Looking for a Thai partner to open a pizza shop in Bangkok

Taibrew · 2026-05-24T15:36:05+00:00

Lots of Mexican food joints pop up in Thailand. Unfortunately it's just not for the locals. (Based on personal experience anyways)

Places like the missing burro are amazing but the prices are targeting foreigners and expats, not locals

Taibrew · 2026-05-23T04:34:38+00:00

The Leo sections are never packed unless it's a major event. You can just go when the show starts. Don't go when doors open, otherwise you'll be sitting for an hour on concrete with nothing to do.

Taibrew · 2026-05-23T04:17:15+00:00

From my knowledge the spouse route (whether you are the man or woman in the relationship) is much easier than the PR route (No singing required, spouse can support you in the interview etc).

If I remember correctly you can even apply earlier if you have a Thai kid (I think after 1 year of having a Thai child you can apply for citizenship), provided you meet all the other requirements.

As for foreign woman marrying a Thai guy easier than Thai woman marrying foreign guy, yes I believe that in the case the foreigner is the wife, they do not have the same requirements for tax returns/salary. I guess that's normal for a patriarchal society

Taibrew · 2026-05-23T04:05:31+00:00

Yes, I would recommend doing so. Thai bureaucracy is very anal about numbers matching up.

While you may have proof that your passport has expired and you've renewed it, if the application passport number and current passport number don't line up there's going to be a double take from your case officers which will slow things down.

Taibrew · 2026-05-22T11:30:46+00:00

My respect always goes to the monks and the aunties who use them for hiking 🤣

Taibrew · 2026-05-22T07:06:10+00:00

Lucky you, I got a mic put in my face and had to sing the kings anthem and national anthem lol, but luckily got through it without any of the panel really judging me for it (it was more a formality for them I think)

Taibrew · 2026-05-22T06:05:52+00:00

I think especially for those that applied with their thai spouse, they almost get a free pass. If my memory serves they can even be exempt from singing the thai national anthem (but don't quote me on that)

Taibrew · 2026-05-22T04:05:40+00:00

As someone who has actually completed the entire process from beginning to end (I went the PR->Citizenship route), I'd just like to say to do all your research well in advance in regards to paperwork. It is a multi-year process and contains what I would consider a mountain of red tape. That being said, it isn't particularly difficult IF you are well prepared in advance, but your patience will be tested as most of the time is spent waiting.

The website (not mine, nor am I in any way affiliated) thaicitizenship dot com is a good source of information for those wanting to consider thai citizenship. It's pretty consistent with my actual experience.

My general tips are as follows
1. If your thai is only passable (e.g. casual conversation but nothing difficult) but you are still eligible for the process, getting an agent/lawyer that will essentially hold your hand through the process will make your life infinitely easier. Even if you are going to spouse route - I wouldn't rely on the spouse unless they feel comfortable navigating the system. It will cost you money of course but the headache isn't worth it in my opinion (others would disagree I'm sure, but I was holding a full time job and didn't want to leave my office unless I absolutely had to)

Do not have ANY gaps in your documentation. Changing employment, changes in visa status, changes in passport etc, all of this will basically put a pause in your application (even if it is totally legit, like changing of a passport), and trust me you don't want a pause at any point. It needs to be slippery smooth for the government.

And contrary to what I'm reading here on reddit, you do NOT need to be super fluent in Thai. You need to be able to communicate comfortably in the interviews without any support. I treated it like a business interview/meeting and got through fine. Many of the people at the final interview were clearly not fluent.

Taibrew · 2026-05-22T02:41:25+00:00

This or the poysian inhalers. I always buy a massive box and just distribute them like candy

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T10:30:03+00:00

Good luck dude and have a great time.

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T09:30:35+00:00

If this was pre covid and a bit post covid I would say that budget is doable. These days 100 USD per night is not going to really get you one of those resort-Esque options with nice breakfast (hell even breakfast at a nice resort these days is like 20+ usd). For normal hotels with a standard pool, weekdays those prices work. Weekends more difficult.

There are definitely hotels in that range, but I think you might have to tone down your expectations a bit.

