Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a street food lover’s paradise. Many foodies and travelers consider the city THE ultimate destination for street food in the entire world, let alone Southeast Asia. Street food here is cheap, abundant, and incredibly scrumptious, so it’s not a surprise why it’s so popular! With its vibrant and bustling street markets, food stalls, and roadside restaurants, the city offers diverse food options to satisfy everyone’s tastes. The city is home to thousands of street food vendors, from small food stalls to bustling food markets, making it a mecca for foodies. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a full meal, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste buds. Here is your guide to the best street foods that Bangkok offers, as well as a list of the best places to find them.
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Must-try Bangkok Street Food
When it comes to street food and Thai cuisine, the varieties are truly impressive. There are so many different dishes you can taste from other regions of the country and many creative fusion creations. Bangkok is the capital and is home to the best street food in Thailand, as it has people from all parts of the country. The following are just a few of the incredible delights you must try when you come to the Thai capital. All the prices are the average amount you should expect to pay from a street food vendor or a roadside restaurant.
Pad Thai
Arguably the most popular Thai dish worldwide is the famous Pad Thai noodles. Pad Thai is made with stir-fried rice noodles, vegetables, and a protein of your choice, usually shrimp or chicken. The dish is seasoned with a sweet and tangy sauce made with tamarind paste, palm sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce. The stir-fry is finished with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and chopped cilantro. Pad Thai is a delicious and filling meal that is perfect for anyone who loves the flavors of Southeast Asia. Whether you prefer mild or spicy, this dish will tantalize your taste buds and satisfy you.
Price: $2.00-$4 per plate.
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Moo Ping
It is a Thai dish consisting of grilled marinated pork skewers. The pork is typically marinated in coconut milk, fish sauce, and aromatic spices such as garlic, turmeric, and cumin. The skewers are then grilled over hot coals until cooked and caramelized outside. The result is a juicy and flavorful piece of pork that is both sweet and savory. Moo Ping is often served with sticky rice and a spicy chili dipping sauce.
Price: Typically around $0.30-$1.00 per skewer of Moo Ping.
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Som Tam
Som Tam is a traditional Thai dish made from shredded unripe green papaya mixed with chili peppers, peanuts, garlic, fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar. It is commonly served with sticky rice and can be made with different levels of spiciness depending on personal preference. The sour and sweet flavors of the dish, combined with its crunchy texture, make it a popular choice among Thai locals and tourists alike. It is often considered a staple food in Thailand and can be found in street stalls, restaurants, and homes across the country.
Price: Typically around $2-$3.
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Gai Tod
It is a popular Thai dish made of crispy deep-fried chicken pieces that are marinated in a mix of spices and herbs. The chicken is usually served with sweet chili sauce or plum sauce. After marinating in traditional sauces, the result is a delicious, crispy, and juicy dish. Gai Tod is a staple in Thai street food culture and a must-try for anyone visiting Thailand.
Price: Around $1.5-$4 per plate.
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Khanom Bueang
This s a traditional Thai dessert made from a thin, crispy rice flour shell filled with a sweet filling. The batter for the shell is expertly prepared by mixing rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. Once the batter is ready, the cook pours it into small, circular molds and fries it until it turns golden brown. The filling for the dessert varies, but it often includes a mixture of shredded coconut, palm sugar, and condensed milk. The result is a delicious and visually stunning dessert that tantalizes the taste buds with its crispy texture and sweet flavor.
Price: Per piece is usually around $0.30 and per pack/set is around $1.5-$3.5
Khao Man Gai
A famous street food delight featuring juicy and tender chicken served over steaming rice. The chicken is simmered in a flavorful broth made from ginger, garlic, and lemongrass until it falls off the bone. The savory sauce is drizzled over the chicken and rice, giving the dish a mouth-watering aroma and taste. An absolute must-try in Bangkok!
Price: $1.5-$3
Guay Tiew Reua (Boat Noodles)
Guay Tiew Reua is a delicious Thai dish with thin, rice noodles in a flavorful broth. Beef or pork and various veggies such as bean sprouts, lettuce, and basil top the noodles. Guay Tiew Reua packs a punch of spicy, savory flavors in every bite. Boat noodles are a staple of Thai street food and are a must-try for anyone visiting Bangkok. They are also very popular among the locals, and stalls are found on nearly every street corner.
