Wat Mongkolratanaram, known locally as "Wat Tampa" or simply "the Thai temple," is a Thai Buddhist temple in north Tampa that has been running an outdoor food market on Sunday mornings since the late 1980s. The market is one of the most unusual and authentic food experiences in the city — dozens of vendors serving fresh Thai dishes, from pad thai and green papaya salad to grilled meats and Thai desserts, prepared by members of the temple community.
The temple grounds have a main sanctuary with golden spires and several smaller worship buildings. The Sunday market begins early (around 8am) and winds down by early afternoon when the food sells out. Arrive by 9–10am for the best selection. The dishes are cheap, plentiful, and genuinely Thai — this is not a restaurant version of Thai food but home cooking by the temple community.
The temple is on Palm Avenue in north Tampa, about fifteen minutes from downtown by car. It is a genuinely interesting place regardless of the market — the temple architecture, the monks in saffron robes, and the quiet courtyard with its Buddha statues provide a marked contrast to the strip-mall Florida outside the gates. The community is welcoming to visitors and photography is permitted with respect.