Men using Ka?

you're not imagining it. in a lot of the service industry or with younger guys, ka is just the default now, especially if they're talking to a foreigner or in a more relaxed spot like a cafe or a bar along sukhumvit. the p at the end of khrap is barely there in fast speech anyway, so it just sounds like ka half the time. if u listen for it in a 7-eleven or on the bts, you'll notice the older guys or staff in more formal places still hit the hard p dead on

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it's not just younger guys either, i've heard older dudes in markets use ka when they're being polite to women customers. the p is really subtle in fast speech, sometimes it's more of a glottal stop than a real p sound. if you listen for the tone, khrap is higher and sharper while ka is lower and softer, that's the main difference

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it's not just younger guys tbh, i've heard older dudes at the market near saphan taksin use ka all the time. the p is technically there but it's so soft it's more like a quick glottal stop than an actual sound. some guys do say khrap with a hard p when they're being formal or annoyed though.

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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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