Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Banzaan is Patong's fresh market, a two-story hall on Nanai Road, just behind Jungceylon. The ground floor is the actual market, with lobster, prawns, crab, squid, shellfish, and whole fish displayed on ice and in tanks, alongside fruits, vegetables, meat, and flowers. Seafood is sold by weight. Buy what you want, take the bag upstairs, and one of the kitchens in the food court will grill, steam with lime, or stir-fry it with chili and basil for a fee. Simple Thai dishes, including halal options, are also prepared upstairs.

Prices in Patong are lower than in Phuket Town, and haggling is common. Vendors often start with high prices, so I recommend offering significantly less and keeping an eye on the scales while your order is being weighed. Preparation costs aren't fixed either. Some kitchens charge by the kilo, others by the dish. So, agree on the price before the grill is fired up.

After nightfall, the streets around the hall fill with food stalls – this is the "Banzaan Night Market" people are looking for. It's the same place, not a separate venue. Grilled seafood, som tam, fried chicken, mango sticky rice, and roti are among the most popular dishes. Don't confuse it with the Bangla Night Market, located on Bangla Road, a short walk west, which stays open much later.