Recently, I’ve made it a point to go around local markets of places I visit. There’s no better place to shop for souvenirs, find local delicacies and eat authentic dishes than the local market.

Before we proceeded with the rest of our on-island Ayutthaya tour, we went to this market beside Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. I didn’t get its name. It’s the one I liked the most of all the local markets we explored during our trip to Thailand.

Eat

There are a few family-run restaurants at the far end of the market. Prices are on the cheap. We ordered two rice meals, a soup dish, and three Thai milk tea. We only paid THB 250. Everything tasted great!

Shop

The entire compound is clean. Shops are grouped based on their products. The market is aimed at tourists, and that’s okay. It doesn’t pretend to be otherwise.

I asked around, and many items they sell are cheaper than those in Chiang Mai and the famous Chatuchak in Bangkok.

Roti Sai Mai

The section that sells snacks and sweets is my favorite in the market. I enjoy local snacks, and this market area doesn’t disappoint.

I particularly liked Roti Sai Mai. These are like crepes filled with incredibly delicate strands of flavored sugar. You can watch them make the crepes; a free taste isn’t uncommon. The smaller ones start at THB 30. Cheap for all the effort that went into making them.

I’m not sure if this delicacy is only available in Ayutthaya. I liked it so much that I looked for it in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok to no avail.

Final Thoughts

The vendors in this market are some of the friendliest we encountered. That’s saying a lot, given how naturally friendly the Thai people are.

It’s a small market, and we were able to see most of it. Had we more time, I would’ve loved to go around and shop. As much as I enjoyed the snacks and sweets section, I had to restrain myself from buying the perishable goods. We still had a few more days in Thailand, and I feared it might spoil.