Increasing Indian presence

[simplelife 57]

I am seeing more indian restaurants popping up in Pattaya.

 

Beach road feels 60% Indian mongers, at night now.

 

There was also an indian club on walking street that opened recently. Mauja. Haven't been there.

 

Are Indians starting to become a major presence in all of Pattaya or am I giving them too much focus?

 

 

 

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I was on Street view the other day both looking for hotels and to see how much things had changed. There seemed to be a lot of Indian businesses down Second Road as well.

 

It seemed like the farther north I went on Second Road, the more Indian businesses I saw. I wasn't really paying that close attention to it but your post made me reflect in hindsight.

 

I don't have a problem with them except for glad handing, grab you by the arm tailors.

Edited August 2, 2018 by midlifecrisis

[js007 795]

I just looked at a chart of the Indian currency vs the Thai baht. It has been on a downward trend, so if more tourists are coming from India, it isn't because they get more for their money.

[gs joe 1,776]

End of June ,

 

Don't recall the name , Soi 12 Second rd end , facing the Lek ,

 

is an Indian dance club , the sign says " try something different,

so I give it a go ,

 

A Thai door man leads me though a room where some Indian guys are sitting

 

Then up a set stairs, a Thai girl dressed as a sexy nurse then leads me to a seated bar area with a small dance floor ,

four young Thai lads and two older looking Indian customers are enjoying the dance show ,

 

Sexy nurse asked me to pick a seat , and if I required company, I assume she ment her self ,

 

She took my drink order Jack and coke , I watched the show ,

four Indian dancers, done a solos, different ages and sizes non slim , but I did stay and watch all four , was entertaining,

the atmosphere was enjoyable ,

 

But time to check bin , I must admit I was thinking her gos ,,

150 baht not that bad , I did tip one of the dances a 100 to a loud chair from all ,

and made my way out ,

 

Joe

[jacko 8,814]

The answer is yes, quite a lot of Indian eateries popping up and you can see them doing their weekly shop at the Big-CX. I actually asked one why he was buying blue cheese because I know it isn't part of their regular diet and he answered for pizza in his restaurant. Quite a few in the area in the boundary of Klang, Second Rd and 2nd Rd Alley 4, behind the old Grand Sole hotel area.

Edited August 2, 2018 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Bleu cheese pizza? Not to my taste but it is done.

 

https://cookingbride.com/main-courses/pizza/blue-cheese-pizza/

[jacko 8,814]

Bleu cheese pizza? Not to my taste but it is done.

 

https://cookingbride.com/main-courses/pizza/blue-cheese-pizza/

Hey, we all have different tastes, I think anchovies is an error but also common. Getting any cheese whatsoever is a novelty in Thailand and if you do it is going to be applied more miserly than in the USA. A crumbing over of blue cheese would suit me fine but hold the damned pineapple and seafood!.

Edited August 2, 2018 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Hey, we all have different tastes, I think anchovies is an error but also common. Getting any cheese whatsoever is a novelty in Thailand and if you do it is going to be applied more miserly than in the USA. A crumbing over of blue cheese would suit me fine but hold the damned pineapple and seafood!.

 

That's true. Not an indigenous food.

 

I'll take your portion of seafood.

 

I take it you are more into see food.

[atlas2 4,329]

I was in a Jomtien bank yesterday. GBP to baht used to be 2nd or 3rd from the top on the exchange charts.....Dollar 1st, then Euro and pound. Yesterday noticed pound had dropped to mid-table.......Middle Eastern flags, Russia, India, Singapore, Honk Kong, China were higher.......Meaningless or not? don't know.... but I guess it reflects the changing tourist demographic.

 

I don't think it matters much.........

 

Not like the change in the UK.....In Bradford in the North of England if you phone the police they send the Bengal Lancers.....

 

I'll know it's finished here when Indians start taking over all the 7/11s..........

 

 

But thot's not likely .......Thais have a very high opinion of themselves and a real patriotic love of their country and customs.......

 

Whether it's Falang, Cossack, 'Kack kow' (arab) or 'Kack dam', (indian)...... you're welcome here as a paying guest only. That's seems a sensible rule to me.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I was in a Jomtien bank yesterday. GBP to baht used to be 2nd or 3rd from the top on the exchange charts.....Dollar 1st, then Euro and pound. Yesterday noticed pound had dropped to mid-table.......Middle Eastern flags, Russia, India, Singapore, Honk Kong, China were higher.......Meaningless or not? don't know.... but I guess it reflects the changing tourist demographic.

 

I don't think it matters much.........

 

Not like the change in the UK.....In Bradford in the North of England if you phone the police they send the Bengal Lancers.....

 

I'll know it's finished here when Indians start taking over all the 7/11s..........

 

 

But thot's not likely .......Thais have a very high opinion of themselves and a real patriotic love of their country and customs.......

 

Whether it's Falang, Cossack, 'Kack kow' (arab) or 'Kack dam', (indian)...... you're welcome here as a paying guest only. That's seems a sensible rule to me.

