Villa Markets

[55Jay]

Is there substantial difference between the various Villa Markets in BKK?  I've been to one on Suk (years ago) and one in Laksi recently.  Are they all pretty much equal, carrying the same things?  I suppose size of the shop is a factor.  Thanks for your opinion/input.

[smutcakes]

I find there is a fair difference depending on size and location, which is to be expected. The one in Thonglor seems to have a lot more Western products, deli serving hot food, even than the one relatively close on Soi 49 which does not have a deli. Not sure if that's just because its bigger or the one on 49 has a slightly different demographic and caters more to Japanese.

 

I expect the ones in more Thai areas would have less Western products.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Villa Market where I live absolutely sucks.

 

 

[Thainess]

They all carry an absolutely terrible range of usually low-quality products which are all INCREDIBLY overpriced. The only reason why I shop at them every week is because my team is Aston Villa.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

2 hours ago, Thainess said:

They all carry an absolutely terrible range of usually low-quality products which are all INCREDIBLY overpriced. The only reason why I shop at them every week is because my team is Aston Villa.

 

Agreed. To be honest, I haven't visited the Thong Lo location that the poster above you mentioned, but for the life of me I would rather eat at McDonald's than shop for food there. My choice is usually one of "Gourmet" markets in various malls.

[scoutman360]

I do a lot of western cooking and therefore I use Villa Market a lot. They have western ingredients you just can't get anywhere else. Especially Mexican (although limited). Yes, overpriced, but where else are you going to shop for something you can't get anywhere else? If I can buy is somewhere else cheaper, I do.

 

I have found that many items, such as graham crackers, come and go. Either all the stores have them, or they all do not. That makes me think there is a larger purchasing group taking care of all the stores. But I would expect each individual store can decide what they want to stock, based on what is available from corporate. Just a guess, but makes sense.

 

[Spaniel]

Just a little Villa market history.      The original Villa Market on Sukhumvit Soi 33 used to be the Villa NCO club back in the 60's and early 70's.     When it closed it was opened as the Villa Market by a Thai guy who used to work at the US Commissary.      I don't remember his name but I still see him  in the Villa market occasionally when I shop there.

[55Jay]

Thanks all for the replies.  I went to the one on Cheang Wattana Rd (Laksi) again, It's good enough for me, but next trip, I'll try the one in Thonglor.

 

I like Villa as, one poster mentioned, it has quite a few Mexican type items.  The price....right, well, the price is the price.  I also have to drive 3 1/2 hours one-way to BKK, so I tend to buy multiples of each item.  My check bin today was a personal record for grocery shopping in Thailand. 

 

Off topic note but on the way home, stopped in the Robinson's/Tops in Saraburi on the AH2 - been meaning to do that for 4 years!  They had Kerry's Irish Butter, unsalted and salted, 115 Baht.  Never seen it anywhere in Thailand that I can recall.  FYI if you like Kerry's.

[SooKee]

I often use the Sukhumvit and Suk Soi 11 stores.  I prefer the former over the latter.  I lived in Phuket before and to be honest found the branch in Bangtao much better than both here.  I use them only for items I can't get elsewhere.  I find them not too bad for quite a lot of things that you might want to pick up from there that you could get elsewhere, sometimes cheaper.  But anything that you'd consider specialist tends to be outrageously expensive.  Saw a bag of organic spinach the one time - 900 baht!!!!!!

[fruitman]

I used to go there often but last years not anymore...You have to check all the expirydates of everything you buy, they won't tell when the bread is baked, their butchers can't speak english and are rude/uninterrested people. The personell likes to do nothing all day and walk in my way, the vegy/fruit is not in the fridges but there are extreme expensive imported tomato's in them, large amounts of them.

 

At the fruit/vegy department the sales annoy me, they even can't speak english so leave me alone please. I've seen many frozen products being defrosted in their freezers and the shops are very expensive.

 

Foodland is much better but i don't like their bakery.

[55Jay]

17 hours ago, SooKee said:

I often use the Sukhumvit and Suk Soi 11 stores.  I prefer the former over the latter.  I lived in Phuket before and to be honest found the branch in Bangtao much better than both here.  I use them only for items I can't get elsewhere.  I find them not too bad for quite a lot of things that you might want to pick up from there that you could get elsewhere, sometimes cheaper.  But anything that you'd consider specialist tends to be outrageously expensive.  Saw a bag of organic spinach the one time - 900 baht!!!!!!

I also use them for niche items I can't get up where I live.  Although on this trip, I did pick up some commonly available items but I was there, and the price looked about the same to me so....why not.

 

Did get a chuckle when I saw a 6-pack of Corona Extra for 777 Baht.   Over $22 USD for a six pack of Corona?  LOL.  I'll stick with limes and San Miguel Light. 

