Bangkok’s street food scene, an essential part of daily life and one of Thailand’s most recognized cultural exports, is entering a new chapter as city officials move ahead with plans to relocate some vendors into a purpose-built hawker centre.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has confirmed that the Lumpini Park Hawker Centre will open in early 2026, located on Ratchadamri Road near Lumpini Park. The site will host 88 vendors per shift, with two daily rotations running from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to midnight. Each stall will meet standardized hygiene and safety requirements as part of the city’s long-term urban management strategy.
Street vendors along the side of the road, a reminder of the city’s enduring food culture as Bangkok prepares to launch its first regulated hawker centre near Lumpini Park Photo Courtesy Wandering Everywhere
Officials say the goal is to organize vending spaces more effectively, reduce congestion on busy sidewalks, and ensure food safety while maintaining the city’s vibrant culinary reputation. The BMA has indicated that vendors who previously operated near Sarasin Road may be prioritized for relocation.
Surveys show that more than 92% of Bangkok residents regularly purchase food from street vendors, underscoring how deeply integrated the practice is in the city’s economy. As such, the new hawker centre project aims to preserve accessibility and affordability while improving infrastructure and public cleanliness.
The plan represents one of Bangkok’s most significant urban food policy shifts in decades. If successful, it could serve as a model for how modern city planning can coexist with a long-standing informal economy. However, the transition will also test whether Bangkok can retain the spontaneity and atmosphere that define its street food experience.
With construction expected to begin soon, the Lumpini Hawker Centre marks the beginning of a gradual transformation—one that could reshape how Thais and tourists alike experience the capital’s most beloved dining tradition.
