Bangkok’s Culinary Charms: A Food Lover’s Guide to Thai Treats

Thai food is famous around the world for its accessibility and deliciousness. In just about every corner of the globe, and especially in Western countries, a dependable pad thai is being consumed and saved for use as (potentially) the best leftover of any food group. A reliable Thai restaurant is a must-have for every neighborhood. In many ways, it’s the perfect cuisine. 

But your local Thai restaurant doesn’t tell the entire story. For that, you’ll have to travel back to where it all started. Bangkok’s food scene is one of the best in the world, and that’s not even remotely an overstatement. From the renowned street food scene to world-class fine dining establishments, it’s hard to catch a bad meal in Bangkok. 

You should look for a diverse culinary experience when traveling to Bangkok. The street food found in local canteens, food stalls, and vendors is one of the most fun ways to get to know the city, as it’s the ideal way to start and end an evening. It’s hard to argue with crispy spring rolls, pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice. You can also book a table at Michelin-starred restaurants if that’s what you’re into.

As you make plans to sample as much food in Bangkok as possible, remember to also have a plan for your unneeded bags. Use luggage storage in Bangkok so that you can enjoy the food and atmosphere unencumbered.

Here’s everything you need to know about the food scene in Bangkok: 

What to look for

The street food and restaurant scene in Bangkok is about as diverse as you’ll find. Still, you’re not going to settle for pizza or a burger after traveling to Thailand. Here are a few common and delicious traditional Thai dishes to keep an eye out for:

• Pad Thai: This popular stir-fried dish made with rice noodles, eggs, and a choice of protein is flavored with a tangy tamarind sauce and garnished with crushed peanuts and lime. It’s the absolute go-to (even ubiquitous) Thai dish that’s consumed around the world. While you can find it everywhere, it’s still worth trying it at the source at Bangkok diners and street food stalls. 
• Chicken satay (or gai satay): The most common type of street food in Bangkok is these skewers of grilled chicken served with a peanut-based dipping sauce.  
• Pad See Ew: This stir-fried noodle dish with wide rice noodles is a heartier version of Pad Thai and is usually flavored with a sweetened soy sauce. 
• Tom Yum Goong: The weather in Thailand may be hot and humid, but one whiff of this soup (flavored with lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves) and you’ll be pining for a steamy bowl of shrimp soup. 
• Tom Kha Gai: Thai curry has a much sweeter and more fragrant flavor than its spicy South Asian counterparts, owing to its use of coconut milk. It’s nonetheless delicious! 
• Khao Pad: Essentially Thai-style fried rice, this hearty dish is cooked with vegetables, shrimp, chicken, or beef with spices, soy sauce, and basil for a fragrant, hearty dish. Keep an eye out for variations and specialty fried rice at restaurants. 

• Deep-fried spring rolls: Of any street food snack, this has to be the most popular crowd-pleaser. Paper-thin pastry rolls are filled with a mixture of shredded veggies, spices, seafood, and meat before being deep-fried to crispy perfection and dipped in a variety of sauces. It’s a simple, tasty snack that is hard to argue with, especially after consuming a few beers…

Where to find Thai street food in Bangkok 

Street food can be found everywhere in Bangkok, but here are a few hotspots:

Wang Lang Market

This market is located across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace and is a haven for street food vendors selling spring rolls, chicken satay, or even full meals like curry and Pad Thai. 

Chinatown

Known locally as Yaowarat, Bangkok has a massive Chinatown neighborhood where markets and vendors line the streets, serving a wide array of Thai and Chinese snacks. 

Silom Soi 20

You’ll find some of the more curious street foods at this centrally-located market. The Thai Chicken Biryani is the specialty here, so don’t skip it! 

Khao San Road

This is the most popular spot for international travelers, and for good reason. It’s situated right in Old Town near other attractions. 

Best restaurants in Bangkok 

Bangkok is mostly famous for its street food, but there are plenty of fine dining and trendy restaurants worth visiting for destination dining experiences. Check these out:

Prachak Pet Yang

From the street, you’ll see hanging ducks lined up in a row from this restaurant’s window. While that may not immediately seem appealing, ask anyone about their Cantonese-style roasted duck, with its crispy-crunchy skin and tender meat, and you won’t have any qualms about heading inside. 

Nai Mong Hoi Thod

One of the best restaurants in Chinatown, this shabby (in a good way) street food spot serves up all the comfort food you’d come to expect from a Thai restaurant, with decades-old recipes and experienced cooks working their woks furiously to keep up with the ravenous demand of a weekend crowd. Don’t skip the oyster omelets, no matter the time of day. 

Raan Jay Fai

This traditional diner has been a Bangkok institution for quite a while. So when it was awarded a Michelin Star for its excellent stir-fries and seafood soups in an unquestionably authentic atmosphere, it made sense. While the recognition is absolutely deserved, there may be a wait. It’s worth it, but arrive early.

Err

If you want one of those hyper-trendy experiences where you walk into a restaurant space that hardly makes sense as a restaurant, this Royal Quarter eatery is the place. Ideal for socializing, this menu of traditional Thai “drunk food” favorites has been updated for modern eaters. Chicken satay and spring rolls with a twist. It’s hard to argue with that. 

Conclusion

If you’re popping around to Bangkok’s different neighborhoods for the perfect street food feast, you won’t want to be dragged down by your luggage. Luckily, Bounce has plenty of luggage storage locations around the city, so it’s easy to drop the baggage off with a trusted Bounce partner before exploring this amazing food city.