Somebody Feed Phil is a heartwarming food travelogue series that brings you along on a trip with Phil Rosenthal, a big-name TV producer, as he visits interesting and charming communities worldwide. In the premiere episode, the series embarks on its journey, starting in Bangkok. Viewers get to see the unique beauty of Bangkok and the interesting Thai way of life, especially when they travel to the small community of Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market.
Located on the bank of Lat Ta Niao canal, Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is an old market in Taling Chan District of Bangkok. After just a short, comfortable ride from Bangkok center, you can experience the same atmosphere as you would normally find only in upcountry markets. There are many shops, eateries, and tasty food vendors with old recipes that are hard to find anywhere else, all waiting for you to try their wares. Still serving the local people who have maintained their old way of life, this water market is filled with the authentic essence of this community by the canal, despite being in the heart of Bangkok.
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is unique as it has both boat and on-land merchants. It was created from Chuan Chuchan’s idea to find a way for this community to make a living besides farming. At first, the market had less than 5 vendors on the farm’s ridge by the canal. Now it has expanded into a big market with 8 zones and has become an attraction that is popular among both domestic and foreign tourists alike. At the numerous shops, eateries, and food stands along both sides of the canal, you will especially find local foods, old-recipe desserts, and handmade goods.
It is not just the bygone atmosphere of this waterfront community that can attract visitors. Another highlight of Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is the freshly cooked-to-order variety of cuisine served by vendors who have seating areas for their customers. From grilled river prawns, fish, squid, and scallops, to baked mussels with cheese, salmon barbeques, and many more, this place is pure heaven for seafood lovers.
The deeper you walk into the market, the more variety of food you will see, especially trendy Thai street food, like pork satay with a yummy aroma, steamed snakehead curries with various stuffings, Pad Thai, fried clams, and dumplings which are available both on land and from boat vendors.
For dessert, you can sample a wide selection of hard-to-find traditional recipes: Thai crispy pancakes, Thai egg cakes, and Southern-style Ko (sugar dumpling), which you can choose to eat with coconut milk or sesame and grated coconut. And if you crave a Thai-fusion menu adapted to healthy food trends, the Thai Riceberry pancakes are a tasty and healthful treat.
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market is only open on weekends and national holidays from 08.00 am – 05.00 pm. You can take the BTS Skytrain to Bang Wa Station and catch a cab from there to the market. For buses, please take No. 28, 515, or 539 to the Southern Bus Terminal Bangkok (Sai Tai Mai) and take a taxi from there to the market. For more information, please call Tel. 0 2422 4270.
