Tops Market Madness

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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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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