Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple
Buddhist temple · Palm River-Clair Mel
5306 Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619
Highlights
Sunday Thai food market with authentic dishes, orchids, and river views
Sunday Thai food market with authentic dishes, orchids, and river views
"On Sundays we eat noodle soup. Because the good people of the Thai temple know their offerings are a siren’s song. Coconut custards, Thai tea, dozens of desserts and meat buns are all made fresh just for the occasion. Bring cash and come hungry." - ArielleStevenson
"One of the best dining experiences in Tampa is Thai food served at a Buddhist temple every Sunday morning. You’ll see Thai sausage with woon sen noodles, chicken massaman curry, chilled black rice pudding with taro, empanadas, egg rolls, potstickers, and dumplings. If making a selection feels as difficult as choosing which sunglasses to pack on vacation, go with the hot beef noodle soup and a side of shrimp spring rolls, plus mango sticky rice for dessert. Then settle in at one of the picnic tables in the backyard that’s filled with moss-covered oak trees and orchids. Get there when they open at 9am because they often run out of the best stuff by noon." - cheryl rodewig
"Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Thai Buddhist temple built in 1981 on the banks of the Palm River. The stunning Ayudhaya-style temple, peaceful gardens, and authentic Thai food draw some 10,000 visitors every week. With roughly 700 residents of Thai origin, Tampa is home to the largest Thai community in Florida, so it’s fitting to find a Buddhist temple here. The resident monks perform sacred rituals and worship at the temple, and its grounds are open to the public daily. Though Wat Tampa is a faith-based location that anyone can visit, some pretty influential people have graced its halls. In 2007, the king of Thailand visited the temple for a ceremonial Thot Kathin, a presentation of a simple orange robe to a high-deserving monk. According to temple sources at the time, it was the first honor of its kind in the United States. On Sundays, a popular food market draws crowds to the temple grounds for authentic Thai dishes, like curries with rice, crab rangoon, noodle soups, and summer rolls. Know Before You Go Wat Tampa is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until food runs out. Picnic tables are available on site. Accessible parking is available near the monks’ quarters." - Collector of Experiences, Virginia Brown
"One of the best dining experiences in Tampa is Thai food served at a Buddhist temple every Sunday morning. You’ll see Thai sausage with woon sen noodles, chicken massaman curry, chilled black rice pudding with taro, empanadas, egg rolls, potstickers, and dumplings. If making a selection feels as difficult as choosing which sunglasses to pack on vacation, go with the hot beef noodle soup and a side of shrimp spring rolls, plus mango sticky rice for dessert. Then settle in at one of the picnic tables in the backyard that’s filled with moss-covered oak trees and orchids. Get there when they open at 9am because they often run out of the best stuff by noon." - Cheryl Rodewig
On Sundays, the riverside temple fills with the aroma of guiteow soup, grilled meats, and pandan sweets. The volunteer-run market funds the temple and welcomes everyone; local TV and community papers regularly highlight it as a singular Tampa experience.
