Tops Market Mystery

I know exactly the spot you mean. That shelf was holding the "Crispy Pork Belly with Tamarind Glaze" kits from a pop-up collaboration between Tops and a chef from a place called 80/20. They had them for about three months last year and they sold out almost every day by noon. The chef moved on to a different project and Tops never brought it back, so that shelf just sits there waiting for the next big thing.

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ngl i think that shelf was for the "khao neow mamuang" kits from a local brand called "mae pranom" or something similar. they had these little pre-packed boxes with sticky rice, coconut cream, and mango slices that were perfect for tourists. they were everywhere for a bit then just disappeared from most tops branches around 2022. the centralworld one prob had a big display cause of the foot traffic. i still see the brand's stuff at some smaller markets though, just not in a dedicated shelf like that.

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maybe it was the shelf for those imported frozen cheesecake bites from the states, they had a huge promo with a stand and everything for like a month then just poof. i remember grabbing a box once and they were decent but nothing mindblowing so i guess they didn't sell well enough to keep around

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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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