Bangkok Street Food
Thailand is renown throughout the world for its unique cuisine which needs no introduction. From the simple pad thai to the flaming tom yum goong, Thai cuisine has spread throughout the world. Thai cuisine can be generally divided into 4 regional cuisines, Lanna cuisine to the north, Isan cuisine to the northeast, southern Thai cuisine which is heavily influenced by Malay cooking and Central Thai cuisine which borrows from Chinese food, where Bangkok cuisine is an amalgamation of some of the best Thailand has to offer.
Travelling to Bangkok has become extremely affordable these days with cheap air tickets which can take you directly from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. Traveloka offers some great airline promotions making your food journey ever the easier. Bangkok is famous for having some amazing fine dining restaurants, but today we want to highlight some of the tastiest street food you will find. These stalls are generally casual and are usually opened air restaurants.
What is Central Thai cuisine?
Central Thai cuisine is a built around the former Thai empires of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, with influences of the Mon Davarati culture. Bangkok has its own unique cuisine and falls under this area, coupled with the large immigration of Teochew people, the food has been heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine, amongst others.
Pad Thai ผัดไทย / Thai Stir Fried Noodles
Image courtesy of danielfooddiary.com
Pad thai (ผัดไทย) is Thailand’s most famous dish, and is found throughout Thailand. However, it’s been said that the best pad thai in Bangkok is found at Thip Samai. The dish is made from stir-fried rice noodles served with prawns and uses tamarind as its base, giving it that sweet and sour distinct flavour. The one at Thip Samai comes enveloped in a nice egg blanket.
Pad Thai Thip Samai ผัดไทยทิพย์สมัย
313-315 Maha Chai Road,
Khwaeng Samran Rat,
Khet Phra Nakhon,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 5.00 pm to 2.00 am
Pu Khai Jaew ปูไข่เจียว / Crab Omelette
Image courtesy of nickeatfood.blogspot.com
Raan Jay Fai is located on Maha Chai Road and has received a Michelin star for its impeccable crab omelette known locally as pu khai jaew (ปูไข่เจียว). This street side restaurant is always packed with people and is famous for its chef who wears her goggles while cooking. The eggs here are always fluffy and sweet from the generous helping of crab meat. This is a definite must have or consider yourself never having to step foot in Bangkok.
Raan Jay Fai ร้านเจ๊ไฝ
327, Soi Maha Chai,
Khwaeng Samran Rat,
Khet Phra Nakhon,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200,
Thailand.
Opening Hours: 2.30 pm to 12.00 am.
Closed on Sundays.
Hoi Tod หอยทอด / Oyster Omelette
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Hoi Tod Chaw Lae is located near the Thonglor BTS station in a spacious and air-conditioned area, giving you comfort while you dine. Some of their popular dishes would include their renown prawn pad thai and their crispy oyster omelette known as hoi tod (หอยทอด). Hoi tod is a Chinese influenced dish and can be found throughout Asia from neighbouring Malaysia all the way up to Taiwan. This restaurant has been considered to serve one of for best hoi tod in Bangkok.
Hoi Tod Chaw Lae หอยทอดชาวเล
25, Soi Sukhumvit 55,
Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea,
Khet Watthana,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110,
Thailand.
Opening Hours: 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.
There is another contender for best hoi tod in Bangkok, which is Daeng Racha Hoi Tod. This restaurant holds a long line of heritage throughout its years of operations, up to 100 years to be exact. Considered the other famous hoi tod, you might want to go early as the queues here can take quite a while.
Daeng Racha Hoy Tod จังหวัดกรุงเทพมหานคร
432, Soi Sukon 1,
Khwaeng Talat Noi,
Khet Samphanthawong,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 9.00 pm.
Som Tam ส้มตำ / Green Papaya Salad
Image courtesy of theculturetrip.com
Som Tam (ส้มตำ), also known as green papaya salad, is found throughout Thailand. Made from raw papayas with a base of fish sauce, this sour and spicy salad is a commonly found dish anywhere you go. Many varieties exist, with some made with deep fried catfish, glass noodles and even squid. If you like trying an assortment of different street food, Thong Sai E-Sarn Food would be the place to go. The restaurant only provides dinner in its premise so, don’t go hoping to find food during the day. Among the popular dishes, they serve to include their salt-crusted fish (pla pao, ปลาเผา) and their dried deep-fried pork (muu daet diao, หมูแดดเดียว). For the adventurous, you can always try their raw shrimps (kung chae nampla, กุ้งแช่น้ำปลา).
Thong Sai E-Sarn Food
2/4, Soi Sukhumvit 18,
Khwaeng Khlong Toei,
Khet Khlong Toei,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 7.00 pm onwards.
Tom Yum ต้มยำ / Thai Hot And Sour Soup
Image courtesy of TripAdvisor
Tom yum (ต้มยำ) has been one of the most well-known dishes when it comes to Thai food with its heat and sourness. With tom yum being readily available everywhere, it takes a lot for a restaurant to stand out. Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu is one that is frequently suggested by locals, making it arguably one of the best seafood tom yum in Bangkok. Located near the popular tourist destination of Khaosan Road, you should definitely pay the this popular tom yum a visit.
Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu ร้านต้มยำกุ้งบางลำพู
Soi Kraisi,
Khwaeng Talat Yot,
Khet Phra Nakhon,
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10200,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 9.00 am to 8.30 pm.
Khao Kha Moo ข้าวขาหมู / Braised Pork Leg Rice
Image courtesy of takemeontour.com
Braised Pork Leg Rice (khao kha moo, ข้าวขาหมู) is one of Bangkok’s most renown dishes, which is heavily influenced by Chinese Teochew cuisine. The dish is braised in Chinese spices for hours and is served with a side of rice. Sweet, savoury and full of umami, this hearty dish is definitely one to not miss. The one at Chareon Saeng Silom is one of the more famous pork leg rice in Bangkok.
Charoen Saeng Silom ร้านเจริญแสง สีลม
492/6, Soi Charoen Krung 49,
Suriya Wong,
Bang Rak,
Bangkok 10500,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 7.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Kuai Tiao Nuea ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อ / Beef Noodle Soup
Image courtesy of misstamchiak.com
A trip to Bangkok isn’t complete without trying their beef noodle soup (kuai tiao nuea, ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อ). This dish consists of rice noodles in a beef broth, served with tender sliced beef, braised beef brisket and bouncy meat balls. The soup is usually very light but flavourful, and goes perfectly with a dash of chilli flakes for that extra dimension of flavour. Wattana Panich comes highly recommended, especially by Bangkok locals.
Wattana Panich วัฒนาพานิช
336-338, Soi Ekkamai 18,
Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea,
Khet Watthana,
Bangkok 10110,
Thailand
Opening Hours: 9.30 am to 8.00 pm.
Thailand is famous for its cuisine, and with each region having a speciality, you can see why people crave it all the time. There is a plethora of different choices, from casual street food to fine dining and make sure to have your fill the next time you’re in the region.
For more information about Thai Cuisine, see our Food Guide: Chiang Mai Street Food.