Tamarind Market Hua Hin: Opening Times, Food & Visiting Guide

Positioned directly beside Cicada Market in the southern district of Khao Takiab, Tamarind Market is one of Hua Hin’s most popular open-air dining destinations. The market gathers dozens of independent hawker-style food stalls around a tree-shaded courtyard, pairing freshly cooked street fare with communal picnic seating and nightly live acoustic music.

Tamarind Market occupies a paved open courtyard shaded by mature tamarind and raintrees along Soi Hua Thanon 23, roughly four kilometres south of central Hua Hin. While Cicada Market next door focuses heavily on contemporary art, handmade crafts, and design souvenirs, Tamarind dedicates almost its entire footprint to eating and drinking. The layout functions in the style of an open-air hawker centre: vendors line neat paved avenues preparing dishes to order, while the central courtyard provides long rows of wooden picnic tables arranged before an acoustic music stage. Diners can wander between stalls, pick up a spread of local specialities—including fresh grilled seafood, pad Thai, noodle soups, satay skewers, and regional curries—as well as international choices such as wood-fired pizza, sushi, and artisan ice cream, before taking a shared table.

What its Like

The atmosphere is sociable, orderly, and noticeably cleaner than many conventional night markets, with staff maintaining the dining area and clearing plates throughout the evening. Visitors typically spend between one and two hours here, often using the market as a relaxed dinner stop before walking across to browse the art stalls and craft vendors next door. For travellers staying in the southern resort strip or heading down from central Hua Hin, the open seating and broad food selection make it a dependable option for groups and families seeking varied dinner choices without the formality of a table booking.

Getting There and Logistics

Tamarind Market is located on Soi Hua Thanon 23 in the Nong Kae subdistrict, roughly four kilometres south of central Hua Hin along the route toward Khao Takiab. Getting there is straightforward using local transport. The green songthaew (converted passenger pickup) runs regularly along Phetkasem Road between Hua Hin town centre and Khao Takiab. Fares cost 10 THB to 15 THB by day and 15 THB to 20 THB after dark (around 35p to 45p), with drivers dropping passengers on the main road within a minute's walk of the market gate. These trucks run less frequently after 20:00 and cease by roughly 21:30, meaning visitors staying late usually return by tuk-tuk or ride-hailing app, which typically costs 100 THB to 150 THB (£2.30 to £3.50) back to town. Those arriving by car or scooter can use the open-air parking ground directly adjacent to the site, which charges a flat 50 THB (£1.15).

The market opens from Thursday to Sunday, running from 17:00 to 23:00, with free admission. Diners arrive in large numbers between 19:00 and 20:30, when shared wooden picnic tables fill up rapidly. Arriving between 17:30 and 18:30 makes finding a table much simpler before the evening rush sets in. Payment logistics are uncomplicated: unlike neighbouring Cicada Market, which requires visitors to purchase paper coupons or stored-value cards from central booths, Tamarind stalls take direct payment. Vendors accept Thai QR PromptPay transfers as well as cash. Stallholders do not accept foreign credit cards, so carrying small cash notes—specifically 20, 50, and 100 THB bills—is the most practical way to buy dishes without causing change delays.

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