Price: Typically around $1-$2
Pad Krapow
Pad krapow, also known as Thai basil stir-fry, sizzles on the hot woks of street vendors in Bangkok. This is arguably the most popular dish in the country, among the locals. Visitors can savor this traditional Thai dish at Bangkok’s street food stalls, food courts, and outdoor markets. Many locals also enjoy pad krapow as a quick and easy meal, grabbing a plate while running errands or on their lunch break. It consists of stir-fried basil leaves, chili, garlic, and ground pork or chicken. Served over steamed rice, it’s a quick and tasty street food option. A trip to Thailand without tasting a plate of Pad Krapow is simply unacceptable!
Price: $2-$4
Kanom Jeen
Kanom Jeen is a traditional Thai dish. It consists of thin rice noodles served with spicy sauce. Popular in Bangkok, it’s often sold by street vendors and in local markets. The sauce is made from chili, fish sauce, and coconut milk. Toppings can include boiled eggs, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. This flavorful and hearty dish is a staple in Bangkok’s street cuisine. It is usually paired with a curry or soup of your choice.
Price: $1.3-$3.5
Mango sticky rice
This is a dish synonymous with Thailand that is loved by people all over the world. This dish features glutinous rice that is sweetened with coconut milk and paired with juicy mango slices. The sticky rice is carefully cooked to achieve a perfect texture that is both chewy and moist. The vendor scoops a portion of sticky rice into a small basket and tops it with fresh mango slices. They drizzle the dish with sweetened coconut milk, ensuring that each bite is bursting with flavor. This is a great option as a dessert or a snack.
Price: Around $2-$4
Ma Laeng Tod (Fried Insects)
If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s nothing more extreme than trying out locally fried insects. While it’s relatively common as a snack for locals, it’s a highly unusual experience for most tourists. Street vendors fry crickets, grasshoppers, scorpions, and other insects until they’re crispy. The crunchy insects have a savory taste and are often seasoned with spices. The taste is quite nice and the insects are an excellent source of protein! This may be unusual for most, but definitely worth a try at least once.
Price: Depends on the type of fried or grilled insect, but prices are usually around $1.30-$4
Best Locations for Bangkok Street Food
There are street food vendors and local roadside restaurants found on nearly every single corner and district in Bangkok. However, the following are the most famous areas where you can find a big concentration of food vendors and stalls selling the best munchies that the city has to offer!
Yaowarat (Chinatown)
One of the best places to kickstart your street food adventure is Bangkok’s legendary Chinatown (Yaowarat). As the sun goes down, Yaowarat explodes into a vibrant and busy stretch of road, with endless roadside restaurants and food stalls selling all kinds of delicious goodies. The street food scene is also complemented by bustling night markets, where vendors offer their specialties. Visitors can try traditional Chinese dishes like noodles, dumplings, and fried rice. Street food stalls also offer fusion dishes, like Chinese-style grilled chicken and pork skewers. The street food in Chinatown is fresh, flavorful, and reasonably priced, making it an accessible option for tourists and locals. You can also enjoy many stalls selling local Thai dishes, fusion cuisine, and fresh grilled seafood. Yaowarat is simply the holy grail for seafood in the country!
Location: Yaowarat Rd., Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100.
Closest Public transport: Wat Mangkon MRT underground station.
Victory Monument
Victory Monument is a bustling area in Bangkok that serves as a transportation hub for local commuters and tourists. It is another great hub of street food culture. The bustling roundabout is surrounded by a variety of street vendors and restaurants serving up delicious local Thai cuisine. The atmosphere is lively, with locals and tourists alike gathering to enjoy a bite and soak up the energy of the area. Prices are reasonable, and it’s possible to try several different dishes for under $3-4. Boat Noodle alley in the area is the absolute best place in the city for lovers of Guay Tiew Reua. The small alleyway is filled with vendors selling their own delicious and unique variations of one of Thailand’s most iconic dishes. The noodles are cheap and come in decent portions, so their huge popularity among travelers and locals is not surprising.
Location: 2/16-18 Phahonyothin Road, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
Closest public transport: BTS Victory Monument station.
Khao San Road
Despite being famous for its nightlife and party scene, Khao San road is also a street food lover’s paradise. Its bustling atmosphere and endless food stalls attract both locals and tourists. People savor authentic Thai street food, including Pad Thai, Som tum, and green curry. The vibrant energy of the area makes dining an exciting experience. People can observe street performers, chat with locals, and sample street food from different stalls. The prices are affordable, allowing foodies to indulge in multiple dishes. Khao San is also the ideal spot if you want to try out some grilled or fried insects. Many YouTubers and food vloggers come here to create content especially to show themselves trying out grilled scorpions or a deep-fried cricket! From early morning to late night, Khao San Road’s street food scene never disappoints. It’s a culinary adventure that one will always remember.
