Is It Too Much? Couple Asks for Free Som Tam, Restaurant Owner Serves It in a Container, But They're Unhappy Because They Want to Eat Inside
A Chachoengsao som tam restaurant offered free food to a couple in a takeaway container, but they refused and left angry after insisting on eating inside while the shop was still setting up.
On April 27, 2569, the Som Tam Saderd restaurant in Panasanikhom, Chachoengsao posted CCTV footage on Facebook describing an incident. The post stated: "Our restaurant regularly provides free som tam to poor and homeless people who ask. Earlier, a well-dressed couple came in asking for free som tam. We agreed to give them some, but when they asked to eat at the restaurant, we said it wasn't convenient because we were still setting up. We offered to put it in a container instead. They refused and insisted on eating here, then walked out with an angry look. This is frustrating. They get to choose everything so easily, so convenient." The post sparked numerous critical comments from social media users.
A reporter visited Som Tam Saderd restaurant near Wat Plab in Panasanikhom Municipality, Chachoengsao, and spoke with 35-year-old Monruedi. She explained that early in the morning, while she was preparing to open the shop, a well-dressed man and woman approached and asked for som tam. She asked the owner in the back, who agreed to give them a bag but suggested serving it in a container to take away.
When Monruedi told the couple the som tam would be served in a container for takeaway, they showed clear dissatisfaction and insisted on eating at the restaurant. After being refused, they displayed their displeasure visibly and left without the food, leaving her confused by the encounter.
Owner Voranit stated that the restaurant had just opened and was still setting up when the couple arrived. He explained that since the shop wasn't ready, he offered to serve the som tam in a container for them to take home or eat elsewhere. He noted that the restaurant normally provides free food to poor and homeless people who ask. In this case, he didn't refuse them—he simply offered a container for takeaway. However, the couple showed clear displeasure despite being informed that the shop wasn't ready to accommodate dine-in customers as they were still preparing.