 

Sudden spasms of laughter for old guys can result in sponateous dischages.

 

You so took me by surprise on that one.

[Bazle 1,485]

I am seeing more indian restaurants popping up in Pattaya.

 

Beach road feels 60% Indian mongers, at night now.

 

There was also an indian club on walking street that opened recently. Mauja. Haven't been there.

 

Are Indians starting to become a major presence in all of Pattaya or am I giving them too much focus?

 

 

Your observations are spot on.

 

And I think that many of us aren't realising how many non-tour group Chinese are around. They blend in to the Thai background!

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

India as a country is on the rise. It makes sense that a % of them have the money to holiday in LOS. Some Indians I know in London are big spenders, as well.

[Bushcraft 2,579]

I sometimes travel from Jomtien to Soi 6 by baht bus, noticed how many Indian restaurants were suddenly springing up and resolved to count them last night. I came up with 28 just on the stretch between the overpass and Klang, and may have missed a couple of less obvious ones. From being quite rare a few years ago, their presence is now pretty huge, with sometimes very large premises that must have cost a pretty rupee.

So who are they catering for? There are fewer and fewer farang in town at any time nowadays, so that's not a growth market. Visiting Indians are mostly unlikely to afford the prices charged (Indian restaurants are traditionally not exactly cheap in Patts). And seeking to attract major Thai custom could happen, but only over time and with great effort. None of these seem to justify the sudden upsurge in these establishments, perhaps I'm missing something.

[Bazle 1,485]

I sometimes travel from Jomtien to Soi 6 by baht bus, noticed how many Indian restaurants were suddenly springing up and resolved to count them last night. I came up with 28 just on the stretch between the overpass and Klang, and may have missed a couple of less obvious ones. From being quite rare a few years ago, their presence is now pretty huge, with sometimes very large premises that must have cost a pretty rupee.

So who are they catering for? There are fewer and fewer farang in town at any time nowadays, so that's not a growth market. Visiting Indians are mostly unlikely to afford the prices charged (Indian restaurants are traditionally not exactly cheap in Patts). And seeking to attract major Thai custom could happen, but only over time and with great effort. None of these seem to justify the sudden upsurge in these establishments, perhaps I'm missing something.

I read somewhere recently that a lot of these places never expect to make a profit. They are devices for enabling families to live in the country legally.

[tallguy 1,475]

I took a stroll up Walking Street during the day time a couple of months ago and was surprised to see some high end places aimed at Indians at the southern end of the street. I have read reports that these places do decent business. There is also a large Indian dance club near Alcazar. It's been there a while so I assume it does OK. I guess these places appeal to the wealthier Indians who like to drink bottles of JW Black and flash the cash. Alternatively the Bangladeshi / Indian owned GGB on Pattayaland 2 didn't last long.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I sometimes travel from Jomtien to Soi 6 by baht bus, noticed how many Indian restaurants were suddenly springing up and resolved to count them last night. I came up with 28 just on the stretch between the overpass and Klang, and may have missed a couple of less obvious ones.

 

TripAdvisor lists 98 Indian restaurants in Pattaya and that list is unlikely to be complete. Two Indian restaurants have opened up at opposite ends of Soi 15 off 2nd Road and I have never seen a customer in either. I pass by on a daily basis.

 

 

I read somewhere recently that a lot of these places never expect to make a profit. They are devices for enabling families to live in the country legally.

 

I've heard the same about Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants in the U.S. It's a way for families who have money to qualify for U.S citizenship. In the tiny village (population 5,000) where my parents lived in retirement, there was a Chinese restaurant and gift shop for about 10 years. Rents were very cheap in that village because the population had been declining for decades, so even if the restaurant never made money, the loss wouldn't be that large compared to operating a restaurant in a big city with high rents. The "main owner" of the businesses didn't live in the village but in New York City.

 

Other members of his family did live there and managed the businesses on a daily basis. They couldn't have possibly made a profit and were closed for two months every summer. It was a smart way to qualify for a green card and once enough family members got U.S. citizenship, they closed the restaurant and gift shop.

 

Evil

Edited August 3, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[atlas2 4,329]

If this is what goes on in the Indian discos......I'm going!!

 

I'm loved up with the girl in red with red hair....

 

[BigusDicus 9,878]

If this is what goes on in the Indian discos......I'm going!!

 

I'm loved up with the girl in red with red hair....

 

 

 

Yes, I would spank her!

[cbrib 354]

There is a huge increase in Indians in Pattaya, has been happening for a while now. My missus works at an indian hotel and with a couple hundred rooms they are full every night.

 

A few nights ago i took a cut from 3rd rd to soi Buahkhao via soi PP Massage, the only one in that area with out speed bumps. There were 3 busus full unloading into PP Massage and another 50 or so walking in the middle of the street looking around.

 

Indians just may be the next Chonese/Russian invasion, get your papadoms while they are hot boys!

