Food court at Terminal 21 on Sukhumvit road, Bangkok

While traveling in Thailand eating the local way is a great way to experience the local way of life. But be a bit careful with eating on the street, it is not all that hygienic. So a perfect place to eat the local way is at a food court * in a shopping mall. A great choice of food, cheap **  and clean ***. Most times the food court is on the top floor or in the basement. Like here at Terminal 21 it is on the top floor. Before ordering / buying your food you will have to buy coupons **** and at this food court it is not really clear where the counter is. After buying coupons you proceed to choose what you want to eat and order & pay for your food. You then have to take your food to a table and enjoy your lunch! There is a wide range of food, from Thai Street food dishes like Phat Thai or noodle soup or Chinese food to 

At Terminal 21 on the corner of Sukhumvit road and Asoke the food court is always busy. Especially at lunch time when many Thai people working at nearby hotels or offices will come for lunch. But you will see that also many foreigners come here for lunch. So next time if you are looking for a place to eat your lunch have a look at a food court!

This travelogue follows my traveling in Thailand (and beyond) with in between information that might help you when traveling in Thailand. If you are interested to visit Thailand and need some information or help then feel free to contact me by email at The Little Elephant Traveling in Thailand.

Food Court Terminal 21

Food Court Terminal 21

* = What is a food court?

From Wikipedia :

A food court (in Asia-Pacific also called food hall or hawker centre) is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dinner. 

So at least in Thailand this does not include a floor in a shopping mall where are restaurants with dedicated seating for the customers of that restaurant only.

** = What is cheap?

To call something cheap is always relative of course. Yes the food court at Terminal 21 on Sukhumvit is cheaper as any of of the restaurants in Terminal 21. Or a real restaurant on Sukhumvit road. But food stall on the street, simple restaurants on Sukhumvit road or the food court at Tesco-Lotus might all be cheaper as the food court in Terminal 21. So you could also say that food at the food court of Terminal 21 is more expensive as at the food court of Tesco-Lotus. It is all about location, location and location.

*** = What is clean?

As in clean & hygienic food stalls, indeed make no mistake as you can get a food poisoning anywhere. In any food stall, might that be on the street or at a food court in a shopping mall. As a matter a fact you can get a food poisoning in any restaurant, also at a 5-star Michelin restaurant. But in this case for "clean" means that the food stall has access to clean tap water to wash their cooking utilities and wash the plates I am eating from. For me it also means I am not sitting in the exhausts fumes of cars & motorbikes. 

**** = Why buying coupons?

All little shops at any food court are small private businesses. But of course Terminal 21 is not offering its space and popularity for free. So this small businesses pay a monthly rental fee and a commission on everything they sale. Hence the use of coupons or pre-paid card.