Buzz
If it's your first time in the capital city of Bangkok, Thailand, you might find yourself unsure about where to indulge in tasty, wholesome, and budget-friendly meals. Let Mytour be your guide to savoring authentic Thai cuisine in style.
Forget about upscale restaurants or food courts in shopping malls. If you want to truly experience Thai cuisine and culture at a reasonable price, street food is the number one choice. For first-time visitors to Bangkok, diving into street food might seem a bit challenging, but worry not. We've got the most useful information for you.
The most distinctive dishes of Thai street food. Image source: Internet
Key Tips for a Complete Bangkok Food Tour Experience
What dishes to try?
Bangkok street cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors. The vendors can be humble stalls by the roadside, an array of stands in a local market, or even a traditional shop with tables set up on the sidewalk. If you're concerned about food safety, fret not. You can witness the proprietors busy stir-frying in a wok, pounding papaya, skewering grilled meat, or cooking noodles, along with the meticulous preparation of ingredients.
Here are some famous dishes from Thai tourism that you should give a try. Their names are translated into English, though not always accurately:
Som Tam (ส้มตำ) – Papaya Salad
Khao Pad (ข้าว ผัด) - Fried Rice
Papaya Salad, Fried Rice, Salt Grilled Fish, Wonton Noodles. Image source: Internet
Pad Thai Kung (ผัด ไทย กุ้ง) - Stir-Fried Noodles with Shrimp
Khao Mun Gai (ข้าวมัน ไก่) - Chicken Rice
Gai / Moo Bing (ไก่ / หมู ปิ้ง) - Grilled Chicken / Pork Skewers
Sai Krok Issan (ไส้กรอก อีสาน) - Issan Sausage
Pad Thai, grilled sausages, stir-fried meat, skewered meat. Image source: Internet
Pad krapao moo (ผัด กระ เพรา หมู) - Stir-Fried Basil Pork
Pla Pao (ปลา เผา) - Salt-Grilled Fish
1001 Varieties of Noodles and Vermicelli
If we were to list the types of noodles in Bangkok, the list would probably be endless, from chicken noodles, duck noodles, egg noodles with wontons and 'moo daeng' (red-roasted pork), beef, or 'yen ta fou' (noodles made from red beans with fish balls, squid)...
Even the noodles themselves come in various sizes and shapes:
Sen Yai: large flat noodles made from white rice flour
Sen Mii (rice vermicelli): thin noodles
Sen Lek: medium-sized noodles (same type as those in pad thai)
Bah Mii: made from eggs and wheat flour (yellow color)
Woon Sen (glass noodles): made from mung bean starch, thin, transparent, and wavy
Gieow (wonton): finely minced pork wrapped in a layer of yellow dough
Noodles in Thailand are diverse and enticing. Image source: Internet
Once you've chosen the type of noodles you want, the next step is to make a decision: with broth ('naam') or dry ('haeng'). Typically, Thai people like to customize their noodles before eating, adding sugar, dried chili, pickled chili vinegar, fish sauce, or peanuts.
Equally popular as noodle stalls are the 'kaao laad kaeng' (curry rice) eateries. Perhaps, these are the cheapest and quickest places to eat. Similar to common rice meals in Vietnam, dishes with white rice are placed in metal trays. You pick your dish, and the cost depends on what you choose.
Customizable curry rice, the perfect blend of delicious, nutritious, and affordable in Bangkok. Image source: Internet
Opening hours
You can find street food vendors throughout Bangkok at all times of the day. However, do note that every Monday is street cleaning day, and stalls are not allowed to operate in many areas.
Average Prices
The cost of each dish is usually quite affordable, averaging from 20 to 80 baht (about 14,000đ to 56,000đ), and if you order more - 'pi sed' (extra) – additional charges may apply.
How to Eat
To truly savor street food, avoid stuffing yourself at one place. Instead, opt for light bites and move on to the next spot, just like the locals in Thailand do.
Explore the 5 Culinary Kingdoms in Bangkok, Thailand
As we mentioned, street food can be found all over Bangkok, but there are some highly popular spots where you'll discover a plethora of delicious dishes. If you want a culinary adventure, consider these top 5 names first:
Chinatown
When the city lights up, Yaowarat Food Street – the main road in Bangkok's Chinatown, comes alive with bustling crowds. The grilled seafood here is renowned, with the iconic Lek & Rut and T & K eateries situated on both sides of Thanon Phadung Dao (Soi Texas).
Chinatown district in Bangkok. Image source: Internet
Additionally, indulge in dim sum, crispy oyster omelette, wonton noodles, grilled chestnuts, fruit ice cream, and a variety of vibrant Thai-style desserts.
Address: Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong, Samphanthawong, Bangkok, Thailand
Bang Rak
Distinctive dishes of Bang Rak district. Image source: Internet
This historic district in Bangkok is a cultural melting pot of immigrants to the Thai capital, each bringing their unique culinary flair, be it from China, India, or the West. Over time, this has blended with traditional Thai dishes, resulting in renowned names like roasted duck, crispy fried pork, congee, pork bun, green curry with roti, baked bread, and much more. Today, Bang Rak stands as a renowned culinary tourism center with these iconic dishes.
Old City (Rattanakosin)
Legendary street food stalls are scattered amid the narrow streets. The most famous dish in the Rattanakosin area is Pad Thai Thip Samai, considered the best Pad Thai in Bangkok. It's recommended to visit from evening until late night to savor an authentic Bangkok street food dish, renowned among locals and tourists alike.
Best Pad Thai Thip Samai in Bangkok. Image source: Internet
Address: Rattanakosin area, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Khao San
Adjacent to Khao San is the renowned Soi Rambuttri, equally famous. Here, you'll discover a variety of street food stalls serving everything from fried rice to tom yum soup. The food here has been adapted to suit the taste of the many tourists visiting, and naturally, you can find plenty of affordable, delicious options here!
Khao San Road. Image source: Internet
Soi Rambuttri's street food alley nearby. Image source: Internet
Address: Khaosan Road, Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
After discovering what and where to eat in Bangkok, equip yourself with comfortable shoes and an empty stomach to fully explore Thai cuisine.
Seize the opportunity to embark on an affordable All-Inclusive Tour with Mytour, flying directly to Thailand for the complete experience here!
