Bangkok to open 'Lumpini Hawker Centre' with 88 vendors in early 2026

Singaporeans heading to Bangkok will soon have another destination to add to their bucket list, one that might conjure a sense of familiarity.

Thailand's capital city will be opening a hawker centre in early 2026 as part of its campaign to regulate its street food scene.

Organised street food

Local media The Nation reported that construction for the new hawker centre began on Jun. 27, and is slated for completion in early 2026.

Located on Ratchadamri Road beside Lumpini Park, the building will be open-air and will house 88 vendors in 2m x 2m units, according to Thaiger.

The centre will operate in two daily shifts, from 5am to 4pm and from 4pm to midnight.

A spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said that the hawker centre will help "raise Bangkok's street food standards in terms of cleanliness and safety" and "ease the burden on low-income vendors".

Thaiger wrote that the new food hub is "inspired by Singapore's renowned hawker centres", and Bangkok's version will "preserve the charm and affordability of Thai street food while offering cleaner and more organised surroundings."

The hawker centre was designed with environmental friendliness in mind, incorporating natural ventilation to reduce the need for air-conditioning and a muted roof colour to minimise light reflection which might affect a nearby hospital.

Trees at the construction site were temporarily relocated to a park nearby and will eventually be replanted on the hawker centre grounds.

Face lift

The hawker centre comes as apart of Bangkok's attempt to clean-up of its street food scene over the years.

In 2017, local authorities announced that a ban street-side food, one which appeared loosely enforced.

In 2024, an income ceiling was imposed on street food vendor eligibility.

Top image Canva, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration / Facebook