New Makro store in Hua Hin

[Terry]

That's quite interesting Terry. Out of curiosity............how do your staff prepare the steaks, since both can be incredibly tough. This is actually why I've never ordered this anywhere other than in South Africa.


I'm also curious as to where the ostrich meat comes from since I've never seen or heard of an ostrich farm in Thailand. Saying that, the last thing we need in Thailand are ostriches running wild all over the place.

Sometimes Mrs.T gets the Ostrich from a supplier in Bangkok sometimes we use Makro - frozen
The Venison we get from Makro - frozen

We always buy top grade cuts - you can get three grades of each at Makro. The lesser quality can either be tough or sometimes even 'gritty'

As to preparation - that's a trade secret - but a thorough bashing with a kitchen hammer often helps - the other preparation methods I can only reveal under threat of death...............

as to where the ostrich comes from - it's usualy in the third row back from the sausages

[hhfarang]

Shelves and shelves of coffee, mostly unground - not a grinder in sight - compare that with Villa Market! Also not in sight "never heard of" filter papers for a drip filter coffee machine - compare that to either Villa Market or Tesco!
Grog same price as 7/11 - more variety of mixers stocked in that odd shop just by the railway crossing on Soi 6. Grog visiting hours also strictly interpreted (just as in Tesco, but NOT in Villa Market!).
Absolutely no help offered in packing items when leaving shop - even Tesco bags items for you and Villa goes further - they load them in your car for you! A well spent unasked for 20 baht!
I thought the vegetable section lamentable, with a very poor choice of bulk packaged items none too fresh looking. The bakery was ordinary. The only star of the show for me was the fresh fish section.
The Makro in Samui leaves this one for dead!
No, I'll stick with Villa Market and the odd foray into Tesco MV.

I love Villa Market too, but: I go to Tesco or Hua Hin Shopping Mall and come out with a bulging cart for 3k baht and go to Villa Market and come out with two plastic shopping bags for the same price.... don't get me wrong, I go there for items I cannot find anywhere else but if you can find it anywhere else it is usually much cheaper in my experience to get the item elsewhere.

The result for us is we go at the beginning of the month to Hua Hin Shopping Mall, then Tesco, then Villa for the things we couldn't find at the other two.

It really would be nice to have a Tops or a Foodland where you can usually find everything you need in one place at a reasonable price instead of having to shop at three markets each month to get what you need.... and forget Big C, they're worse than Tesco.

[Takiap]

That's quite interesting Terry. Out of curiosity............how do your staff prepare the steaks, since both can be incredibly tough. This is actually why I've never ordered this anywhere other than in South Africa.


I'm also curious as to where the ostrich meat comes from since I've never seen or heard of an ostrich farm in Thailand. Saying that, the last thing we need in Thailand are ostriches running wild all over the place.

Sometimes Mrs.T gets the Ostrich from a supplier in Bangkok sometimes we use Makro - frozen
The Venison we get from Makro - frozen

We always buy top grade cuts - you can get three grades of each at Makro. The lesser quality can either be tough or sometimes even 'gritty'

As to preparation - that's a trade secret - but a thorough bashing with a kitchen hammer often helps - the other preparation methods I can only reveal under threat of death...............

as to where the ostrich comes from - it's usualy in the third row back from the sausages

Lol.......Don't worry Terry. No need for you to share secrets since I known how to prepare very tender ostrich and/or venison. I am after all, from the dark continent....lol.

Well, at least I know they farm ostrich in Thailand. I doubt many Thais even know about that...lol. I also find it strange then that one never really sees things like decorative ostrich egg shells and ostrich riding opportunities, unless of course the industry isn't big enough.

[Takiap]

Shelves and shelves of coffee, mostly unground - not a grinder in sight - compare that with Villa Market! Also not in sight "never heard of" filter papers for a drip filter coffee machine - compare that to either Villa Market or Tesco!
Grog same price as 7/11 - more variety of mixers stocked in that odd shop just by the railway crossing on Soi 6. Grog visiting hours also strictly interpreted (just as in Tesco, but NOT in Villa Market!).
Absolutely no help offered in packing items when leaving shop - even Tesco bags items for you and Villa goes further - they load them in your car for you! A well spent unasked for 20 baht!
I thought the vegetable section lamentable, with a very poor choice of bulk packaged items none too fresh looking. The bakery was ordinary. The only star of the show for me was the fresh fish section.
The Makro in Samui leaves this one for dead!
No, I'll stick with Villa Market and the odd foray into Tesco MV.

