The price of salmon in supermarkets and restaurants is crazy high. Far more than USA Japan and even parts of Europe

It a cold water fish and is imported. Same price as in the US up to ~30% more expensive depending on where it’s purchased. We get coho for ~600฿ 900gm.

Edited July 7Jul 7 by novacova

Avoiding the farmed vs wild Salmon debate... Buy a whole one from Makro - they will do the filleting for you etc.

Then you can portion it at home as you like.

About 1700 Baht for the whole Salmon - its about 315 per kg - thats the whole fish, head included etc.

12 hours ago, asterboy66 said:

The price of salmon in supermarkets and restaurants is crazy high. Far more than USA Japan and even parts of Europe

Eat a small portion of salmon and mix it with other cheap protein sources (chicken, pork, eggs) to stay within your budget.

Edited July 8Jul 8 by save the frogs

Less expensive than in the US…

I recently had a discussion with the salmon kiosk vendor in Tops about why the salmon in Tops was so much more expensive than in other supermarkets (Makro, Lotus, etc.) Was I throwing money down the drain buying salmon at Tops, I wondered. She explained to me that Tops sold a "premium" quality of salmon. When compared side by side, the salmon sold at Tops does appear to have far less fat between the muscles, and to have a firmer texture and be less mushy than the salmon typically sold in other supermarkets. Tops also trims more of the belly fat off the salmon than the cuts sold elsewhere. Also, at Tops they debone the salmon (not sure if you have to request this). After discussing this, I bought a large filet, and after eating several large portions, I am convinced the quality is superior at Tops. You're paying twice (or more) the price there, but the quality is definitely better. Whether it's worth it, I guess is up to you, but I plan to buy my salmon from Tops going forward.

What caused me to go back to Tops, (which is an hour and a half away) was that I bought some fresh salmon at my local Lotus's store and I really noticed the meat texture was really poor quality (about 799/kg if I remember correctly) in terms of fattiness, flavor, and texture. Over the years I've bought a fair amount of fresh salmon at Makro which I found to be acceptable and of reasonably good quality (but not as good as what is available at Tops). I know that Lotus's is owned by the same company that owns Makro, but I have begun to be suspicious that my local Lotus's in a fairly rural area is distributing a lower quality of produce than can be found in larger urban centers, perhaps because there is a more affluent customer base there.

Edited July 8Jul 8 by Gecko123

6 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

She explained to me that Tops sold a "premium" quality of salmon.

Premium quality from what source?

7 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Tops also trims more of the belly fat off the salmon than the cuts sold elsewhere.

That’s the best part of the fish.

8 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Also, at Tops they debone the salmon (not sure if you have to request this).

No bones in the coho we buy, and personally think it’s the best in th as of yet. Though everyone has their own preferences.

Edited July 8Jul 8 by novacova

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Avoiding the farmed vs wild Salmon debate... Buy a whole one from Makro - they will do the filleting for you etc.

Then you can portion it at home as you like.

About 1700 Baht for the whole Salmon - its about 315 per kg - thats the whole fish, head included etc.

And at Makro, you can have a photo taken by the side of Erling Haaland. 5-5-5

16 hours ago, asterboy66 said:

The price salmon

😂😂😂

Are you any relation to @rocketboy2

Edited July 8Jul 8 by SAFETY FIRST

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

head included

That's nice of them.

Can I get directions to the store please.

5 minutes ago, novacova said:

Premium quality from where?

I believe much of the farm raised salmon sold in Thailand comes from Norway. You know, you see that "Seafood from Norway" signage, and you think that everything is coming from one top rated source, but if you check the back of the half fish fillet packages, I've noted that there are multiple suppliers which suggests to me that there may be some variation in quality. If you are suggesting that the salmon sold at Tops might be coming from the Chao Praya river, I don't think that's the case. 😃

15 minutes ago, novacova said:

Belly fat, that’s the best part of the fish.

To each his own...however...I should point out that with farm raised salmon there have been claims that the fish pellets used to feed the salmon can come from sketchy (read: polluted) sources, which ends up being concentrated in the fat, which has made me somewhat hesitant to eat too much of the belly fat, but I agree with you that it can be flavorful.

16 minutes ago, novacova said:

No bones in the coho we buy, and personally think it’s the best. Though everyone has their own preferences.

I never ask for fish to be deboned. When the service has been offered, I've always declined it. I inadvertently purchased a fillet that had already been deboned, but I have to tell you it made for a more pleasant eating experience and I might have my fish deboned more often going forward. I only mentioned this because some people might appreciate this service, especially if they happen to be entertaining, and in a tiny way might help explain the higher price. Sorry if sharing that made me sound like Martha Stewart; that was not my intention. 😃

Edited July 8Jul 8 by Gecko123

25 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

And at Makro, you can have a photo taken by the side of Erling Haaland. 5-5-5

I figured I'd get red-carded and banned if I attempted a two-footed challenge at the knees....

