Taking over the place of an abandoned railway station in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, the Ratchada Train Market spread out on an open-air field dotted with colorful tents selling the top of the pops of Thailand's street food culture, along with clothing items and an endless array of fascinating trinkets to fill up your suitcase—or if you were like me, your backpack.
Shopping & Food Exploration at Ratchada Train Night Market | Bangkok, Thailand
As our host from the Tourism Authority of Thailand handed us one thousand Thailand Baht each to "go forth and eat what you like and buy what you fancy," I joined Karla and Erika to go stall-hopping first to survey the food.
A Feast Under the Canvas
What I found out was an endless variety of choices that would take me until midnight if I did not decide on the fly what to order. From grilled skewers, crispy fried chicken, sushi rolls, Thai pancakes and roti, sticky mangoes, holy shrimp, and local favorites like Leng Zabb, Kung Thep, grilled crabs and prawns, Thai noodles, and my favorite, Tom Yum, there was an amazing selection of food choices everywhere I looked.
Eventually, I got separated from Erika and Karla and ended up bumping into our host, who was also busy eyeing the food stalls with two other fellow writers—both from the print media. We ended up sharing what we ordered: a big bowl of Thai soup filled with delectable toppings, grilled shrimp, a vegetable platter, sushi rolls, Thai noodles, Tom Yum soup, and a few more Thai dishes we just randomly pointed at.
Finding a vacant table in the bustling Ratchada Train Night Market took us a while until an usher hollered at us to "come, sit here" as he pointed to four empty chairs beside a small rectangular table.
With the aroma of innumerable dishes being cooked around us, it made our dining experience more appetizing. After wolfing down a delightful feast, I counted the pocket money given to us, still exceeding 500 THB. That time, I excused myself from our small group and went on my own to explore the other sections of the night market.
The Chill Spots & Night Markets
I ended up on a row of stalls selling refreshing fruit shakes and smoothies. I ordered a mango shake and continued walking until I stumbled upon the "chill spot" section: the bars of Ratchada.
Set up in container vans with industrial-themed interiors, the bars lined up perfectly, offering both an indoor and an al fresco venue for one to enjoy some affordable drinks and cocktails.
Regretfully, I skipped the drinking part that night. As I opted to walk around sober, I saw my fellow travel writers one by one. We spent our remaining time in the night market in the shopping section, where one could find heaps of cheap, stylish pieces from accessories, souvenir items, footwear, bags, and art pieces to clothes and even electronic gadgets.
It took us more than a couple of hours before our group of twelve went back to our respective vans, heading back to our hotel satisfied by the food and ready to call it a night.
Post-Pandemic Evolution: JODD Fairs
Update: Bangkok's Train Night Market Ratchada was closed during the pandemic but had since emerged in a new location with a new name. It still featured the same vendors of street food, clothes, accessories, furniture, vintage items, and handicraft stalls.
The market, then known as JODD Fairs, was located close to Central Plaza Grand Rama 9. In the new spacious area, there were open-air bars and more "Instagrammable" spots to capture your wanderlust memories.
