Bangkok has the world's best street food — but authorities want it gone

[BigKahuna]

7 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Yes, there are plenty of these around, I'll grant you. Central Malls present a classic model, which I'm sure has spread throughout the country.

 

But what do you also find in all of these malls? A food court of course, serving good Thai food in safe, comfortable and hygienic surroundings, with much more variety than you'll find on the street. And at prices that even the poorest can afford. And the Thais flock to them.

 

And where do you suppose the model for these u courts originates?

 

Wake up Thailand. The future is already here.

Buffet food is rife with food poisoning. That is what a lot of food court stuff is.

 

Wake up farangs. No point going to Thailand for buffet Thai food. You can eat buffet asian crap anywhere.

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, BigKahuna said:

Buffet food is rife with food poisoning. That is what a lot of food court stuff is.

 

Wake up farangs. No point going to Thailand for buffet Thai food. You can eat buffet asian crap anywhere.

The many thousands of diners, both Thai and foreigners, who eat in these food courts daily, often to the extent that it can be difficult to find a table at times, is clear evidence that this comment is little more than bigoted nonsense.

[BigKahuna]

47 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

The many thousands of diners, both Thai and foreigners, who eat in these food courts daily, often to the extent that it can be difficult to find a table at times, is clear evidence that this comment is little more than bigoted nonsense.

Bigoted what? Millions eat street food. Most of the Thais in shopping centre food court are eating sweets and coffee.

 

The food is average.

 

Your post was little more than nonsense.

[BigKahuna]

14 hours ago, Moonlover said:

And this was 25 years ago. And what progress has been made since toward good food hygiene standards?. From my perspective, none at all. Certainly not on the streets.

 

Thanks, but no thanks. I'll take Singapore's model. 

Not much progress in restaurants. Chicken and seafood sits around on the bench.

 

Stay in Singapore then with the other anti street food bigots.

[Moonlover]

11 minutes ago, BigKahuna said:

Not much progress in restaurants. Chicken and seafood sits around on the bench.

 

Stay in Singapore then with the other anti street food bigots.

1.Quote.  ''Buffet food is rife with food poisoning. That is what a lot of food court stuff is''. Wrong. Some is precooked for sure but most is cooked to order. And do you really think that customers would return time and again to a dining facility that regularly poisoned its clientele?

 

2. Quote. ''Thais in shopping centre food court are eating sweets and coffee''. Wrong. My wife and I eat regularly in food courts and everyone we see around us is eating regular Thai food.

 

3. Quote. ''The food is average''. Agreed. What do you expect for meals that cost 50 to 100 Baht a serving? It's about 'cheap, safe and affordable', not gourmet dining. But on that note, most Thai food is average anyway, whether it's eaten in a restaurant, a food court or on the street. You pays your money and you gets your choices. How often do you eat in high end restaurants?

 

And finally, isn't this all about reclaiming the sidewalks for the safe passage of pedestrians? That salient point seems to have been overlooked entirely.

 

 

 

 

 

[BigKahuna]

8 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

1.Quote.  ''Buffet food is rife with food poisoning. That is what a lot of food court stuff is''. Wrong. Some is precooked for sure but most is cooked to order. And do you really think that customers would return time and again to a dining facility that regularly poisoned its clientele?

 

2. Quote. ''Thais in shopping centre food court are eating sweets and coffee''. Wrong. My wife and I eat regularly in food courts and everyone we see around us is eating regular Thai food.

 

3. Quote. ''The food is average''. Agreed. What do you expect for meals that cost 50 to 100 Baht a serving? It's about 'cheap, safe and affordable', not gourmet dining. But on that note, most Thai food is average anyway, whether it's eaten in a restaurant, a food court or on the street. You pays your money and you gets your choices. How often do you eat in high end restaurants?

 

And finally, isn't this all about reclaiming the sidewalks for the safe passage of pedestrians? That salient point seems to have been overlooked entirely.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Wrong. Half or more are pre cooked. People eat in food courts due to convenience while shopping. No brainer.

 

2. Yes Thais whilst in shopping centres do eat and drink. Big suprise. They are mainly there to shop or socialise or buy an icecream in aircon comfort.

