Street food in Bangkok is like a paradise for foodies and gourmets! In my opinion, the best place to experience this is in Chinatown, where food stalls are set up along 4-lane roads and a wide variety of dishes are on offer. The choice is insane, as is the intensity of the spiciness sometimes! You won’t just find what you’re looking for in Chinatown. Of course, there is a great Thai food culture throughout Bangkok that you should definitely discover!
What makes Bangkok special
Bangkok is not only known for its impressive temples and vibrant city life, but also for its unrivalled street food. In every corner of the city, you’ll find food stalls tempting you with fragrant specialities – and then you’ll find yourself immersed in the hustle and bustle of the alleyways. From spicy soups to sweet desserts, Thai cuisine offers an endless variety of flavours. In this article, I will take you on a culinary journey through Chinatown, the heart of street food in Bangkok, and introduce you to three of the most typical dishes that you absolutely must try.
Chinatown: The epicentre of street food
If you want to experience real Thai street food, there’s no way around Chinatown. A bustling commercial district during the day, Yaowarat Road transforms into a huge open-air restaurant in the evening. Here, satay skewers sizzle on the grill, fresh seafood is prepared right in front of your eyes and the scent of garlic, chilli and coriander fills the air.
An absolute must is Guay Jab Nam Sai, a peppery noodle soup with crispy pork belly that is known for its intense flavours. Also legendary: the wantans stuffed with crab meat, which are offered at numerous stalls. Those with a sweet tooth should not miss out on khanom buang, Thai crepes with coconut and egg yolk.
The three most typical dishes in Bangkok
Whether at a street food stall or in one of the many cafés and restaurants, the classic Thai dishes taste completely different to the Thai restaurants in Germany. That’s why I love travelling: you can only find and experience the authentic in the country itself!
Pad Thai – the classic of Thai cuisine
Pad Thai is probably the most famous dish in Thailand and can be found on every street corner in Bangkok. Fried rice noodles are combined with egg, tofu, prawns or chicken and flavoured with tamarind sauce, fish sauce, palm sugar and lime. You can top it with roasted peanuts and fresh bean sprouts. The heat level is mild to medium hot. The chilli powder is often served separately so that you can season it yourself. Medium hot is hot according to my perception of spiciness… Try it out for yourself!
Som Tam – the spicy papaya salad
Som Tam is a real flavour explosion of sweetness, acidity, salt and spiciness. Green papaya is mixed with fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar and chilli and garnished with tomatoes, green beans and peanuts. Depending on the variation, you can add dried prawns or fermented fish. Fermented fish is also a great discovery that I made in Asia. Read more in my article on street food in Vietnam and here in Ho Chi Minh.
The level of spiciness: very hot! The Thais love it spicy, but if you ask for a less spicy version, you’ll get it! The Thais know their visitors 😉
Tom Yum Gung – The famous spicy prawn soup
This spicy, lemony soup with prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli is fantastic (for me in the less spicy version). The spicy, sour and savoury flavours combine very harmoniously.
The level of spiciness here is also medium to very hot. The soup is often served with lots of chilli, which you can add separately to taste.
Finish off with something sweet from the fruit stall next door and your lunch or dinner menu is perfect!
My personal conclusion
Bangkok is a paradise for street food lovers and, of course, for lovers of Thai cuisine. A visit to Chinatown is a must, as you will discover the diversity of dishes and flavours. Whether you prefer mild or spicy dishes, there is something for every taste in Bangkok. The small restaurants and cafés are also really good and promise authentic Thai dishes.
My two favourites are quite simple: Grab Omelette and Mango Sticky Rice 🙂
If you want to read more about Bangkok, just take a look here and follow me on instagram for even more inspiration and information about authentic travelling, excellent cuisine and luxurious accommodation.