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

In London many foreign restaurants seem to a means of laundering money.A friend of mine done a little building work and got paid with no hassle. Never seen a soul in that restaurant.

[tombon 113]

There is a lot of Indian restaurant's in the area of pattaya (pattaya klang) that I stay. I don't know how there making money cos it's very rare I see customers in them. I always thought it was a money laundering operation.

[fforest 2]

Hello

 

I dont post on this forum but this is a good thread on Indian restaurants...

I have been following this situation for a few years now and I thought I would throw my 2 cents in....

 

Until about 2010-2011 ?....Pattaya had what I would consider a normal number of Indian Restaurants

to meet the demand for Indian food in Pattaya....I do not know how many there were then? But if I had

to take a guess I would say maybe a dozen give of take....

 

From about 2011 the numbers slowly started to increase and in the last 2-3-4 years there has just been

a explosion of Indian restaurants....If I had to make a wild guess I would say there are easily 200 Indian

restaurants from Naklua to South Pattaya...Hell I might even be under estimating...

2nd Road near walking street is practically a solid mass of Indian restaurants and the area by 2nd road

and Central road there are LOADS of Indian restaurants....

 

Like has already been pointed out in this thread most of these Indian restaurants have very few customers..

And some seem to have virtually no customers....

I would also say about 97% of the customers they do have are Indian.....I have never seen a Thai person in

a Indian restaurant ever..Not one....I dont think I have seen any Chinese in them either....And I have only

seen a smattering of farangs or Russians eat in any of these Indian Restaurants....

 

These Indian restaurants are also not cheap...I highly suspect that the Indians are not paying full price...

 

Are the Indian tourist going to pay 5 or 10 times the price for Indian food in Pattaya than they pay for

the same meal in India....NO... NO FRIGGING WAY are they going to pay out the wazoo for Indian food

in Pattaya.....Many? Most? are not paying full price I would strongly guess...

 

If you walk by and look at the Indians working at these Indian restaurants they NEVER look worried or

stressed-out do to lack of customers....Most are just kicking back playing with their phones...They also

are NEVER hustling for business......And I do mean NEVER.....

 

Do any of these Indian restaurants offer blow-out specials to attract customers EVER? Not that I have seen..

 

My feeling is most dont give a rats-ass if they have customers or not....

 

I live near Central road just blocks from Pattayas little India,I see these Indian restaurants every

day...And you know what I have NEVER seen a Indian restaurant close down or go out of business..

Not one...Once they open they stay open....

 

 

So lets see what costs they have to stay open...Rent,gas,water,electric,food they must stock,Employee

salary,permits,taxes,repairs,visas,etc...

 

And lets see what money they are taking in.....97% of the few customers that they do have are Indians

who many I would guess are not even paying full price....

 

Houston we have a problem here.....No way is the customer base supporting all these Indian restaurants...

 

So the 64 thousand or is that million dollar question is where is the money coming from to keep all

these 200 Indian restaurants open month after month year after year?

 

Could the restaurants be for visa purposes?.....If so are 200 really needed?

Could the restaurants be for money laundering?....If so are 200 really needed?

 

Or could the reason be because________? Fill in the blank...

Edited October 24, 2018 by fforest

[Siam Sam 964]

I suspect some of them are fronts but I doubt there are that many that are. As you say there are more Indians in Pattaya these days and they've got to eat somewhere. Every Indian I've ever been friendly with is even more insular than the average Thai when it comes to eating the cuisine of other cultures. These restaurants may look quiet to you when you pass by but unless you watched the places 24 hours a day how can you be sure how busy they are? There are plenty of Thai restaurants that always look empty yet they've been there for as long as I've been going to Pattaya.

[jacko 8,814]

I suspect some of them are fronts but I doubt there are that many that are. As you say there are more Indians in Pattaya these days and they've got to eat somewhere. Every Indian I've ever been friendly with is even more insular than the average Thai when it comes to eating the cuisine of other cultures. These restaurants may look quiet to you when you pass by but unless you watched the places 24 hours a day how can you be sure how busy they are? There are plenty of Thai restaurants that always look empty yet they've been there for as long as I've been going to Pattaya.

I took a stroll all the way from Klang to Soi Diamond along 2nd Rd, East side, recently, unusual for me as Beach Rd is my usual route. Other than an excess of Massage businesses, I was much surprised how many Indian restaurants there were, like the MPs, devoid of customers but moreso. I passed some Thai seafood places that were very busy. Made me wonder what was going on.... were they ready for an expected huge surge in Indians, or perhaps one group was enough, they do go around in large groups. Or a mass influx of businessmen who have opened there and got work permits. Quite a few of them were lowly looking places.

Edited October 24, 2018 by jacko

[Bazle 1,485]

Considering the large number of Indians who are members of Addicts, I wonder if posting this topic there would elicit useful information.

 

All we seem to be able to do is shrug our shoulders in confusion!