Tampa’s Thai Temple – A Unique Taste of Thailand in Tampa Bay!
In the heart of Tampa Bay, Wat Mongkolratanaram Thai Temple brings you a little piece of Thailand from nearly 10,000 miles away with its traditional Thai architecture, cuisine, and hospitality.
Located on the banks of the Palm River, the temple (commonly referred to as Wat Temple because Mongokolratanaram is a little hard to say!) first opened in 2007 by members of Tampa’s Thai community. They gather every week for services at the temple, which gleams in the sun with its golden-colored roof and dragon-esque decor.
Curious visitors are invited inside the temple, first removing their shoes. They’re welcome to wander the temple, explore its unique architecture, and get a close up of the golden Buddha statue as they learn more about Buddhism and Thai traditions. Friendly volunteers of the temple are also available for chats and to answer any questions visitors may have.
Thai Temple’s Sunday Market
One of the temple’s greatest attractions is its Sunday Market where visitors can dive into Thai cuisine and interact with the local Thai community in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. From pad Thai and curry to fresh pork noodle soup and fried bananas, the market offers plenty of delicious foods from Thailand.
Tips for Visiting Tampa’s Thai Temple Sunday Market
Hours
You can indulge in the market from 8:30 – 1 p.m.
Location Wat Thai Temple
5306 Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619, USA
Get there early!
The market becomes very crowded from quite early on, so it’s a good idea to arrive as early as possible to find a good parking spot. Also, the food can sell out quite fast, so arriving before 10AM is probably best.
There’s lots of seating at red picnic tables, but it can still be a bit difficult to find a decent spot to sit down and eat.
Cash Only
The market is cash only so be sure to bring enough cash. Prices are generally very reasonable with egg rolls available for $1, pork and beef on a stick for $3, curries starting at $5, and pork noodle soup starting at $6.
Food Tips
There are many curries available, as it’s a popular choice among visitors. We sampled 6 of the curries and found our favorite to be the the chicken pumpkin panang.
One note, some of the dishes we weren’t expecting to taste fishy were very fishy. Our kids don’t like seafood so they wouldn’t touch the ones that had a fishy taste. If you’re allergic to shellfish or sensitive to that taste, it’s something to look out for.
The star of the show, with the longest line to go along with it, was the soup! The broth was so flavorful and our whole group (5 adults and 5 kids) agreed it was delicious. We did have to wait in a 20 minute line to get the soup but it was worth it!
You can choose between beef, pork, or vegetable noodle soup. We tried all three and enjoyed all three! $6 and the portions were very large.
The market has various other traditional foods such as grilled pork or chicken on a stick, egg rolls, Thai papaya salad, and Thai tea and coffee as well as several desserts. We tried most popular items and especially loved the chicken satay, fried bananas, and Thai tea!
You can also buy fresh fruit and vegetables to take home with you from the market.
Recycle
After eating, you’re encouraged to use the provided recycling bins to recycle your plastic bottles and cans.
Flowers and Produce
Beyond food, flowers and medicinal herbs and plants are available for purchase, too. If you’re a fan of orchids, this is the perfect place to shop for fresh and beautiful ones.
Other items for sale included locally grown produce, sauces, herbs, and desserts.
Entering the Wat Temple
Dress appropriately. Shorts and short dresses are not encouraged. Legs, shoulders and stomach should be covered, according to the sign on the door.
You’ll need to remove your shoes before entering the temple, so bring socks if you’re not comfortable walking around barefoot.
Don’t point your feet at the Buddha images or Monks, as it’s a sign of disrespect.
If you’re interested in attending, the religious service runs from 1PM until 2PM. It involves chants, sermon, and meditation and it is conducted entirely in Pali.
When we visited there were two rows on chairs set up in the back and guests who were praying or sitting on mats in the middle of the floor. There was a man with a microphone answering questions asked by the visitors. We sat and listened for 10 minutes as he talked about the history of the temple and the upcoming events and services they offer.
Visiting the Wat Temple in Tampa, Florida is an incredible experience combing food, culture, and great atmosphere with the local Thai community. The temple itself is both calm and reverent and the market is full of friendly vendors and delicious food. You won’t regret visiting this beautiful temple along the lovely Palm River!