Food Market Tour @ Krabi Night Market, Krabi, Thailand

It is no secret that Thailand is a food hunter's haven. From street markets like Chatuchak, to high end restaurants like Nara, and food courts in malls, every meal will be easily gobbled down. And living in a country that is a neighbour to Thailand, I have many opportunities to sample a various array of morsels throughout the years.

The crab is alive!

One such opportunity was a weekend trip to Krabi. Known for its stunning beaches and the Phi Phi Islands, a gourmet place to visit is the Krabi Night Market. Located at central Krabi town, it is far away from the beach in Ao Nang. As such, it may not really be a good idea to base yourself there as the beach is 30 mins away by car, and for my case, chartered van.

It is easy to know that you are near the area when hawkers are shouting their lungs out, promoting their wares and food stuffs and music blaring from loudspeakers. The  market does have other things in store, like trinkets and paintings. But as you walk into the heart of the market, the only things that were sold were something edible.

Some bits and pieces

The first stall that caught my attention were the lemongrass skewers. I wasn't sure what kind of protein was used to make them, but its definitely seafood. Tasted like a mix of fish and prawns. Zesty, savoury and slightly spicy, it is what you would expect from any Thai dish. And the best part is that its just 20 Bhat a stick, which is RM2 or USD 0.50. I was so tempted to have another stick, there was more to the market than just fish on a stick and like the saying goes: Patience, young grasshopper.

A delicious skewer. Gonna be hard to top that

Next comes a bowl of just pure deliciousness yet so simple: squid salad. A staple in any food market and most Thai restaurants, this one packs a real punch. Loaded with chilies, lime and fish sauce, it was vibrant and taste of freshness. The squid was fresh and it does taste like you are experiencing the ocean in your mouth. Chewy but not rubbery, this bowl was about 50 Bhat and was a joy to eat. Caution though as the heat of this thing can be a bit powerful to some, but I thoroughly enjoyed chowing down on it.

Perfection in a bowl

More savoury bits on sticks were next of my impromptu menu. Near a stage where some patrons indulge in some public karaoke stood was a stall that had meat on skewers, similar to a yakitori bar in Japan. And almost everything was 20 Bhat. The chicken sausage was loaded with garlic and spices, a great combination but an expected one for Thai style sausages.  The pork skewer that I ordered had a very clean taste yet it was slightly fatty. With just one bite and you can easily taste the sweet soy and fish sauce combo that was used to marinade the skewer. And the fat from the meat complimented the skewer like how butter works on a steak. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Just plain awesome

The market has a great array of  sweet items as well. One thing caught my eye were these "micro" pancakes with flavoured desiccated coconut. The line was long but was worth the wait. Individually hand crafted, each pancake felt like a crispy coconut infused tuile. Coconut cream was placed on top of it before it was rolled into a cannoli. An Asian take on two different European style confectioneries. Packs come in 20 Bhat to 50 Bhat, depending on size.

Serious pancake making going on here

Crispy, creamy and slightly salty, it can easily satiate anyone's sweet tooth. An absolute must have. It is not as good as the ones I had in Bangkok, but is still worth the wait and the money. And when everything is about 50 cents a pop, value for money is the name of the game.

The end product

A sleeper hit I encountered was corn apam cakes. Cooked like pancakes in takoyaki moulds, it was chewy and crispy at the same time. It had a souffle-like texture and was riddled with sweet corn kernels. A contrast of texture that works. And again, you have guessed it, its 20 Bhat a serving.

A sleeper hit, but oh so delicious.

When it came to drinks, I had a coconut and soursop shake. The coconut water was blended with some ice and soursop fruit. A good fire quencher, especially when you are out and about eating edible napalm. Unfortunately due to the crowd at that part of the market, I was unable to take a photo of my drink. Was still able to get a shot of the stall though.

A great thirst quencher in the making.

There were some gourmet coffee stalls as well, but as it was easing into the night, I do not usually drink coffee as I am one of those people whose sleep can be affected due to a late night caffeine dosage.

Thailand Got Talent?

There was a central eating area with tables and chairs for the public and it is directly in front of the stage. Unfortunately the heavy tropical rainstorm forced me to vacate the place and head to eat underneath a shelter of a nearby cobbler. Still, I had a really good time and food was delicious. Overall, I had a fun experience. If you ever are heading of to Thailand, try  your best to head to the Krabi Night Market. It will be a detour you would probably not regret.

Notes:
Liquid sustenance consumed during drafting: Green Tea from Marks and Spencer
Most recent meal consumed before drafting: Kuih talam from my nearby petrol kiosk.