Must Try Streetfood in Bangkok

Thailand is probably the most famous destination in Southeast Asia amongst backpackers, holiday makers and weekend warriors. This country offers a plethora of options that can cater to every budget. It doesn’t matter if your daily budget is just $10, $100, or maybe even more, there are ways how you can make sure that you stay within your budget and at the same time have a grand time at the “Land of Smiles”.

Thailand rose to fame as a holiday destination due to a variety of things that it offers which include: gorgeous beaches, friendly people, amazing luxury resorts, a huge number of budget accommodations, diverse cultural experiences and of course, delicious food. 

Ignoring street food in Bangkok is sacrilege. It’s the same as going to Paris and ignoring the Eiffel Tower. Food is simply everywhere and the variety of dishes and tastes the streets offer is big enough to really confuse you. 

Luckily the prices are so pocket friendly to allow you never to say no and just dig in and try everything.

That’s how you end up on street food trips around the city eating the tastiest exotic fruits you’ve ever had, followed by satay chicken skewers and mango sticky rice, followed by pad thai, and then a somtam washed down with a beer chang, and so on.

Most people start their journeys in Bangkok and if you find yourself walking the streets of Bangkok, don’t be afraid to try the street food that you’ll see. Here’s our list of six must try street food in Bangkok.

Somtam (Green Papaya Salad)

One of the most popular Bangkok street foods is Somtam, Green Papaya salad, is a fresh and healthy dish that most people love. It’s a combination of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, green beans, dried chillies, dried shrimps, lime juice, fish sauce and peanuts.

All of the ingredients are mixed together and pounded for a few seconds. The result is an awesome experience for your taste buds. Another variation that you shouldn’t miss is the green mango variant called Somtam Mamuang.

Pad Thai

Everyone that goes to Bangkok gets to try the world-famous Pad Thai sooner or later. It’s basically stir-fried noodles and the ingredients include: soaked dried rice noodles, eggs, chopped tofu, shrimps, garlic, onions, chilli peppers, a dash of sugar, fish sauce and lime juice.

There are many variants of Pad Thai but regardless of the differences in some ingredients, the result is always a delicious, filling and affordable meal that you’ll surely remember for quite some time.

Kai Pa Lo (Pot stewed egg)

Once you have tasted this dish you will recognise the aroma from afar as it stews in a large pot. This deicious fatty leg of pork dish is a favourite with both locals and foreigners alike.

Fatty pork leg, pickled vegetables, boiled egg, chilli and rice topped with coriander, Kai Pa Lo is slightly on the heavier end of the scale but at the pocket friendly price of just B40, it’s one that you will enjoy. Locals often eat this for breakfast too and will keep you going all day

Tom Yum

Tom Yum is basically a soup dish made with kaffir leaves, lemon grass, lime juice, tomatoes, chilies, and mixed seafood, but you can opt for chicken, pork or fish) and fish sauce.

Some recipes add coconut milk to add more flavour but some opt not to add it to maintain a clearer broth. Tom Yum is best served with white jasmine rice.

Khao Mun Gai

Khao Mun Gai is Thailand’s version of Hainanese chicken. To add a distinct and unique flavour, they add their local herbs and spices to flavour the dish.

Khao Mun Gai is a dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chilli sauce and usually with cucumber garnishes. It was created by immigrants from Hainan in southern China

This dish is commonly found in small family restaurants and street food stalls around Bangkok.

Mango Sticky Rice

What meal would be complete without a tasty dessert. Mango sticky rice is definitely one of the most popular desserts that you shouldn’t miss. It’s basically sticky rice with coconut cream on top and a few slices of ripe mango on the side.

There are so many varieties of this dish. Some restaurants add ice cream, some make the sticky rice crispy on the outside to add texture, some add solid coconut curds, the varieties are almost endless.

These are just some of the street foods that you shouldn’t miss in Bangkok. Spend a few more days and treat yourself with an awesome gastronomic adventure that only Bangkok can offer.

Let us know in the comments below what your favourite Bangkok street food is.

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