San Chao Night Market: Surat Thani's Best Street Food After Dark
In Surat Thani? Head to San Chao Market, the city's liveliest night market, with local food lining both sides of the street at friendly prices.
Meeting Point Management Team
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Quick answer
San Chao Market is a famous night food market on Ti Lek Road, Talat subdistrict, Mueang Surat Thani, named after the nearby Chinese shrine. It has around 30 to 40 stalls, including a famous pad thai, grilled fish cakes, battered fried mushrooms and khanom jeen, all at local prices. Open daily 15:00 to 21:00.
Key takeaways
- Surat Thani's famous night market on Ti Lek Road, near the Chinese shrine
- Around 30 to 40 food stalls, with little repetition
- Must-tries: the famous pad thai, grilled fish cakes, battered fried mushrooms, khanom jeen
- Local prices, like a big cup of old-style soda for 20 baht
- Open daily 15:00 to 21:00; afterward, enjoy the breeze by the Tapi River near the City Pillar Shrine
When it comes to famous night markets in southern Thailand, you've surely heard of this one: San Chao Market in Surat Thani, the city's top night market for street food. Anyone visiting shouldn't miss it, with so much food to choose from. In this article we'll show you around.
Today Meeting Point is taking you to check in, eat and explore at San Chao Market, Surat Thani's ultimate night market for street food. It's one of the province's best-known evening markets and really brings the city to life at night. Stalls full of character line both sides of the street, packed with local dishes that every visitor needs to try. Let's go eat!
About San Chao Market
San Chao Market is well known to just about everyone as the city's famous night food market. If you get the chance to visit Surat Thani, don't miss coming here to find something delicious to eat. The city may not have the bright lights and buzz of the islands, but it still has a lively, colorful food market, and best of all, prices are friendly, so you can eat well and save money. The market takes its name from its location next to a Chinese shrine (san chao). Inside, small lanes are lined on both sides with food carts and stalls selling tasty local food. It's one of the most varied food markets around: there's a famous pad thai stall that's the market's star, grilled fish cakes you won't find anywhere else, hot battered fried mushrooms, khanom jeen with all kinds of curry sauces, and plenty of other local dishes. Is your mouth watering yet?
Honestly, in our opinion traffic in Surat Thani town can be a bit chaotic. It's a big city with lots of side streets, but that didn't stop us in our quest to fill our stomachs. The stalls were doing a roaring trade, and the market draws lots of backpackers too. On the day we went, we were weaving past each other in the crowd. It was buzzing.
Stalls and Prices
From what we saw, there are around 30 to 40 stalls, and we were impressed because there's very little repetition. It's all food, mostly easy grab-and-go dishes that suit foreign travelers. But here's the thing: San Chao Market charges normal local prices, and some things are cheaper than many other places. For example, a large cup of old-style soda is 20 baht, which we thought was great, when other places charge more. San Chao Market is very busy, so the vendors probably keep prices low and sell in volume. It really works.
We wrapped up our food mission at the famous pad thai stall, which has metal tables where you can sit and rest your legs. The market is bigger than it looks, and we walked until our feet ached. In short, this is what locals proudly call a highlight of Surat Thani: if you come to Surat, you have to go to San Chao Market. We recommend it too. It's a clean night street food market that's easy to walk around, busy but not overcrowded, with lots of food to choose from. After eating, you can go and enjoy the breeze by the Tapi River near the City Pillar Shrine, which isn't far. It's a fun and enjoyable evening.
San Chao Market Surat Thani: Visitor Info
- Location: Ti Lek Road, Talat subdistrict, Mueang Surat Thani district, Surat Thani 84000
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4nBVSv15YfbdJX5FA
- Open daily: 15:00 to 21:00
- Phone: 081 691 3256
FAQ
Where is San Chao Market in Surat Thani?
On Ti Lek Road, Talat subdistrict, Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani 84000, next to the Chinese shrine it is named after.
What are the opening hours?
Open daily from 15:00 to 21:00. Phone: 081 691 3256.
What food can I find there?
Around 30 to 40 stalls, including a famous pad thai stall with tables, grilled fish cakes, battered fried mushrooms, khanom jeen with various curries and many other local dishes.
Is it expensive?
No. Prices are what locals pay, sometimes cheaper than elsewhere, like a large cup of old-style soda for 20 baht.
The Meeting Point management team loves eating, travelling, temple visits and lifestyle. We pick the restaurants, cafes, stays, attractions and temples we have visited ourselves and write about them honestly.