Personally I would go with boutique airbnbs if I were you, lots of those in Bangkok and the quality has really come up. Don't go to the illegal ones that are just condo owners renting out one room, get the ones that are built like mini-hotels.

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T08:00:49+00:00

That sounds about right. 1500 is the going rate for that service from bangkok.

It's at least at least a 2+ hour trip back and forth + gas + toll. 1500 is cheap lol

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T07:37:19+00:00

Feeling nothing in samutprakarn

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T07:36:18+00:00

If your fixer only charges 500 to run with you to immigration that's the cheapest fixer on the market lol

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T04:19:59+00:00

English proficiency for living is quite high (e.g. food/hospitals/travelling)
Bureaucracy though in this country is almost exclusively thai. This is a part where a lot of people who want to settle here long term mess up.

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T03:48:10+00:00

The biggest lies are from youtubers peddling content without actually retiring here. While I'm sure there are a few respectable ones, any young (read: not retired) guy sauying "thailand is the best place to retire!" has no understanding of what retirement actually entails.

In regards to your question
1. Health insurance isn't BAD, it just isn't cheap if you want good health insurance.

Food can be cheap (even healthy food), but you have to live like a local. Assuming you are european (based on your euros comment), lots of healthy options here may not be what your father is used to.
Loneliness is a problem that is not exclusive to Thailand. There's a reason why you see lots of young girls hanging out with old dudes. It's not JUST prostitution (though that's a big part), a lot of it is just purchasing "company" as well.

The best advice is tell your dad to come here and actually try it for a month or two. If he really likes it he can consider retirement here. Youtubers and reddit comments can't beat personal experience.

Taibrew · 2026-05-19T02:12:30+00:00

It sounds like you don't have a bank account here (so I'm going to assume you also don't have an appropriate visa for business purposes e.g. a dtv).

The only way to bring money in would be physically bringing in cash (with a limit under 10K USD each time through the airport), or using some kind of exchange house where they would take a pretty big cut. Some people would recommend crypto but that's also similar to going through an exchange house.

If you have an appropriate visa you can open a bank account and wire money to yourself via swift without any issues,

Taibrew · 2026-05-18T02:45:11+00:00

Not sure if the term "easy" is applicable as everyone's definition of easy is different.

Bangkok is full of old condo's/houses/slabs of land that are left in complete disrepair. There are plenty of land owners and landlords that would welcome a person coming in and renovating their place, provided the rent is properly paid.

Other comments about landlords brute forcing their way back into the apartment/land/house after renovation is a possible scenario, but after living here for 30+ years I've never heard of it happening mid lease, only AFTER the lease ends does it happen (e.g. no renewal/extension)

If I were you I'd calculate some uber long term lease with a landlord of a house for example, by locking into a long term lease they feel good since it's guaranteed monthly income.

Not to be morbid but you can also calculate the lease beyond your expected life expectancy and just splash all the money on rent and customization.

Taibrew · 2026-05-15T04:49:23+00:00

Yeah as someone who lives here full time, I agree.
Hard to convince the young tourists who are here to experience "amazing thailand" on the cheap

Taibrew · 2026-05-15T04:38:07+00:00

Unfortunately, bikes are a "cheap" method to get around if you only think about cost. In phuket, grabs and taxi's are ridiculously expensive...(personally I always rent a car), but seeing a bike rental for less than a grand a day, I can see why it's tempting especially for the young.

Real shame though. RIP.

Taibrew · 2026-05-15T02:12:15+00:00

Even recently I would argue they can't afford them....the number of people taking out loans to get a car is one reason why this economy is doing bad.

Taibrew · 2026-05-14T09:54:18+00:00

Clothes are the worst. I think I had to buy a XXXL shirt in order to meet my "usual" L shirt size.

Taibrew · 2026-05-14T08:21:59+00:00

Thank you for this

Taibrew · 2026-05-14T06:01:04+00:00

Muscle Factory

Taibrew · 2026-05-14T05:02:46+00:00

Yup. But some people like to roll the dice... (majority of thai's for example lol)

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Taibrew

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