Whats with these South Asians men in dress shirts on Sukhummvit?

yeah those are the "suit touts" as locals call them. they work on pure commission so they'll say whatever gets the tourist through the door, prices magically double once you're inside and the "sale" is only for today. the notebook is legit just for names and hotel info so the shop can chase you for payment if the suit doesn't fit right.

if u really want a decent suit without the street hassle, head to the tailor shops on soi 22 or soi 11. ask for half-canvassed instead of fused construction, that's what separates the 3000 baht specials from something that'll actually last. the touts never mention that part

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tbh those guys are just the tip of the iceberg for the whole sukhumvit tailor scam ecosystem. the real hustle is they'll quote you 5000 baht for a "handmade suit" then disappear with your deposit or deliver something that looks like it was sewn by a blind monkey. if you actually need a suit, skip sukhumvit entirely and go to the tailors on charoen krung near the river, way less pressure and you can actually check their work. the guys in the dress shirts are basically bait, the actual scam happens 3 floors up in some random building

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you're spotting the commission guys for sukhumvit tailor shops lol. they get paid per head they drag in, usually around 200-300 baht per customer who actually buys something. the notepad is for jotting down your hotel room number or flight details so they can "deliver" the suit later.

the excited farang reaction is classic. they're getting pitched the "grand opening special" or "last day discount" that somehow runs every single day of the year. if you walk past the same spot at midnight you'll still see them there, just with a different "closing down sale" sign.

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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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