I love Villa Market too, but: I go to Tesco or Hua Hin Shopping Mall and come out with a bulging cart for 3k baht and go to Villa Market and come out with two plastic shopping bags for the same price.... don't get me wrong, I go there for items I cannot find anywhere else but if you can find it anywhere else it is usually much cheaper in my experience to get the item elsewhere.

The result for us is we go at the beginning of the month to Hua Hin Shopping Mall, then Tesco, then Villa for the things we couldn't find at the other two.

It really would be nice to have a Tops or a Foodland where you can usually find everything you need in one place at a reasonable price instead of having to shop at three markets each month to get what you need.... and forget Big C, they're worse than Tesco.

I agree with you HHF. I have only been into Villa Market two or three times, and on each occasion, it was because I was looking specifically for something I couldn't find at the other stores. The prices there are absurd. I for one am not willing to pay double the price for something just because I'm buying it from a particular shop. Paying for a name just doesn't make sense to me.

As for the fresh markets.................I think I've made it clear many times in the past that I like supporting the markets, but during the last few months, I've changed somewhat, at least when it comes to buying certain things.

For example, we rarely buy our rice from the markets or from the rice vendors anymore because you get it cheaper at the supermarkets, and the supermarket rice is also cleaner and comes without little creepy crawlies. With 7 mouths to feed, we go through a lot of rice and have found that we save about 200 or 300 baht per week buying our rice from the supermarkets.


We've also stopped buying pork from the markets since again, it cheaper getting it from the supermarkets, or better yet, from the pork butcher in Hua-Hin. Not sure what the market sellers are charging for pork now, but a short while ago it was 150 baht/kg, whereas I can get pork that is equally as fresh, and a lot cleaner, for 110 to 120 baht from the butcher shop. Again, we save about 400 baht every ten days. This is all small money, but it all adds up when you're live here full time.

[Big Boy]

For example, we rarely buy our rice from the markets or from the rice vendors anymore because you get it cheaper at the supermarkets, and the supermarket rice is also cleaner and comes without little creepy crawlies. With 7 mouths to feed, we go through a lot of rice and have found that we save about 200 or 300 baht per week buying our rice from the supermarkets.

But, are you still getting your protein quota?

[Takiap]

For example, we rarely buy our rice from the markets or from the rice vendors anymore because you get it cheaper at the supermarkets, and the supermarket rice is also cleaner and comes without little creepy crawlies. With 7 mouths to feed, we go through a lot of rice and have found that we save about 200 or 300 baht per week buying our rice from the supermarkets.

But, are you still getting your protein quota?

With the amount of meat I go through, protein is plentiful.....lol.


As a side note, the missus has also told me that the Jasmine rice you buy from the rice merchants is often mixed with other rice as well. Whether that's true or not is anyone's guess.

[STEVE G]

As a side note, the missus has also told me that the Jasmine rice you buy from the rice merchants is often mixed with other rice as well. Whether that's true or not is anyone's guess.

Yes, having observed a bit of Issan agriculture, it is true that rice grown traditionally on small village farms often contains varying proportions of Jasmine rice (Hom Mali) mixed with other types of rice.
This is not due to any attempt to cheat, it's just that it can be hard to stop other types of rice from growing in the crop and seeing as how some of the crop is kept back for seed, any contamination will tend to get worse over the years.
When the farmer takes his crop to the rice trader, a sample is taken and winnowed and then inspected to judge the percentage of Hom Mali rice in the sample and the farmer is paid a rate based on that.
Obviously the rice can't be seperated and the trader should sell it on at a price according to the quality but if you don't know much about rice, you might get sold something that isn't of the quality that you're paying for.
Rice from large commercial farms is easier to control so a pure crop can be grown.

[usual suspect]

Have just been to Makro HH for the 1st time.
IMHO this is NOT meant to be just a trade-outlet, aimed more-so at being another HH 'shopping-experience' for the wealthy Hi-So's from BKK and inquisitive Farangs.
Yes we got what we went for which saved us the trip to Pranburi, but with it's wide isles, in-house Bakery, food demos on every other isle corner,etc. We noticed the mini-buses outside and lots of (I assume) wealthy Thai families browsing round. I think after the HH Floating Market, & Big-Buddha, on a Sunday afternoon the big Tour-Coaches may be stopping off here also..
(As a footnote..Good to see all the check-out staff wearing Back-braces/Body-Belts for when they
have to lift out the heavier items to scan... )

[JAFO]

I agree with you HHF. I have only been into Villa Market two or three times, and on each occasion, it was because I was looking specifically for something I couldn't find at the other stores. The prices there are absurd. I for one am not willing to pay double the price for something just because I'm buying it from a particular shop. Paying for a name just doesn't make sense to me.

