🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Pak Chong is the gateway to Khao Yai. The town sits along the Mittraphap Highway, about 20–25 km from the Pak Chong-side park entrance. Once the sun goes down it turns into a grazing district by default, with several night markets spread around town — some open daily, some only on weekends. We've picked out the ones that are genuinely still running and packed with food, with ballpark prices based on real reviews (prices move up and down with ingredients and the festival season).
The main night markets in Pak Chong–Khao Yai
Pak Chong Night Market (Night Bazaar)
The town's main night market, near the old Mittraphap Highway by the Pak Chong fresh market. Food stalls line both sides of the street. Open daily from around 17:00, with roadside parking.
Pak Chong Khlong Thom Market
A bigger market with 200-plus stalls — food, secondhand goods, clothing, and kids' rides. Good for families, and easier to wander than the other spots.
Teen Khao Night Market, Khao Yai
The chilled-out night market, with live music on some nights, food and drinks, and a relaxed sit-and-hang vibe at the foot of the hills. Check the market's page before you go — opening days aren't fixed.
Plan before you go
Pak Chong Night Market is open daily, so it's your safest bet on a weeknight. The more laid-back spots like Teen Khao tend to be liveliest Friday–Saturday. If you're set on one particular stall, check the market's Facebook page for that day before heading out.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Khao Yai food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
The dishes people keep mentioning
The food at Pak Chong's night markets is no-fuss street food — easy to eat, friendly on the wallet. We've ordered these by how often the names come up in reviews and food-crawl clips. Prices are estimated ranges, and some items sell out fast if you turn up late.
Fried oyster omelette (or-suan), Night Market
The signature stall of Pak Chong Night Market — crispy batter, soft egg, plump oysters. It's the dish reviewers mention most at this market, and you may have to wait in line when it's busy.
Fish maw soup, Tong Tong
Thick fish maw soup loaded with toppings — another stall that often draws a queue until the pot runs dry. Best eaten warm in the evening, especially on a cool night.
Grilled pork, chicken & skewers
The heart of every night market — grilled fresh, the fragrant smoke trailing the whole way down the street. Grilled pork, chicken, wings, grilled intestines: snack on them as you walk or grab some to take back to your room.
Dim sum & steamed buns, Night zone
There are dim sum stalls in the night-market zone on the Mittraphap Highway side, starting around ฿35 per basket — har gow, dumplings, steamed buns. Order a few kinds to share.
Mango sticky rice, Mae Khamporn
Soft coconut sticky rice with sweet ripe mango — the market's go-to dessert, and one plenty of reviewers rate highly. Great to finish a meal or take home.
Som tam, grilled chicken & larb
You're in Isan country, so there has to be a som tam stall. Pounded fresh, spice to order, eaten with grilled chicken and sticky rice — a proper, filling meal for a couple of hundred baht.
Fried meatballs & grilled Isan sausage
Popular grab-and-go snacks — grilled and fried meatballs, tangy Isan sausage on skewers, with a punchy dipping sauce to add yourself.
Roti, khanom buang & honeycomb cake
The dough-and-sweets corner — banana roti with condensed milk, sweet-and-savoury khanom buang, hot honeycomb cake fresh off the griddle. A good last bite before you head off.
Fruit smoothies, milk tea & cold drinks
After a run of spicy, fried things you'll need something to cool down. Fruit smoothies, bubble milk tea, herbal drinks — a few baht a cup, easy to carry as you walk.
Local souvenirs & seasonal fruit
Pak Chong is fruit country, and the markets have custard apple, jackfruit, grapes and seasonal fruit at orchard-direct prices, plus sausage and mu yo to take home.
Eat well and don't miss the good stuff
The famous stalls like the oyster omelette and fish maw soup tend to draw queues and sell out fast on weekend nights. If you want to be sure, go early evening, 18:00–19:00 — you'll get it fresh without a long wait. Bring cash too, since many stalls still don't take transfers or cards.
How to eat your way through (a 2-night plan)
If you're staying in Khao Yai for 2 nights, split the two markets across two evenings — you'll get different vibes and won't get bored. Here's an easy idea for pacing your way through.
Pak Chong Night Market — full-on food crawl
Khlong Thom / Teen Khao — a relaxed wander
Getting there and what to know
- Take care driving down from the park in the evening — Khao Yai's roads are winding and dark, and wildlife can cross at any point. Drive slowly, keep your lights on, and don't rush down to the market.
- Long-weekend nights mean traffic and rooms fill fast — if you're coming during a festival or long weekend, book your stay ahead and allow extra time to get into downtown Pak Chong.
- Bring cash — most street-food stalls take cash; some have a QR code, but not all of them.
- Parking — Pak Chong Night Market has roadside parking, while the bigger markets usually have a lot, though on weekend nights you may have to park further out and walk in.
- Go early rather than late — the best stalls sell out fast, and some start packing up before midnight.
Plan a full eating-and-sightseeing trip to Khao Yai
See the Khao Yai travel guide →