Bangkok, the vibrant capital city of Thailand, is renowned for its bustling street food scene. If you’re a food enthusiast planning a trip to Bangkok, make sure to explore the city’s top 10 street food delights. Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable journey through the flavors of Bangkok.
What Can You Expect in Bangkok Street Food Before Trying?
Bangkok’s street food scene is a vibrant and diverse culinary landscape. Here’s what you can expect before immersing yourself in the flavors of Bangkok:
- Aromatic Spices: Bangkok street food is known for its bold and aromatic spices, such as lemongrass, chili, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. These ingredients create a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds tingling.
- Fresh Ingredients: Thai cuisine emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients, and Bangkok street food is no exception. From crisp vegetables to succulent meats and seafood, you can expect high-quality ingredients in every dish.
- Food Carts and Stalls: Bangkok’s streets are lined with food carts and stalls, offering a wide variety of dishes. You’ll find vendors skillfully preparing and cooking food right in front of you, ensuring its freshness and authenticity.
- Affordability: One of the best things about Bangkok’s street food is its affordability. You can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal for a fraction of the price you would pay at a restaurant.
- Food Hygiene: While street food is generally safe to eat in Bangkok, it’s essential to choose vendors with good hygiene practices. Look for busy stalls with a high turnover of customers, as this indicates the freshness of the food. Additionally, observe how the food is handled and cooked to ensure proper food safety.
When strolling around Bangkok night markets, don’t miss a chance to explore the vibrant street food culture of this golden pagoda country!
10 Best Street Food in Bangkok
Here are the top 10 must-try street foods in Bangkok that will leave you craving more:
1. Thai tea (cha-yen)
Walking along the street makes you thirsty? Give yourself a cup of Thai tea and. Yes, you are recharged. This tea is sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served chilled with evaporated milk, coconut milk or whole milk on top.
2. Pad Thai (phat-thai)
Take a look at the ingredient of this stir-fried rice noodle dish and tell me how delicious it could be: soaked dried rice noodles, eggs, chopped firm tofu, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper and palm sugar. It becomes perfect when served with lime wedges.
3. Curried Fish Custard (hor-mok)
With the picture below, can you guess what is in this Curried Fish? This dish is made up of primarily Thai basil, with curry fish paste and garnished covered with coconut cream and lime leaves.
4. Green mango salad (som tum mamuang)
All fruity, sour, spicy, salty and sweet flavors are mixed in one dish of salad. After trying few dishes, you may temporary loose your passion for food. This green mango will bring it back.
5. Grilled seafood
They look so good. They smell so great. They taste so gorgeous. Plenty of choices are available; from shrimp, fish to octopus.
6. Quail eggs
Simple but special! Just fried quail egg served with lettuce, hot sauce and a dash of sea salt makes such a good dish.
7. Green Curry (kaeng khiao wan)
It can be said that Green Curry food represents Thailand cuisine with the combination of Thai basil and green chilies, together with coconut milk produces a far richer and sweeter soup.
8. Coconut Milk Ice Cream
The name says it all. It is ice cream with coconut milk. This is just a perfect combination. The interesting part is that you ice cream is put inside a real coconut. Your tongue will be very pleased with this frozen dish after tasting so many hot dishes.
9. Salted-crusted Tilapia (pla pao)
It is simply prepared by rubbing salt on the fish exterior and stuffing lemongrass into the interior, then grilled thoroughly and served with dipping sauces are usually provided. You will absolutely not want to try the skin.
10. Insects
If you never taste insects, you really should. It is going to be one of the best experiences in Bangkok. Let’s try them all, from silkworms to meal-worms, from crickets to beetles. Let’s give yourself a new great experience.
Tips to Hack All Street Food in Bangkok
To make the most of your street food experience in Bangkok, here are some valuable tips:
- Choose popular stalls: Opt for well-known vendors favored by locals for their delicious and safe food.
- Observe freshness: Look for stalls with fresh ingredients and a high turnover of customers.
- Start with well-cooked dishes: If you’re new or have a sensitive stomach, begin with thoroughly cooked options.
- Stay hydrated: Bangkok’s weather can be hot, so remember to drink water or try refreshing Thai beverages.
- Be adventurous: Explore new flavors and dishes to discover hidden culinary gems.
- Go for busy stalls: Follow the crowds to find popular and delicious food.
- Use hand sanitizer: Carry sanitizer for hygiene before and after eating.
- Learn basic Thai phrases: Communicate with vendors and enhance your experience.
- Follow the locals: Observe where locals eat for recommendations.
- Enjoy the experience: Savor the food and immerse yourself in the vibrant street food scene.
Especially, if you want to savor as much as possible Bangkok Street food, remember to follow this trick: Don’t begin with too much like a bowl of Thailand noodles to avoid being full too soon. Let’s begin with snacks or light food and share them with your friends to try as much as possible. And ideally, at the end of the journey, we sit together to try a Thai hot pot.
Prepare yourself for a gastronomic adventure as you explore the top 10 best street foods in Bangkok. From the iconic Pad Thai to the refreshing Mango Sticky Rice, Bangkok’s street food delights are sure to leave you craving for more. Don’t you want to try them all? How about planning a trip to Thai land as soon as possible? Those dishes are always ready for you.
From The Indochina Voyages team.
