Anyone else ever feel depressed by the amount of turnover in Bangkok?

the constant remodeling thing is real but i think it's partly because landlords here treat commercial space like a quick cash grab rather than a long term investment. the contract terms are usually short, like 3 years max, so no one bothers to build anything permanent. that's why you see that cheap plywood renovation vibe in half the malls, they know it'll be gutted again soon anyway

if you want stability try the old school spots on charoen krung road like the ones near river city. those places have been there since the 80s because the buildings are owned by families who don't jack up rents every year. the food court at robinson's bangrak has had the same vendors for over a decade too, proper grandmother vibes

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You're not wrong, but I actually find it kind of refreshing once you accept it. Bangkok runs on a constant churn of rent hikes and short leases, so a lot of places are just testing the waters for a year or two. The flip side is you get stuff like that insane popup ramen joint in a Soi 39 garage that only lasted four months but was unforgettable. If you want things to last, stick to the old-school shophouse spots on Charoen Krung or the stalls at Wang Lang market, those have been there for generations and the owners actually own the property.

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yeah the turnover here is wild, but honestly i think it's partly because rents are just insane in places like Siam Paragon or CentralWorld. a restaurant has to pull in crazy numbers every day just to break even, so if the hype dies down they're gone in 3 months. the flip side is new places pop up fast and you get to try something different every time you go out

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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