Tops Supermarket's Mystery Produce

The seed is the tell here. If it was one big flat pit, you had maprang, but if the pit was round and spiky like a chestnut, that's a langsat or a duku. Those look nothing like a mango though, so likely not. Another possibility if the skin was slightly fuzzy and the flesh was more custardy than juicy is a mamey sapote, but those are less common at Tops. Next time you're there, check the little produce cards above the fruit, the ones with the PLU codes sometimes have the English name printed in tiny font on the bottom.

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Maprang is a good guess, but if it had a single large flat seed inside and the skin was thin enough to eat, you might've had a rukam. They look like mini mangoes too but the texture is firmer and crunchier. There's a fruit vendor near the Saphan Taksin BRT stop that sells them in little bags for 20 baht, usually with the spicy salt mix already sprinkled on top.

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honestly the flat seed thing is the key here. if it was one big flat pit it's prob maprang like everyone's saying, but if the flesh was kinda fibrous and clung to the pit like a mango does, could be a nam dok mai mango that was just super ripe and orange. Tops sometimes gets weird cultivars from upcountry that look different from the usual green ones. try the one at the fruit section near the salad bar next time, they usually have little signs in english for the unusual stuff

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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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