If there’s one thing we love about Singapore (a little more than the food), it’s the night markets and pasar malams that are available islandwide! ? You know where else has an impressive night market scene too? Bangkok! For those of us who can’t travel overseas just yet, you must visit Chatuchak Night Market 2023! Here’s a guide to halal food at Chatuchak, how to get there and what you can expect.
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What is Chatuchak?
Entrance to Chatuchak Night Market
Chatuchak is an iconic market place in Bangkok known for its reputation as the largest market in Thailand and the largest open-air market in Asia! ? The Chatuchak Night Market in Singapore is a scaled down version of the original but you can still look forward to Thai food and drink vendors (more on this later!), retail booths for knick knacks and much more.
Chefs from Thailand at the festival grounds
This year, the Chatuchak Market returns for two months from 7 February to 2 April 2023 and is located at The Grandstand South Carpark on Turf Club Road in Bukit Timah. The market place will be opened to the public from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesdays to Sundays!
How to get there
There are FREE shuttle buses available from Botanic Gardens and Sixth Avenue MRT stations (approximately) every 20-30 minutes.
- The shuttle bus will drop you off at the shuttle bus bay.
- After alighting from the bus take a right and walk towards Social Outcast (eatery).
- Walk past it towards the entrance of The Grandstand Promenade on your left (mall)
- Enter the mall and walk towards the South entrance
- The Chatuchak Night Market is on your left
*Do take note that the shuttle bus service from Clementi and Toa Payoh MRT stations are no longer available.
Halal food available
A spread of halal food options
You might not be able to find a large selection of halal food but we’d say the options for us Muslims are pretty iconic! ? This year, there are Thai Chefs who are manning some of the most popular stalls (the Thai pancake and Thai milk tea stalls that are side by side). The best part is that they’re halal! You can even watch as the Chefs spin, dance and ‘tarik’ your milk tea with much gusto.
One of the Chefs from Thailand 'dances' as he makes milk tea
We’ve combed the festival food village to find some halal and Muslim-friendly foods so you don’t have to! Here’s the list of stalls and foods:
- KOBKHUN SATUN - Thai Milk Tea (You’ll get to see the Chef dance as he prepares the drink!)
- ROTI & CHACHAK - Thai Banana Pancake
- Loco Loco - Takoyaki and Churros
- KANE Mochi - Ice Cream Mochi
- Sawasdee - Thai Mango Sticky Rice and Mango Smoothies
- Lemonade by The Fruze - Handmade Lemonade and Iced Teas
- Yum Cha SG - HoneyComb Ice Cream and Thai 3-Layer Drinks (In bags!)
- Thai Tea - Thai Milk Tea
- Lok Lok
- Ramly Burger
- Baan Mai Thai Otah - Otah Otah
- Grilled Seafood
- Crepes
*First two stalls are run by Thai Chefs
There is a wide selection of drinks at the food village
Most of the stalls have a halal sign plastered on the storefront but you can always ask the vendors to confirm the halal status if you’re still unsure! Some of the vendors are Thai but can speak a little bit of Malay. So don’t be afraid to ask! ?
Retail booths
Shop for trinkets and goodies at the retail booths
There are over 80 registered vendors for retail! You can find goods like vintage shirts, bags, pet products, trinkets and more from local businesses. If you’re up for something more unique, you could even get a massage from the Thai masseuse or get some henna art done by a henna artist! ?
Thai massage booth located at the retail village
We recommend checking out the clothing stalls and trinket booths. You might find something fun and unique to bring home!
Tips
1. Be prepared for the heat and crowd
Narrow walkway around the booths
The Chatuchak Night Market is called a night market for a reason! But if you’re visiting during the afternoon, be prepared to brave the heat. There is no shelter from the sun or rain so you’ll want to bring an umbrella or portable fan with you! Additionally, the dining experience is outdoors and under the sun. Put on a generous amount of sunscreen and bring a water bottle if you don’t want to pay for bottled water! ☀️
2. Be careful of where you’re stepping
There's a claw machine and arcade area nearby for the kids
If we’re being honest, the ground isn’t the smoothest to walk on. There are faux grass carpets and tall cable boxes on certain paths so if you’re bringing a stroller or walking around at night, we suggest being extra cautious! The walkways along the retail stalls are narrow so be sure to navigate through carefully.
3. Take note of the payment methods
The viral TikTok Honeycomb Ice Cream
Certain vendors will ONLY accept cash while others prefer cashless payments. Be sure to have some cash on hand and your PayNow app ready as it can get quite confusing when it's time to pay! There are central ‘cashiers’ who only accept cashless payments so once you order your food, you must head over to them for payment instead of paying at the stall directly.
Will you be visiting the Chatuchak Night Market? What are some of the things you would like to see? We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you find halal food and preparing you for the experience during your visit! ?
Chatuchak Night Market 2023
Date: 7 February – 2 April 2023
Opening hours: Tue – Sat; 4pm – 10pm
Location: 200 Turf Club Road The Grandstand, South Carpark, 287994