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Restaruant/Taxi Scam
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
I am staying at a decent hotel in Bangkok, and last evening asked my hotel for a restaurant recommendation.  They gave me a name, which I did not understand then stated I should not worry, they would tell the taxi where to take me, and it was not too far.  The taxi then took us to an alternate restaurant of his choosing, something like Sambooson (but not the reputable Somboon seafood chain).  It was a long narrow building with seafood tanks outside.  It was also right next to some railroad tracks (which should have been an indication to us, but looked very clean/respectable).  Upon exiting we were taken quickly to the seafood tanks and seafood display to pick what we would like.  Prices were displayed, but I do think that the weights on our final were rounded up significantly or completely made up, and not being an expert on size/weight of the items we picked, the Baht total quickly racked up.  We were also then asked if we wanted rice/vegetables, etc...  We were never shown a menu, and these items were significantly overpriced.  At the end of the meal when the bill showed up, there were also other miscellaneous charges (towels to clean hands before meal, service charges which appeared to be above the standard tax charges).  When I asked to speak to the manager and complained I was practically surrounded by male staff and not allowed to go anywhere before I payed.  I asked for the name/address/phone number of the restaurant but was then helped to the door (without actual physical attack).  It was a very ugly exchange of words on both sides.  Everyone please be wary, make sure you have your hotel write down name and location of any restaurant/shop you plan to go to.  The taxi drivers and business people are not always your friends in Thailand.
Comments (9)Add Comment
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written by Jay, Mon 05 May 2008 09:07:31 CDT
How much you ended up paying?
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written by BUCKY, Tue 27 May 2008 12:02:50 CDT
I'd heard similar stories about that restuarant. Sometimes, bellboys and even receptionists in hotel receive a form of commissions for directing tourists (lambs) to these restaurants, tailor shops, gem shops, etc.
Even in the restaurants, forget about asking the waiter/waitress to recommend you the "in-house special" because they'll just be recommending you the most expensive dish in the restuarant. Probably some fish, crabs or prawns, etc. Some restaurants give their waitress/waitress special commission for selling off certain dishes of the day.
These are straight from the mouth of the people in these industries. ;)
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written by suckers, Wed 18 Jun 2008 08:52:52 CDT
just take a thai girlfriend or wife
ok, she might end up taking all your money but at least you will be able to communicate "a bit" with her :)
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written by Niels, Fri 27 Jun 2008 18:37:27 CDT
Don't ever ask someone to recommend you anything in Thailand
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written by mickey, Fri 27 Jun 2008 20:32:24 CDT
Dont trust a taxi driver, they are the lowest form of life, I would rather walk
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written by Jimy, Fri 27 Jun 2008 22:14:46 CDT
This restaurant is the Somboodee, in Phayathai road, Rachatewee.
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written by Angel Yap, Mon 10 Aug 2009 11:59:45 CDT
I just back from Bangkok few days ago. We're requesting the tuk tuk driver send us to Somboon Seafood. But end up he brought us to this scam restaurant Somboodee! The captain and tuk tuk driver keep saying is the same branch. We already knew something wrong and we just walk out from the restaurant.
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written by The Riddler, Wed 12 Aug 2009 08:52:06 CDT
Research before going to Bangkok, this may or may not help save you a lot of heartache. If you type somboon in your search engine and look at the restaurants website it actually tells you about many fake 'Somboons' around. There are actually only a handful, I believe 5 or 6 of the real restaurants around, try to get there yourself or know the address, never ask a taxi or tuk tuk to just take you to somboon or a seafood restaurant, that is a sign of a tourist who doesn't know any better and they will probably capitalize on it.
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written by no shame, Mon 07 Sep 2009 15:06:26 CDT
My wife and I asked to go to the Seafood Market in Soi 24 about 5 years ago. The driver took us to another place nearby. The food was actually very good, if a little overpriced.

The next night we went to the real Seafood Market. The food wasn't as good as the scam place and cost twice as much. How is that for a new experience - the scam wasn't as much of a rip-off as the real thing.

Earlier this year we lived near the Seafood Market in Soi 24 for a few months. Huge place, must have some serious overheads.... and never saw more than a handful of customers in there. This despite all the hotel staff from the hotels around there constantly asking if you want to go there. BUT not a scam by any definition because they weigh the seafood and tell you the price up front.

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