With its well deserved reputation as a haven for food lovers, from street food to local eateries and luxurious fine dining, Bangkok’s got something for everyone — but street food has undoubtedly risen in the ranks to form a significant part of Thailand’s culture. Continuously attracting migrants from across Southeast Asia, the different cuisines meld together to form a melting pot of fusion flavours which is most prominent in street food creations. Flaunting a vibrant and extensive food scene, travellers land in Bangkok from all around the globe to get a bite (or a hundred) of the city’s tantalizing delicacies. Everyone’s favourite pastime in Bangkok is to eat, so let’s start scouring the streets for these mouth-watering delights, hidden in the city’s many eateries and local establishments.
Thai Fried Chicken (Gai Tod)
Gai Tod is not your average fried chicken. First dipped in a mixture of shallots and oil, the chicken is then drenched in a thin layer of batter and deep fried to crispy perfection. Gai Tod is enjoyed on its own without dipping sauces; The full flavour of it envelopes the tongue and plants a little seed of addiction in its victim. Fret not, you can get your fix in most night markets: Try the Rod Fai Night Market or the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Papaya Salad (Som Tam)
Originating from the ethnic Lao people, papaya salad comes in many different flavours and varieties. Its salad base is made by shredding unripe, still-green papaya and tossing it with a signature sauce made specially for papaya salad. The five elements of taste are gathered in the form of sour lime, spicy chilli, savoury anchovy sauce, salt and sugar, then pounded together in a mortar. This delicacy gained popularity and spread like wildfire in the neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Som Tam is the Thai version of papaya salad, and it can be found in many street markets and restaurant establishments.
A cool environment is Phed Phed on Phahonyothin Alley, serving up unapologetically spicy Som Tam in an unapologetically aesthetic Japanese café-inspired space.
Spicy Seafood Soup (Tom Yum Goong)
Thailand is renowned for Tom Yum, a delicious spicy and sour soup boiled with shrimp, flavoured with the distinct aroma of lemongrass. The blend of fragrant herbs, spices and shrimp forms a beautiful, savoury broth that many Thai dishes are based around. Tom Yum Goong goes well with rice, or you can enjoy it on its own. Some recipes contain milk, making the soup creamier and more delectable.
Head down to Pee Aor Restaurant along Phetchaburi Road; Don’t worry, unless you’re aiming for their massive bowl of Lobster Tom Yum Goong noodles, you won’t have to fork out 999 THB. Try a standard bowl of Tom Yum Goong noodles — It’s one of the best, and for a very good reason.
Thai Stir-fried Noodles (Pad Thai)
Undoubtedly one of the most popular dishes in Thailand, Pad Thai is made from rice noodles that are stir-fried with shrimp, chicken and or tofu. Peanuts and beansprouts are tossed in next, and the dish is completed by mixing in scrambled egg. Pad Thai’s sweet and spicy elements are balanced out with a touch of lime juice or tamarind pulp. Walk down any food street or market and you will most definitely find at least one vendor whipping up some Pad Thai.
If you’re looking for a place that people rave about, Thip Samai on Mahachai Road brings in long, snaking queues every night, constituting both locals and tourists alike. Otherwise, drop by Pad Thai Mae Am on Rama 4 Road for a traditional and satisfying back-to-basics meal.
Boat Noodles (Kway Teow Rua)
This tiny bowl of noodles really packs a punch. Noodles are swirled into a small bowl and ladled over with savoury soup. The finishing touches: meatballs, slices of pork or chicken and vegetables. Since Kway Teow Rua comes in small portions, many consume more than just one — a common sight is to see locals stacking their bowls on top of each other after they’ve finished their noodles.
In the past, they were sold from floating boats along canals, which was how its name came to be. Presently, most of the vendors have relocated onto land, and a majority of them are clustered around Victory Monument. Make your way down, and you’ll be spoilt for choice. Though rumour has it that among the numerous stalls, Doy Kuay Teow Reua serves up the meanest bowl of boat noodles.
Thai Wonton Noodles (Ba Mee)
Fans of Wonton noodles will be delighted to know that Thailand has their own version of it. Wonton noodles originated from the Cantonese and tend to be thicker, with a briny aftertaste; Bangkok’s take on this well-loved dish is not as oily as the typical Wonton noodles of Cantonese cuisine. Thinner yellow noodles are lightly tossed in sauce, and topped with slices of char siew (Cantonese barbecued pork), wanton and shredded crab meat. Then, over all the goodness is a generous spoonful of pork lard.
More well-known among tourists is the Ba Mee from Bamee Sawang near Phetchaburi Road; For a special twist, head over to Ekkamai Soi 19, where Bamee Slow serves their Ba Mee with a soft-boiled egg, cooked to perfection.
Stir-fried Basil Pork (Pad Krapow)
Known as Thailand’s go-to comfort food, it’s no doubt that Pad Krapow is popular in Bangkok as well. Most commonly eaten for lunch or dinner, this dish is a simple, yet wonderful affair: basil leaves, large red chilli, minced pork and chopped green beans are stir-fried with some sugar and soy sauce until fragrant. Then, it is served spooned over a bed of rice and usually topped with a fried egg.
Stop by any food street and you’ll be able to order yourself some Pad Krapow to soothe your weary soul. On Sukhumvit Road, Ung Jia Huad is run by an old man who has been working the wok for nearly 50 years — now that’s some quality Pad Krapow right there.
Curry on Rice (Khao Kaeng)
The equivalent of Thai fast food, Khao Kaeng is simply curry ladled over rice. Despite its name, which is translated literally into “rice curry”, the dish is much more than that; It’s comparable to Singapore’s Economic Rice stalls, where you base your meal around a plate of rice and choose toppings to go with it.
Locals flock to a Ran Khao Kaeng (literally, a shop selling rice and curry) for a quick meal, usually served on a plate for dine-in. For takeout, each rice accompaniment (topping) is packed in a separate plastic bag to prevent everything from mixing together and becoming soggy. Notorious in this scene is Khao Gaeng Jake Puey, defined by the red stools that have been placed outside the stall for dine-in customers. Since the chairs are never unoccupied, it eventually earned the nickname of Musical Chairs rice-curry shop — customers are eagle-eyed and poised to pounce on the next available seat.
Not only is gorging yourself on street food a great way to get to know the city of Bangkok, it also makes a fun and delicious activity. With all these options and food vendors lining every other street, one doesn’t have to venture very far to find something worth drooling over. Diets? Save those for after your Bangkok stop.
