that...

[ronnie50]

Even the pricier places like the most well-known chain of Japanese restaurants is getting weird. Along with my food, I usually ordered an orange juice, already overpriced at 95 baht (price hasn't changed), and is always filled more with ice than orange juice. Anyway, that's not uncommon to have more ice than drink in many places, so for the last year I'd order the orange juice with no ice, and it would arrive in a half-sized glass at same price of 95 baht. No problem. However, this week, when I went to the same branch and ordered the same thing and got the half-sized glass with no ice, I got a surprise. When the bill came, I was charged MORE because I didn't want the ice. Same small glass - bill said "orange juice - no ice -100 baht" Okay, so it's only 5 baht more. But it's the principle - why would I pay more for the same amount of OJ but no ice?  So I argued with the manager and she changed it back to 95 baht. She was really unhappy and complained to her staff about me. Whatever. TIT. I remember when I first moved to Thailand, a box of 12 Heineken at the supermarket was actually more expensive than buying 12 bottles individually. When I asked why, I was told it was because I was getting a box too.. 

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

Even the pricier places like the most well-known chain of Japanese restaurants is getting weird. Along with my food, I usually ordered an orange juice, already overpriced at 95 baht (price hasn't changed), and is always filled more with ice than orange juice. Anyway, that's not uncommon to have more ice than drink in many places, so for the last year I'd order the orange juice with no ice, and it would arrive in a half-sized glass at same price of 95 baht. No problem. However, this week, when I went to the same branch and ordered the same thing and got the half-sized glass with no ice, I got a surprise. When the bill came, I was charged MORE because I didn't want the ice. Same small glass - bill said "orange juice - no ice -100 baht" Okay, so it's only 5 baht more. But it's the principle - why would I pay more for the same amount of OJ but no ice?  So I argued with the manager and she changed it back to 95 baht. She was really unhappy and complained to her staff about me. Whatever. TIT. I remember when I first moved to Thailand, a box of 12 Heineken at the supermarket was actually more expensive than buying 12 bottles individually. When I asked why, I was told it was because I was getting a box too.. 

That's the same as McDonald's, Burger king etc, the price of the cola is based on it having loads of ice

[johng]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

, a box of 12 Heineken at the supermarket was actually more expensive than buying 12 bottles individually. When I asked why, I was told it was because I was getting a box too.

Yes if you put all the bottles back in the box when empty....you get even a few more baht back when the recycling team come to collect them

Last I recall was 12 baht per box.

[HOOD Robin]

After the covid in many tourist restos (also others) prices went to the ceiling...
Typical Thai... what they lost in a few years they want to earn back in a few weeks...

[kiwikeith]

On 3/29/2025 at 12:24 PM, kiwikeith said:

Not so, the delivery service takes big commission and gives discount coupons they can deliver somtum for 30 Bhat with a coupon they are supplying food from 7/11 now and people are turning their car park spaces into illegal kitchens, the.Bike companies don't care who they buy from they take over 30%commission 

If you love food poisoning and 50 bhat food you know where to go.

[BritManToo]

17 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

That's the same as McDonald's, Burger king etc, the price of the cola is based on it having loads of ice

Bu McD/BK/KFC are all self service for drinks (and free refills), so you can choose not to put in ice.

[scubascuba3]

31 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Bu McD/BK/KFC are all self service for drinks (and free refills), so you can choose not to put in ice.

ah ok, I haven't bought a drink there for years, just burgers usually 

[superal]

On 3/27/2025 at 1:54 PM, save the frogs said:

did you ever run a restaurant?

ever heard of .... overhead expenses? 

But not too many expenses for street vendors . Amazes me when they park their rig outside of a restaurant to sell their food . It seems to me that less wealthy Thais get by on eating noodles or rice alone .

Very high rents in popular areas are the main cause of closures , IMO . A 500% mark up on say a small beer that costs 30 baht to the business to buy but retails in some tourist spots for 150 baht is astonishing but even a hike like that cannot always save a business in touristy areas .

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, superal said:

But not too many expenses for street vendors . Amazes me when they park their rig outside of a restaurant to sell their food . It seems to me that less wealthy Thais get by on eating noodles or rice alone .

Very high rents in popular areas are the main cause of closures , IMO . A 500% mark up on say a small beer that costs 30 baht to the business to buy but retails in some tourist spots for 150 baht is astonishing but even a hike like that cannot always save a business in touristy areas .

 

Street vendors are not even allowed where I come from. It's to protect restaurants for sure. Bu then again, there isn't as much disparity and lower class people who can't afford restaurants. 

 

I don't go to restaurants very often. Now people think they should be able to afford eating out every day. I only eat out once in a while and I don't lose sleep over the prices. 

 

The food stalls are mostly a waste of money. Or maybe OK for an ocassional indulgence. A 50 baht pad thai doesn't do it for me. There's probably less than 10 grams of protein in there. I can't survive on that and would rather grab stuff from the supermarket. 

 

I popped into a bar. One bar girl said she used to work as a cook in restaurant in Bangkok, but it closed down after Covid. So she ended up in the bar to survive.

 

Everybody's Got a Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[save the frogs]

On 3/29/2025 at 6:32 AM, ronnie50 said:

Even the pricier places like the most well-known chain of Japanese restaurants is getting weird. Along with my food, I usually ordered an orange juice, already overpriced at 95 baht (price hasn't changed), and is always filled more with ice than orange juice.

Restaurants hate me because I rarely order drinks. And drinks are probably their biggest profit margins and no effort required.

 

I hydrate at home. And just order the food there. 

 

[Kaopad999]

On 3/28/2025 at 8:52 AM, Kaopad999 said:

30- 40 THB 

I'm not sure why some morons left a  funny or confusing emoji to my original comment.. If you actually bother to step out the tourist areas, you'll realize that these are the standard prices  at local Thai markets.  I literally went to my local market 2 days ago and paid 40 THB for a huge serving of Mango Sticky rice. Other vendors were selling smnaller portions 30 THB