 

3. At least you got 1/3 right.

[bkkcanuck8]

8 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

3. Quote. ''The food is average''. Agreed. What do you expect for meals that cost 50 to 100 Baht a serving? It's about 'cheap, safe and affordable', not gourmet dining. But on that note, most Thai food is average anyway, whether it's eaten in a restaurant, a food court or on the street. You pays your money and you gets your choices. How often do you eat in high end restaurants?

 

 

Yes, eat three meals a day in a food court - which for most means traveling a considerable distance further than their local vendor at street level... Spending 50 to 100 baht per serving / 3 meals a day + snacks is 150+ baht.... while the vastly increased minimum wage is 300 baht per 10 hour day.  Of course the elimination of street food and the increasing cost of living will require that Bangkok at least double that minimum wage to 600 per day....  and eventually bringing the lower wages closer to the mid point.... which means many average middle class Thais will find their standard of living drop considerably.... which will be good in some ways because it would finally mean that they will have to get some reasonable DIY stores here 

Edited April 25, 2017 by bkkcanuck8

[bkkcanuck8]

8 hours ago, BigKahuna said:

1. Wrong. Half or more are pre cooked. People eat in food courts due to convenience while shopping. No brainer.

 

2. Yes Thais whilst in shopping centres do eat and drink. Big suprise. They are mainly there to shop or socialise or buy an icecream in aircon comfort.

 

3. At least you got 1/3 right.

There are different food courts for different purposes.  Food courts (like Siam Paragon, Terminal 21) in major malls are typically a nice day out (and not a place to dine regularly) -- since most people don't go to those malls to do anything more than window shop.   Food courts at places like Tesco or Big C tend to be more for convenience.

[BigKahuna]

Just now, bkkcanuck8 said:

There are different food courts for different purposes.  Food courts (like Siam Paragon, Terminal 21) in major malls are typically a nice day out (and not a place to dine regularly) -- since most people don't go to those malls to do anything more than window shop.   Food courts at places like Tesco or Big C tend to be more for convenience.

Been to Siam. Food was cold. Looked good. Tasted ordinary.

 

I go to shopping centres for aircon and a cold drink.

[bkkcanuck8]

1 minute ago, BigKahuna said:

Been to Siam. Food was cold. Looked good. Tasted ordinary.

 

I go to shopping centres for aircon and a cold drink.

I only go to shopping centers when I am shopping (more in last 2 months than previous 5 -- but that is because I moved.... and need stuff since it was primarily unfurnished [finally])....  Food is no better than your average street food vendor - lower quality than my regular haunt where I use to live.....  Buffet style food here typically will be cold (or room temperature) -- it is par for the course .... not as obsessed here about having hot food (other than spicy).

[samsensam]

On 16/04/2017 at 4:54 AM, jaiyen said:

Dont you just love trying to walk along the footpath trying to avoid huge vats of boiling oil, hot barbecues pouring out smoke, the choking fumes of fried chilli, plastic seats and people waiting and taking up all the path so you have to push past or walk in the road. So much Bangkok charm !!!!  Bo!!ocks !

 

 

and that's just for the able bodied; imagine being disabled, elderly or with small children and/or heavy shopping, dont thee people have the right to negotiate the streets safely and conventionality?

 

street vendors have a choice they can be relocated locally to specially organised areas where they can trade without being a nuisance to the general population, the members of society previously mentioned dont have the luxury of this choice.

[bkkcanuck8]

4 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

and that's just for the able bodied; imagine being disabled, elderly or with small children and/or heavy shopping, dont thee people have the right to negotiate the streets safely and conventionality?

 

street vendors have a choice they can be relocated locally to specially organised areas where they can trade without being a nuisance to the general population, the members of society previously mentioned dont have the luxury of this choice.

The disabled are scr*wed either way....  Bangkok is not a friendly city to anyone with a disability regardless of the vendors.

[samsensam]

11 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

The disabled are scr*wed either way....  Bangkok is not a friendly city to anyone with a disability regardless of the vendors.

 

dont be too pessimistic; the BTS, after many years, has finally been forced to install the elevators that should have been there from day one and if the streets are cleared of the street vendor obstcals then these are steps in the right direction.

 

there's a long way to go,sure, but with varying degrees of disabilities with each step to help the disabled more people are given the freedom of independence that most of us take for granted