20 minutes ago, Packer said:

That's nice of them.

Can I get directions to the store please.

Silom Soi 2 !!!... 😘

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I figured I'd get red-carded and banned if I attempted a two-footed challenge at the knees....

Yeh, but you could get your President or Prime Minister to get it overturned.

32 minutes ago, Packer said:

That's nice of them.

Can I get directions to the store please.

In my case, out of my house, 8km to the main road, 33 km straight to Makro, Phitsanulok.

9 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

In my case, out of my house, 8km to the main road, 33 km straight to Makro, Phitsanulok.

.... he was referring to a 'different type' of 'head'.... 🫣

I buy Alaskan wild caught Sockeye Salmon , from Bangkok Nature Foods for 175 Bht

for 120 grams ,and it is very good , would not buy Norwegian or any other farmed Salmon.

regards Worgeordie

16 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I buy Alaskan wild caught Sockeye Salmon , from Bangkok Nature Foods for 175 Bht

for 120 grams ,and it is very good , would not buy Norwegian or any other farmed Salmon.

regards Worgeordie

So thats about 1460 baht per Kilo - a pretty decent price for some of the best Wild Salmon out there.

1 hour ago, Gecko123 said:

I believe much of the farm raised salmon sold in Thailand comes from Norway. You know, you see that "Seafood from Norway" signage, and you think that everything is coming from one top rated source, but if you check the back of the half fish fillet packages, I've noted that there are multiple suppliers which suggests to me that there may be some variation in quality. If you are suggesting that the salmon sold at Tops might be coming from the Chao Praya river, I don't think that's the case.

The coho mentioned above is Chilean farmed coho salmon are practically equal to US and Norwegian food safety benchmarks regarding the final product you eat, and raised in pristine colder regions of southern Chile. You outta try it out sometime.

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Avoiding the farmed vs wild Salmon debate... Buy a whole one from Makro - they will do the filleting for you etc.

Then you can portion it at home as you like.

About 1700 Baht for the whole Salmon - its about 315 per kg - thats the whole fish, head included etc.

Just bought a filleted whole salmon at Big C Xtra at 495Bht/kg, head, bones and tail removed. They cut it in 200gram slices as well

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Just bought a filleted whole salmon at Big C Xtra at 495Bht/kg, head, bones and tail removed. They cut it in 200gram slices as well

B495/kg whole weight, yes?

Do they give you the collars and cheeks?

Decent size 120 baht doesn't seem expensive

I don't consider Salmon expensive at all, since a tasty & healthy protein. We buy FZ Nowegian open sea farm raised, and 480gr from Makro (฿665 / kg), less if buying more than 2 packs.

Per kg, works out cheaper than the beef tenderloin we buy, ฿1030 / kg, along with beef serving size is usually 250-300gr vs 120gr for Salmon serving size. Considerably less expensive meal than beef steak.

Pork & chicken a fraction of salmon & beef cost.

Edited July 9Jul 9 by KhunLA

8 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

B495/kg whole weight, yes?

Do they give you the collars and cheeks?

495/kg Baht is for the fillet only, not whole weight. Fillet has been pre-packed and weight checked

Edited July 9Jul 9 by CallumWK

I often buy whole salmon from Big C. They let me choose the fish I want, then fillet/debone it while I do my other shopping. The head, tail, belly bones, etc. are tray wrapped, and the fillets are placed on ice in a polystyrene box. I use that for hydroponics! I cannot fault the service.

On promotion until the 12th at 299 kg.

14 minutes ago, Madgee said:

I often buy whole salmon from Big C. They let me choose the fish I want, then fillet/debone it while I do my other shopping. The head, tail, belly bones, etc. are tray wrapped, and the fillets are placed on ice in a polystyrene box. I use that for hydroponics! I cannot fault the service.

On promotion until the 12th at 299 kg.

I notice they are quoted at 5-6kg per piece. How much fillet does that leave after deboned and all the other parts removed?

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

I notice they are quoted at 5-6kg per piece. How much fillet does that leave after deboned and all the other parts removed?

Most fish that size yield south of 50% fillet.

27 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Most fish that size yield south of 50% fillet.

Twice the price then.

23 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Eat a small portion of salmon and mix it with other cheap protein sources (chicken, pork, eggs) to stay within your budget.

I’m not going to contaminate my salmon eating enjoyment with chicken pork and eggs.

On 7/7/2026 at 10:37 PM, asterboy66 said:

The price of salmon in supermarkets and restaurants is crazy high. Far more than USA Japan and even parts of Europe

No, it's quite reasonable. However, depends where the salmon is coming from. Farm is cheap, Atlantik still ok, or even from Thailand's farms.