Lunchtime Food Hawker Stalls

One day I decided to bring my camera to take pictures along my 10 minute walk to Thai language school. I usually leave around noon and always get to see how Thai working class people go out for lunch. Yes, the McDonalds and KFCs are packed during lunchtime, but it seems that the majority of Thai people buy and eat lunch on the streets at Food Hawker Stalls. These food stalls are nothing more than an average person with raw food armed with a burner and a wok.

The standard set-up is a central stall where the raw food is stored and cooked. Surrounding the 'kitchen' are portable tables with umbrellas (for the rain) and chairs where the patrons sit and eat. Afterwards, the dirty dishes are collected, washed in a bucket, and re-used.

In the above picture, the kitchen is located on the corner with seating along the front of the Family Mart.

I walk by this set of tables everyday and it's always packed full of people.

The food stalls are always busy during lunch and usually have a small line of people waiting to be seated.

Customers are waiting for their food. The variety of food is amazing because each stall serves slightly different food - soups, meats, seafood, rice dishes, vegetables, curries, pad Thai, desserts, fruit, drinks, etc. The aroma and look of the food range from beautiful to grotesque. The sanitation practices are very questionable. The wash bucket where the dirty dishes are given a once-over before re-use is not clean looking at all. I often wonder how long raw meat has been sitting out, especially when I see flies in the area. I guess I understand why the U.S. has the FDA and other health organization to monitor and regulate food given to he public. Given my recent hospital visit, I have made a promise to myself not eat street food no matter how enticing it may smell or look. The flip side is that the food is so cheap and convenient. I could get a full plate of food for less than $1 USD. All the Thai people do it, and I never hear about them getting sick but I suppose they have the advantage of lifetime immunity. It's a tough call but I'll be safe and not eat the street food. We'll see if I change mind later.

No sidewalk is safe from the food hawkers. Even Starbucks is immune - can you see the front entrance of Starbucks in the above picture?

Lunchtime is over. Time to clean up and pack up.

A food hawker stall on the go. Everyday these food stalls are rolled to and from their nearby homes.

I happened to see another hawker pushing a cart down the street with woven goods.

Based on my observations, these food stalls are very popular and successful. The owner's and families that run these stalls seem to maintain good business. With the economic crisis looming, if push comes to shove and I need to earn money I will start my own food hawker cart cooking fish and curry with rice.