Location: Khwaeng Talat Yot, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200
Closest public transport: There is no BTS or MRT station directly connected to Khao San Road. However, you can take the Taksin Pier at BTS Sapan Taksin and go directly to Panfa Leelard pier, which is the closest to Khao San.
Jodd Fairs
Jodd Fairs in Bangkok’s Rama 9 district offers a vibrant street food scene. The area is close to one of the busiest junctions in Bangkok, surrounded by luxury malls, public transport, and hotels. Jodd Fairs is solely dedicated to street food and is arguably the best concentration of food vendors in the city! Visitors can explore over 600 stalls selling street food, delicious snacks, desserts, beverages, and exotic treats. You can try everything here, from the staple classics of Thai cuisine to great western food and fantastic Japanese desserts. If you’re feeling slightly adventurous, you can try live squid dipped in chili sauce, live krill, or even a live shrimp head!
Jodd Fairs is one of the newest markets in the city solely dedicated to street food, and the area can get extremely busy with people coming from all over the world. This market has quickly become one of the most popular places in the city over a short span of time, so it definitely should be on your itinerary the next time you visit Bangkok!
Location: Rama IX Rd, Huai Khwang, Bangkok 10310
Closest public transport: Rama 9 MRT station.
Old City (Rattanakosin)
This area is famous for its historical past, and the Old City is also renowned among the locals for its scrumptious street food. Visitors can find street food stalls open late into the night, serving tasty treats to hungry crowds. The selection and variety of different dishes here are very impressive. You can walk along the many small alleys with food stalls selling everything from curries, kebabs, meat skewers, noodles, fried rice, and sweet Chinese/Thai desserts. If you’re curious about Thai history and enjoy munching on local Thai food, this is the ideal spot. After a long day of exploring the museums, temples, and palaces, nothing beats winding down and enjoying some delicious street food in the Old City.
Location: Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200
Public Transport: There is no direct BTS or MRT station to the Old City. You can head to Taksin Pier from BTS Sapan Taksin and take the Chao Phraya Express boat to Tha Chang Pier. The ride is cheap, and Tha Chang Pier is a short walk to all the food stalls and restaurants.
Chula-Samyan
The Chula-Samyan area is a bustling and colorful area within the city, known for being home to the prestigious Chulalongkorn University of Bangkok. The neighborhood offers a contrast to the massive skyscrapers in most of Bangkok’s CBD and is instead made up of many old houses and alleyways reminiscent of the city’s past. The area is also hugely popular with foodies and hungry students, with endless restaurants and food stalls lining the main roads. While it’s more famous for roadside restaurants than food vendors or stalls, the food served in most of these places is also considered street food as they are very cheap and quick bites. The area boasts very humble restaurants, but many have a Michelin bib gourmand for their excellent cuisine. A definite place to check out for all foodies!
Location: Samyan, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Closest public transport: Samyan MRT Station
Best restaurants:
- Jeh-O Chula: (113 ซอย จรัสเมือง Rong Muang, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330)
- Samyan Chula 14 Restaurant: (991 4-7 ซอย จุฬาฯ 14 Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330)
- Tuay Tung Ice Cream: (981 ซอยจุฬา12 Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330)
- Ping Noey Chula U: (ร้านปิ้งเนย โครงการสวนหลวงสแควร์, Rama I Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330)
Icon Siam Shopping Mall
Icon Siam shopping mall is one of the newest luxurious shopping centers in Bangkok. It boasts hundreds of international retail outlets, dining options, and a huge cinema complex. The mall features a unique architectural design and offers stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. Visitors can shop for local and designer brands, explore its art exhibitions, and enjoy interactive experiences. The ground floor of this massive shopping center is a huge area that is purely dedicated to street food-style dining.
There are hundreds of stalls selling all the goods you can find across Bangkok, but the best part is that it is in an air-conditioned mall! You can find all the classic Thai street food goodies, as well as a section dedicated to incredible Japanese street food and cuisine in general. There are also many high-end restaurants serving food from all over the world. If you want delicious local dishes but want to avoid the sweltering heat and humidity, Icon Siam is THE place to check out.
In conclusion, Bangkok’s street food scene stands out due to its diverse offerings, affordable prices, and rich cultural influence. The city boasts countless street vendors serving up delicious and authentic dishes. With its bustling street markets and unique flavors, Bangkok truly shines as the best place for street food.
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