Houses Without Kitchens

[cumflywme69]

I have been looking for 2-3 bedroom homes and so many have almost no kitchen whatsoever. Some people have said that its because Thai people enjoy cooking outside or go to the market to eat. The only times I have seen a serviceable kitchen is when a foreigner is selling the home.
Why is the kitchen such a low priority in Hua Hin Properties?

[Big Boy]

When I moved here just over 12 years ago, 2 of the houses I was shown around had no kitchen. I was considering the first, when I suddenly realised I hadn't seen the kitchen yet. You could have blown me over when they told me there was no kitchen. Of course, no kitchen was a game changer, and we left.

My daughter and granddaughter both live in Thai style homes where there is no kitchen inside the house.

Also the house next door to mine has a kitchen, but it is used as an extra bedroom.

Having said that, I think most regular, modern, Farang style houses in Hua Hin all have kitchens. Many Thais eat out, or buy take-away to eat at home, which is just a cheap, and a lot less hassle.

[404cameljockey]

Yes, houses without kitchens are for Thais only. Same in the UAE, even some really luxurious houses can be found with no indoor kitchen; the cooking is done outside by household staff in the heat of the day.

[caller]

Many Thais eat out, or buy take-away to eat at home, which is just a cheap, and a lot less hassle.

I think many farangs do as well, including me. I have a fully equiped kitchen, but now basically use the air fryer! As stated elsewhere, Thai supermarkets aren't so cheap anymore, markets more so, but the provenence of meat?

[VincentD]

Outdoor kitchens are sometimes necessary. Try making pat krapow in an enclosed space

[Big Boy]

LOL - share the joy with the neighbours.

[STEVE G]

Outdoor kitchens are sometimes necessary. Try making pat krapow in an enclosed space

I completely agree, we have a small indoor kitchen but it never gets used as we have a larger separate building outside. It’s fully enclosed but has large windows that open to get ventilation. Thai cooking generates too much heat and smell to have in the house.

[pharvey]

Outdoor kitchens are sometimes necessary. Try making pat krapow in an enclosed space

I completely agree, we have a small indoor kitchen but it never gets used as we have a larger separate building outside. It’s fully enclosed but has large windows that open to get ventilation. Thai cooking generates too much heat and smell to have in the house.

As does Chinese! I for one completely understand and appreciate an outdoor kitchen if the climate is there to facilitate it - here in the UK, it lasts for a few weeks and a couple of BBQs!!
Cooking with hot oils and spices does not lend itself to a small kitchen and open'ish plan which we have in the UK. Once in a while the LHG will cook a spicy Chongqing/Yunnan dish which set off (now immobilised) Smoke Alarms and killed household plants - even the Goldfish dived for cover (though perhaps that was due to the sight of the chopsticks)

Our now sadly now deceased neighbour in HH (a fellow Welshman) had a tiny kitchen indoors purely for his morning fry-up or a small roast in the oven (very occasionally). Everything else was done in a Thai style covered lean to kitchen on the side of the house, the BBQ or a mixture of the two.

Let's be fair, these days an indoor kitchen in Thailand is a FULL Fridge/Freezer, a "Ding Machine" (microwave) and an Air Fryer - the only add on in the UK is a small hob.

[pharvey]

Many Thais eat out, or buy take-away to eat at home, which is just a cheap, and a lot less hassle.

I think many farangs do as well, including me. I have a fully equiped kitchen, but now basically use the air fryer! As stated elsewhere, Thai supermarkets aren't so cheap anymore, markets more so, but the provenence of meat?

OK, I'm not in HH or Thailand, but the issues you mention remain. BUT, ingredients and prices don't change whether using an Air Fryer or Oven - convenience and energy IMHO, but are you leading to something else I'm missing?

[cumflywme69]

Thank you so much for your answers and discussion.
Should I value a house with a regular kitchen more, or should I just design my own?
Has anybody on this board had a new kitchen installed? It should not be that expensive, right?

[pharvey]

Thank you so much for your answers and discussion.
Should I value a house with a regular kitchen more, or should I just design my own?
Has anybody on this board had a new kitchen installed? It should not be that expensive, right?

Apologies, some answers including my own have moved away from your initial question. I can only answer a question with a question - what do you really need from "your kitchen"? These days, I don't believe any kitchen appliance is unavailable or over-expensive (of course dependant on your preferences and budget).

Many on here can help., I'm sure - just give some specifics.

[VincentD]

Your needs will depend on what you want to cook, how often you will (it's so much easier and cheaper to eat out if you're on your own), whether your partner is local or not, what region of Thailand she comes from (important!!) to decide whether or not you need the additional outdoor kitchen. I have solved that by having two houses next to each other, one with the full farang kitchen (one microwave, one small electric oven, one gas oven with 4 burners, pressure cooker and the blenders/mixers etc and the Thai outdoor one next door. Think furnace type single burner, seasoned wok, plenty of space to chop, pound and otherwise process whatever strange foodstuffs that come your way. I have been fortunate enough to not have to cook pla raa (you will empty a whole subdivision in five minutes flat).. And if you live somewhere flood prone, make sure your built-in counters are made of concrete. I had a lot of grief when the floods in 2011 wiped out not just the kitchen counters (made of particle board), but most of the rest of the house(es) furniture and belongings too.
Right. Rant over. Had one too many tonight, apologies.

[STEVE G]

Thank you so much for your answers and discussion.
Should I value a house with a regular kitchen more, or should I just design my own?
Has anybody on this board had a new kitchen installed? It should not be that expensive, right?

You can spend as much or as little as you want on a kitchen in Hua Hin. There are very cheap local style plastic wall units and doors that attach to a brick and concrete base that can get you a serviceable kitchen very cheaply.
At the other end of the scale you can get imported European stuff that will cost you the earth!

[caller]

OK, I'm not in HH or Thailand, but the issues you mention remain. BUT, ingredients and prices don't change whether using an Air Fryer or Oven - convenience and energy IMHO, but are you leading to something else I'm missing?

Not really. but because of food costs increasing, it makes it even more attractive to eat out as prices never seem to go up by much. I mentioned the air fryer as the things I do cook, now go in there and are the basics - sausages, bacon, chops, chips etc. Although I do have a few stews planned. Stuff I really like, but not seen available over here, and thats on the hob. And I put the unused stuff in containers to heat up for the next couple of days, increasing it's VFM. But otherwise, I mainly eat out now.

[bigston]

Many people find that eating out can actually be cheaper than cooking at home. When you think about the time and energy it takes to prepare meals, it can make dining out more appealing. Plus, with so many food options available, it's often easier and more fun to eat out, especially if there are dishes you really enjoy that you can’t easily make yourself.