The new Kaset Nawamin train market is the latest branch to open and, in my opinion, is the best by far. Maybe I’m a bit biased as it is a 5 minute taxi ride from my condo but with it’s more relaxed atmosphere, cheaper prices and quieter surroundings, it is hands down better than Ratchada and Seacon.
With a mix of food, drink and market stalls it is a great place to hang out, listen to live music and pick up some bargains. Something I really like is that it is quite rare to see foreigners there. The markets at Seacon and Ratchada are full of other expats and to be honest I prefer the more Thai style atmosphere at Kaset Nawamin train market.
Where is the Kaset Nawamin Train Market?
Well you can find it on Kaset-Nawamin road which is in the north east of Bangkok, roughly 20-30 minutes taxi ride fom Ladprao or Victory Monument (in good traffic).
There isn’t a MRT or BTS line nearby but in the future things might change. Currently the only public transport option you have is to take bus number 178 from Minburi but be aware there are 2 routes this bus takes and one of them doesn’t go past the train market.
This means that if you don’t drive then you will need to take a taxi. From Victory Monument the cost will be around 150 Baht if you go below the motorway or around 250 if you take the toll road. From Ladprao MRT expect to pay around 130 Baht.
When Is It Open?
Kaset Nawamin Train Market is open Thursday to Sunday from 5pm – midnight. However, having mainly gone on Sundays I can tell you that things start closing down at around 11pm. Bear in mind if it is raining heavily the whole market will close.
Eating
Having been to Seacon, Ratchada and Kaset Nawamin train markets I have to say the food options at Kaset Nawamin are leagues ahead and much cheaper than the other venues.
With 6 rows of food and many extra vans parked around there are plenty of options including great Thai food and surprisingly good international food (burgers, sushi, kebabs, cookies etc). Price wise it is also fantastic, prices are a little more expensive than a standard market but cheaper than in a restaurant. The bonus here is that you can buy your food and take it to one of the many bars to eat with a drink.
One of my favorites is the breaded chicken which is always buy 5 get 1 free – total 50 baht. With so many stalls there is a lot of competition and as the market caters to locals they cant charge prices as high as those at Ratchada where a lot more tourists, expats and hi-so Thais go.
Something I really like about Kaset Nawamin Train Market is the dessert options. I love a good dessert and here you can get ice cream, cookies, cakes, donuts – just about any dessert you can think of.
One thing for sure is that you wont go home hungry!
Drinking
Around the outside of the market there are around 30 bars you can drink at. Many have rooftops where you can sit and watch people shopping and have a cold beer or two. Prices at these bars are quite reasonable – a large Leo will set you back about 90 Baht – order 3+ and you’ll get discounts.
In the market itself there around 5 or 6 stalls which sell drinks, including many imported beers, spirits and wines. Chances are they will have something here that you can’t find at many restaurants. My favorite stall is at the back right of the market – they only sell Beer Lao and Grilled Beef – check it out – 65 Baht a bottle of beer and 80 Baht for a load of barbecued beef.
If you don’t fancy sitting at a bar you can simply pick up a beer and grab a seat on one of the many benches dotted around. If you are there around 10pm they often have live bands playing in the open areas so you can sit back and watch a performance.
Shopping
I don’t really go to the Kaset Nawamin Train Market to shop but my girlfriend does enjoy wandering around looking for things to buy.
You have the usual type of stalls selling things such as phone accessories, clothes and home decorations. Price wise I would say you aren’t going to get an incredible deal but won’t get screwed over on the price either.
As you can see in the photos there are a lot of basic stalls and the quality isn’t that high. All in all it is certainly not going to compete with Chatuchak as a shopping destination.
One of the oddities that seems to happen at all of the train markets is the inclusion of many barber shops. For an expensive 250-500 Baht men can get a haircut in the open with, what seems like, basic equipment. There’s always someone getting a haircut, I can only imagine it is cool to be seen there as the value for money isn’t up to much.
Kaset Nawamin Train Market
Overall I would thoroughly recommend Kaset Nawamin Train Market to anyone who is within travel distance. It’s not as busy as the other train markets in Bangkok and is more laid back. It’s not a place for a crazy night out but for a few beers, good food and relaxed atmosphere it’s hard to beat.
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