[p_brownstone]

I used to use the Villa on Soi 33/1 and at Paradise Park, Srinakharin Road quite frequently but getting a little lazy as I grow older I now more regularly use On-line services who deliver - like Tesco, Bunters' Foods, Passion Delivery and Wine-now.com, all extremely convenient and reliable.

 

I agree that you have to check the expiry dates on food at Villa too!

 

Patrick

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

 I've picked up mushy packages of frozen fries or veg that clearly had thawed and are being re-frozen. One way of telling is seeing through the package's view window all the heavy "snow" inside the "frozen" packet of fries. Having thawed and water moisture formed inside, it refreezes as snow crystals. It also occurs when you open the pack, which lets humid air inside, close it up and put it back in the freezer. 

[fruitman]

19 minutes ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

 I've picked up mushy packages of frozen fries or veg that clearly had thawed and are being re-frozen. One way of telling is seeing through the package's view window all the heavy "snow" inside the "frozen" packet of fries. Having thawed and water moisture formed inside, it refreezes as snow crystals. It also occurs when you open the pack, which lets humid air inside, close it up and put it back in the freezer. 

Yes for years they had freezers without a lid and the fries always were thawed.

 

Fries must be good business though, we just bought 2kg good ones for 135 at the Makro while they cost the same for 1 kg in Villamarket.

[SooKee]

I used to go there often but last years not anymore...You have to check all the expirydates of everything you buy, they won't tell when the bread is baked, their butchers can't speak english and are rude/uninterrested people. The personell likes to do nothing all day and walk in my way, the vegy/fruit is not in the fridges but there are extreme expensive imported tomato's in them, large amounts of them.
 
At the fruit/vegy department the sales annoy me, they even can't speak english so leave me alone please. I've seen many frozen products being defrosted in their freezers and the shops are very expensive.
 
Foodland is much better but i don't like their bakery.

I also prefer Foodland. Their bakery is very so so I'd agree. Some of the sliced packs are ok if you can filter out the overly sweet slices of air. For bakery I actually like Big C at Rama IV (which along with Pattaya and Phuket have the only farang bakery managers). I've tried a few of these specialised bakery shops but not found anything took rave about plus it's too much hassle tripping around hunting down bread. Prefer to pick it up at the same time I'm getting other products, find I can only do that at Big C. I don't even find Villa bakery anything to rave about.


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[55Jay]

35 minutes ago, SooKee said:

I also prefer Foodland. Their bakery is very so so I'd agree. Some of the sliced packs are ok if you can filter out the overly sweet slices of air. For bakery I actually like Big C at Rama IV (which along with Pattaya and Phuket have the only farang bakery managers). I've tried a few of these specialised bakery shops but not found anything took rave about plus it's too much hassle tripping around hunting down bread. Prefer to pick it up at the same time I'm getting other products, find I can only do that at Big C. I don't even find Villa bakery anything to rave about.

Recall going to our local BigC when we first moved over 4 years ago.  Wasn't impressed so we gave it a miss for years until roughly 6 months ago, wandered in and saw the bakery was offering uncut loaves of sourdough, rye and other nice looking grainy bread.  Wow!  Make it a point to swing by there now.  We just got a Foodland in the new Terminal 21 Mall and agree, the bakery is just ok. 

[55Jay]

45 minutes ago, SooKee said:

I also prefer Foodland. Their bakery is very so so I'd agree. Some of the sliced packs are ok if you can filter out the overly sweet slices of air. For bakery I actually like Big C at Rama IV (which along with Pattaya and Phuket have the only farang bakery managers). I've tried a few of these specialised bakery shops but not found anything took rave about plus it's too much hassle tripping around hunting down bread. Prefer to pick it up at the same time I'm getting other products, find I can only do that at Big C. I don't even find Villa bakery anything to rave about.

Something wonky with the site.  Getting error screens and my comment above, double posted on its own.  Weird.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

1 hour ago, 55Jay said:

Recall going to our local BigC when we first moved over 4 years ago.  Wasn't impressed so we gave it a miss for years until roughly 6 months ago, wandered in and saw the bakery was offering uncut loaves of sourdough, rye and other nice looking grainy bread.  Wow!  Make it a point to swing by there now.  We just got a Foodland in the new Terminal 21 Mall and agree, the bakery is just ok. 

 

Which T21 are you talking about? They're building one in Pattaya. But if you mean Bangkok at Asok BTS Station, I have to ask: Is there a Foodland there now? That's pretty close to the Suk Soi 16 Foodland. 

 

Anyway, I agree, the Big C Rama 4 bakery is pretty good, better than crappy Foodland's or Villa's.