As for the fresh markets.................I think I've made it clear many times in the past that I like supporting the markets, but during the last few months, I've changed somewhat, at least when it comes to buying certain things.

For example, we rarely buy our rice from the markets or from the rice vendors anymore because you get it cheaper at the supermarkets, and the supermarket rice is also cleaner and comes without little creepy crawlies. With 7 mouths to feed, we go through a lot of rice and have found that we save about 200 or 300 baht per week buying our rice from the supermarkets.


We've also stopped buying pork from the markets since again, it cheaper getting it from the supermarkets, or better yet, from the pork butcher in Hua-Hin. Not sure what the market sellers are charging for pork now, but a short while ago it was 150 baht/kg, whereas I can get pork that is equally as fresh, and a lot cleaner, for 110 to 120 baht from the butcher shop. Again, we save about 400 baht every ten days. This is all small money, but it all adds up when you're live here full time.

A bit of a tangent to the thread title but in comment to Takiap and HH, while we do not eat much rice, but when we do, we buy from the local night markets. We find the ones that have the large bags open and check it carefully. Never been a problem. We buy enough to eat and store very little. The pork we get is stellar quality and is 110baht/kg. We are totally against packaged meat for a variety of reasons.

I will say if you live here getting to know the local vendors is critical IMHO. You patronize them consistently and they return the favor with quality product. We have found this to be the case with pork, chicken, fish(which we eat the most) and vegetables. I like seeing the fish alive when I buy VS packaged or sitting dead on ice in the supermarkets. Plus its nice to socialize and talk with folks.

We use supermarkets for consumables and not much more. Makro has very little I would use there. It was definitely geared at foreigners and upscale Thai's. While there is nothing wrong with it I suppose, I prefer to remain simple and not jump back on that "Train". Villa has certain things not able to be found at Makro and Tesco. Funny as that is, its usually cheese, crackers and potato chips. We do not do it often, in fact its usually only for me as my GF does not eat it.

[easyas]

I will say if you live here getting to know the local vendors is critical IMHO. You patronize them consistently and they return the favor with quality product. We have found this to be the case with pork, chicken, fish(which we eat the most) and vegetables. I like seeing the fish alive when I buy VS packaged or sitting dead on ice in the supermarkets. Plus its nice to socialize and talk with folks.

Do you have any "local vendors" you are prepared to share with us?
Personally, I find the fresh seafood in Khao Takiab pretty damn good!

[advocate]

Just got back from the new Makro. Much nicer than the one in Pranburi. Easy access off Petchkasem and plenty of shaded parking. No 3 hour charge like at MV if you are longer than 3 hours and your car isn't roasting in the sun. Well laid out store with wide aisles and at least 6+ cashiers. Place was busy but bc of the space didn't seem crowded.

Huge fresh meat and fish section and also a lot of frozen same. I don't mind some items frozen as I do a lot of slow cooking and like to keep a good supply of freezer meat. This place is 5 mins from my house and sure saves a lot of time and hassle of going through downtown to get to MV. Not to mention the prices are far better for many of the items we buy regularly. We do go to the local markets, but we will be also frequent customers at the new Makro.

[JimmyGreaves]

I will say if you live here getting to know the local vendors is critical IMHO. You patronize them consistently and they return the favor with quality product. We have found this to be the case with pork, chicken, fish(which we eat the most) and vegetables. I like seeing the fish alive when I buy VS packaged or sitting dead on ice in the supermarkets. Plus its nice to socialize and talk with folks.

I would think Phetchburi is a different kettle of fish JAFO. HH is oh so hi so priced!

[hhfarang]

No 3 hour charge like at MV if you are longer than 3 hours

This may be a silly question, but how could anyone ever spend over three hours in a supermarket of any kind... in other words, that is a moot point. Spending three hours in a mall with a theater, many different stores, a bowling alley, lots of restaurants, etc., cannot be compared to spending three hours in a Makro. You'd pretty much have to go into a coma to do that!

[advocate]

Point being is that if you wish to do your grocery shopping in conjunction with other activities at MV, you will pay extra for the privilege of having your car bake in the sun.

[hhfarang]

I've never been in there for three straight hours as I hate shopping of any kind so I go get what I want and get out, but are the parking charges really that bad (more than 20 or 30 baht)?

BTW, I was told (the missus knows a parking attendant) that MV initiated that parking charge because Thai families who have no A/C at home were just coming there and hanging out in the mall, sitting around chatting all day without any intention of shopping just to be in a nicer, cooler environment than their home. The charge was intended to stop this practice and free up some parking space for real shoppers.