Markets & Food

Pattaya’s food scene ranges from sizzling street stalls to fresh seafood markets. Night markets are the best all-in-one experience: great eating, shopping, and people-watching. This guide shows where to go and what to try.

Top Picks at a Glance

Best night market

Thepprasit Night Market — huge, busy, and the best variety.

Best seafood experience

Naklua Seafood Market — pick your seafood, they cook it.

Best beachfront vibe

Jomtien Night Market — relaxed beach evening.

Most unique

Runway Street Food — eat under a jumbo jet.

Best Night Markets

Thepprasit Night Market — Must Visit

Pattaya’s largest night market with 500+ stalls.

Detail	Information
Days	Friday, Saturday, Sunday only
Hours	5 PM - 11 PM (best after 6:30 PM)
Location	Thepprasit Road, South Pattaya
Getting There	Songthaew ~10 THB, Grab ~60-100 THB

Food highlights

Grilled pork skewers (moo ping)
Pad Thai and noodle dishes
Fresh seafood
Mango sticky rice
Thai milk tea and smoothies

Shopping

Clothes and accessories
Electronics and phone cases
Souvenirs
Shoes and bags

Tip: Friday evening is least crowded. Bring cash.

Tree Town

Trendy night market meets bar street. More party atmosphere.

Daily
5 PM - 2 AM
Thepprasit Road

Jomtien Night Market

Beachfront market with a relaxed vibe.

Daily
Evening until late
Jomtien Beach Road

Runway Street Food

Food court under a jumbo jet.

Daily
Evening until late
Second Road, central Pattaya

Pattaya Floating Market

Tourist-oriented market on waterways with food stalls, boat rides, and cultural shows.

Detail	Information
Entry	Around 200 THB
Hours	9 AM - 8 PM
Location	Sukhumvit Road

Note: More staged than authentic, but fun for first-time visitors.

Street Food Guide

Dish	Description	Price Range
Pad Thai	Stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp or chicken	50-80 THB
Som Tam	Spicy green papaya salad	40-60 THB
Moo Ping	Grilled pork skewers	10-20 THB each
Pad Krapow	Basil stir-fry with rice	50-80 THB
Mango Sticky Rice	Sweet dessert	60-100 THB
Thai Milk Tea	Sweet iced tea	30-50 THB

Soi Buakhao

Local-focused, cheap, busy evening scene.

Beach Road (Evening)

Carts and stalls, tourist prices, sea breeze.

Jomtien Beach Road

Seafood, relaxed atmosphere, sunset dining.

Seafood

Pattaya is famous for fresh seafood. Prices are usually by weight, so always confirm before cooking.

How seafood pricing works

Choose your live seafood from tanks or ice.
Confirm weight and cooking style.
Always confirm price before cooking.

Seafood	Typical Price / kg
Prawns/Shrimp	400-800 THB
Crab	400-700 THB
Squid	200-400 THB
Fish	300-600 THB
Lobster	1,000-2,000 THB

Naklua Seafood Market

Fresh market with attached restaurants. Local prices.

Jomtien Beach Seafood

Beachfront restaurants, great setting.

Lan Pho Market

Authentic local market, limited English.

Restaurant Types

Local Thai Restaurants

Plastic chairs, open-air
50-150 THB per dish
Best for authentic food
Limited English menus

Tourist-Oriented Thai

Air-conditioned options
English menus with pictures
100-300 THB per dish

International Restaurants

Western, Indian, Russian, Korean
200-500 THB per dish

Fine Dining

Hotel restaurants and upscale venues
1,000+ THB per person

Food Courts

Central Festival Pattaya

Basement food court
60-150 THB per dish
Coupon system

Terminal 21

Pier 21 food court
Very cheap (~50-80 THB)
Clean and modern

Big C / Lotus

Budget food courts
Local Thai food
40-80 THB per dish

Food Safety Tips

Do

Eat at busy stalls (high turnover).
Choose freshly cooked hot food.
Watch food being prepared.
Drink bottled water.

Don’t

Eat food sitting out uncovered.
Drink tap water or unknown ice.
Eat raw vegetables from street vendors.
Ignore your gut feeling.

See our Health guide for more food safety info.

Vegetarian & Dietary Needs

Useful phrases

"Mai sai neua" = No meat
"Gin jay" = Vegetarian (Buddhist style)
"Mai phet" = Not spicy
"Phet nit noi" = A little spicy

Options

Indian restaurants (many vegetarian dishes)
Health food cafes in Central Festival
International restaurants with dietary menus
"Jay" restaurants during vegetarian festival (October)

Coffee & Cafes

Chains

Café Amazon (cheap and everywhere)
Starbucks (malls)
True Coffee (malls)

Local Cafes

Instagram-worthy spots throughout the city
Iced coffee (oliang) from street vendors
Typically 40-150 THB

Alcohol & Drinks

Beer

Singha, Chang, Leo (local brands)
7-Eleven: 40-60 THB
Bars: 80-150 THB

Cocktails

Bars: 150-300 THB
Beach bars: 100-200 THB

Note: Alcohol sales are prohibited 2-5 PM at many shops and on Buddhist holidays.

FAQs

What's the best night market?

Thepprasit — but only runs Friday-Sunday evenings.

Is street food safe?

Generally yes if you follow basic precautions: busy stalls, hot food, watch it being cooked.

How much should I budget for food?

Budget: 300-500 THB/day. Mid-range: 500-1,000 THB/day.

Should I tip at restaurants?

Not required. Round up or leave 10% at nicer places if service was good.

Where's the best seafood?

Naklua for local prices, Jomtien for beach atmosphere. Always confirm prices first.