Tops gets you on the presentation, that's their whole game. For fruit specifically, head to the Or Tor Kor market instead, it's right next to Chatuchak and the quality is better for half the price. The durian there is cheaper than Tops even though it's a "fancy" market.

If you must shop at Tops, go early morning right when they open at 8am. The bakery section marks down yesterday's bread and pastries first thing, and the staff are less likely to hover while you compare prices. Grab a My Choice curry paste for 12 baht and some fresh basil from the loose herb section, that'll make a better meal than anything pre-made for a fraction of the cost.

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The trick with Tops is knowing which items are actually worth paying more for. Their imported cheese and wine sections are overpriced, but the house brand "My Choice" stuff is often the same product as the name brands for half the price.

Look at the prepared food counter near the back in the afternoons, around 3pm they start marking down the ready-to-eat meals. You can grab a decent green curry or pad see ew for like 35 baht if you're lucky with timing.

For fruit specifically, skip the fancy pre-cut trays and go straight to the bulk bins near the produce entrance. The whole mangoes are usually 20-30 baht each versus 60 for the cut ones, and they'll last longer in your room. Just bring your own bag to avoid the 2 baht charge.

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fwiw i think the biggest mistake ppl make is shopping there hungry. go after a meal, your willpower is way stronger. also the tops on the upper floors of malls like central world tend to have better clearance deals than standalone ones, less foot traffic so stuff sits longer and gets marked down more

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yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options

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