The growing trend for pop-up restaurants is giving a new lease of life to both shopping malls in Bangkok's central business district and the capital's varied suburban spaces, said property consultant JLL.
Pop-up restaurants are temporary eateries that can operate from virtually any location that is sanitary, safe and accessible to customers.
Beer gardens operating during the winter season are probably the pop-up restaurant format that Thais are most familiar with, while pop-up kitchens and food trucks are gaining popularity in Bangkok.
The Mall Group, one of Thailand's largest mall operators, recently introduced pop-up kitchens around its supermarkets. Patrons can buy fresh produce and ask for it to be cooked on site. While seating is limited, this dining fad has caught on in a big way, with long queues becoming increasingly common outside these kitchens.
JLL said another trend that is transforming the street food culture of Bangkok is the arrival of mobile food trucks.
For example, Summer Street, which serves grilled seafood, and Daniel Thaiger's burger truck are names that have gained popularity. Potential patrons keep track of opening hours and the location of these trucks on social media platforms – an indication that the digital age has fundamentally changed the way people dine and socialise.
"Pop-up restaurants can range from the simple to the ultra-high end, but one thing they all have in common is the element of exclusivity," JLL said in its survey.
Due to their temporary nature, pop-ups intrinsically create a "moment in time" that cannot be replicated, catering to a trend that places a premium on new experiences and exciting concepts.
These dining phenomena have also breathed life into some of Thailand's malls and retail streets, adding diversity and vitality to the shopping experience and increasing the average length of stay.
The mobility of these pop-ups and food trucks means that any empty space can easily be converted into food halls and indoor markets, helping to revitalise otherwise derelict but architecturally exciting spaces such as former factories, warehouses, office buildings and well-located market places.
In Bangkok, malls have used car parks to host food and culture festivals.