[55Jay]

56 minutes ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

 

Which T21 are you talking about? They're building one in Pattaya. But if you mean Bangkok at Asok BTS Station, I have to ask: Is there a Foodland there now? That's pretty close to the Suk Soi 16 Foodland. 

 

Anyway, I agree, the Big C Rama 4 bakery is pretty good, better than crappy Foodland's or Villa's.

New one in Korat City.  I live up that way.

[gdgbb]

On 16/03/2017 at 11:16 PM, 55Jay said:

 

Off topic note but on the way home, stopped in the Robinson's/Tops in Saraburi on the AH2 - been meaning to do that for 4 years!  They had Kerry's Irish Butter, unsalted and salted, 115 Baht.  Never seen it anywhere in Thailand that I can recall.  FYI if you like Kerry's.

Tops, Sukhumvit 19 has it also, as does my fridge now, so presumably all the Tops will stock it.

[55Jay]

2 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

Tops, Sukhumvit 19 has it also, as does my fridge now, so presumably all the Tops will stock it.

Roger that!  Yup, there are 7 blocks of it in my freezer now.  Woo Hoo! 

[gdgbb]

2 hours ago, 55Jay said:

Something wonky with the site.  Getting error screens and my comment above, double posted on its own.  Weird.

Yes, I'm getting the same message.  Happens also when the "Like" button is clicked.  Admin are you there?

 

 

15 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

Roger that!  Yup, there are 7 blocks of it in my freezer now.  Woo Hoo! 

I tried rogering it also but it melted away far too quickly.

[SooKee]

2 hours ago, 55Jay said:

Something wonky with the site.  Getting error screens and my comment above, double posted on its own.  Weird.

Yeah I had the same.  'We cannot publish this post' errors on Tapatalk only to find it published my response 6 times!!!

 

[55Jay]

3 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

Yes, I'm getting the same message.  Happens also when the "Like" button is clicked.  Admin are you there?

 

 

I tried rogering it also but it melted away far too quickly.

Couldn't LIKE your post.  Rogering.....good one! 

[55Jay]

6 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

Yes, I'm getting the same message.  Happens also when the "Like" button is clicked.  Admin are you there?

 

 

I tried rogering it also but it melted away far too quickly.

Another double post from the Gremlins.  Deleted.

[MrJohnson]

Villa Market in Soi 33 is way better than most of the others - has a huge wine section upstairs - expensive but that is because of the government tax more than anything else. they have a good deli section, olive oils, mustards, balsamic vinegar, truffle oil and other such 'must haves'.

 

Fresh food 'wet market' for fresh fruit ad veg and seafood (local)- the fruit and veg at Villa is expensive and not that fresh

 

Meat and imported seafood - Central Food Hall in Chidlom A grade beef and lamb from N.Z., Australia, U.S. and usually a knowledgeable farang butcher  -Simon, a great guy who will order in stuff for you. Expensive buut great for the occasional splurge.

 

Bakery - well we've got Conkey's down at Ekamai Soi 10, and loads of other choices for sale at Villa, Tops,  Foodland, Bei Otto etc.

 

Online from TESCO for all the rest of the non-fun stuff... tissues, toilet paper, soda water, soap, shampoo and it goes. A great online operation.

Periodic trips to Pahurat (Little India) for wholesale dried fruits, nuts and Indian spices and the best samosas and bajis in Thailand.

 

Have fun shopping!

 

 

Have fun shopping.

 

 

[p_brownstone]

Does anyone know of a good Bakery that delivers in Bangkok - breads in particular?

 

Patrick

 

 

 

[wordchild]

I heard from one  of the staff today that the villa mkt on soi 11 will close soon, next couple of months apparently. They will reopen further down the soi, former Q bar location, in a year or so. It's not a particularly great store but I have a certain affection for it as I used to live on the soi early days of living in Bangkok. Seems a bit of a strange move but maybe the Ambassador have big plans for the space.

  for me , these days, the food hall at central chidlom stands head and shoulders above Villa Market. And some of the quality has spread to other Topps locations, e.g. Robinsons soi 19 is pretty good these days also.

[tutsiwarrior]

how would Foodland on soi 5 compare to Villa? I dropped into Villa on soi 33 on the way to the dental clinic once some years ago to have a look and wan't impressed, poor selection and very expensive...

 

now, I have broken leg and will be meeting with an associate soon on soi 6...and my wheelchair will not negotiate the pedestrian bridge to soi 5 but I must have my dried garbanzos and other western staples not available to me in my shophouse in Nakhon nowhere and will crawl if I havta...

 

would my effort be worth it?

 

 

[bkk6060]

I think Topps is the best of the lot. Topps is in several of the high end malls.  Villa is the worst.

There seems to always be a strange odor in the Villa Markets.

I do not believe they do much business in their meat departments possibly smelly rotten meats.

Also, check the dates on items at Villa they have some expired products.