What makes a vacation in wonderful Thailand attractive — after enjoying the gorgeous beach, chocolate-colored tan, and all kinds of entertainment? Of course, it’s the diverse culinary “discoveries,” the first of which are tropical fruits. But not every resort has a good market where you can buy all the “generous gifts of Thai land” at reasonable prices. However, Pattaya has such a wonderful place. This market is called Ratanakorn Market.
The market is frequented by locals, retail traders, and restaurant owners, but foreigners rarely visit. The reason is that the busiest trading with an incredibly wide assortment happens early in the morning. The market opens at 5:00 AM, and to catch the widest selection, it’s best to arrive before 9:00 AM. After that, vendors gradually start packing up. Nevertheless, until noon there is a sufficient variety, and during these hours you can expect discounts. This is the largest and cheapest food market in Pattaya.
Prices at the Morning Market
Besides fruits and vegetables, early in the morning — roughly until 10:00 AM — you can buy meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. Also available is ready-to-eat Thai food not aimed at tourists. Many vendors do not speak English, so you’ll need to communicate with gestures and a calculator, or learn a few Thai names of products and numbers. However, there won’t be major problems, as all goods have price tags in baht. Exchange rate: 1 USD ≈ 32 THB. Below are the prices for popular products.
Fruit Prices at Ratanakorn Market:
- Mango: white 30–70, green 20–60, very small — 10.
- Pineapple: 1 piece from 10 THB, medium size — 20 THB.
- Bananas: a bunch costs 20–30 THB.
- Pomelo: small 15 THB, large — 20 THB.
- Papaya: from 10 THB/kg.
- Coconut: already cut, decent size — 15 THB.
- Longan: 60 THB.
- Lychee: 100 THB/kg.
- Jackfruit: cut into pieces, from 40 THB per pack.
- Dragon fruit: from 25 THB.
- Rambutan: 45 THB/kg.
- Passion fruit: 90 THB/kg, very large.
- Durian: 70–130 THB, peeled, on tray — 180 THB/kg.
- Mandarins: small size — 35 THB/kg.
You can also buy familiar fruits: apples and strawberries (quite expensive), melons.
Note! In the cheapest, slightly overripe fruits, as a “bonus” you might find worms.
Vegetables
Many vegetables familiar to Europeans are available, such as potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and various spices and seasonings.
- Cucumbers: from 15 THB/kg.
- Corn: from 15 THB.
- Greens (various): from 10 THB per bunch.
Meat and Fish (prices per 1 kg)
- Chicken fillet: 60 THB.
- Squid: small size — from 120 THB, large — 145 THB.
- Shrimps: from 180 THB, small ones — 130 THB.
- Crabs: from 110 THB.
- Catfish: 50 THB.
- Perch: 60 THB.
How to Get to Pattaya’s Cheapest Market?
Ratanakorn Market is located on the border of Jomtien and South Pattaya districts. A landmark is the nearby Colosseum Show Pattaya, which hosts grand transvestite shows.
The easiest way to get here is by motorbike: take Tapraiya Road to the intersection with Teprazit Road, then turn onto Teprazit and go about 1 km to the market. If you don’t plan to rent a car or motorbike, you can get here by tuk-tuk or songthaew (shared minibus).
Ratanakorn is more of a wholesale market. It’s better to visit if you plan to stock up on groceries for a few days or the day before departure.
