Phuket designates 60 “Cheap Shops’ with food under 40 baht

PHUKET: Officials have designated 60 food shops throughout Phuket to be ‘Cheap Shops’, which sell plates of food for 40 baht.

The move follows ongoing complaints from locals and tourists alike made directly to Governor Nisit Jansomwong through his Facebook page regarding high food prices in Phuket, said Office of Commercial Affairs Phuket Chief Prakong Rukwong yesterday at the Governor’s monthly media meeting.

“We recently sent out our staff to inspect and collect information from food shops across the island. We set the goal at 60 shops, and those 60 food shops had to fill out our form to officially join the project,” said Mr Prakong, adding that the shops are scattered throughout the island’s three districts.

In order for a shop to be considered a ‘Cheap Shop’, certain dishes, such as khao rad kaeng (usually meat or vegetables in seasoned sauce on top of rice), must not exceed 40 baht and the shops must have their prices listed on the menu or in plain sight for customers.

“Our signs indicating which shops are cheap shops are still in progress and will be installed at shops within the weekend,” he said.

“Anyone who sees one of our shops selling food more expensive than listed in their menus, please file a complaint with our office.”

The Office of Commercial Affairs Phuket mainly works with food prices, whereas the cleanliness of restaurants is determined by the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO), Mr Prakong noted.

“Please note that our job is to check on food prices. Our officers will do basic checks on cleanliness but not officially as the PPHO does. The PPHO focuses on food cleanliness and has staff who are capable of approving the quality of food under their project ‘Clean Food Good Taste’,” he explained.

The office is currently searching for more shops to join the project. Any shop interested is encouraged to visit the Office of Commercial Affairs Phuket on Montri Road in Phuket Town. Or call them at 076-212017, or visit their website: https://pcoc.moc.go.th/wappPCOC/83/ (Thai language only).

— Chutharat Plerin