Thai street food offers a unique blend of Oriental flavors that visitors around the world appreciate. Thai cuisine is characterized by spicy, sour, and sweet tastes. Check out this list of the top 15+ must-try street foods in Thailand and Bangkok, including Pad Thai and traditional Moo Ping skewers. Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish made with vermicelli or Thai-style noodles, bean sprouts, tofu, eggs, and spices, with a savory hot sour taste created by adding lemon and chili on top. To make it, the noodles are blanched, marinated pork and shrimp are added, tofu is cut into small pieces, and everything is stir-fried together. The dish is completed with golden brown eggs cut into small pieces.
Street food in Bangkok, ThaiLand
This article showcases the best street food in Thailand, specifically highlighting Pad Thai. To make Pad Thai, stir-fry onions and garlic with noodles, meat, shrimp, and tofu, then add tamarind juice, fish sauce, and sugar. Once almost done, add bean sprouts, chives, and chili, and top with crushed roasted peanuts for a spicy, sweet, and sour taste. Thipsamai Restaurant is recommended as one of the best places to try Pad Thai in Bangkok, with an estimated budget of 70-210 baht (USD 2.03 – 6.08). Other notable recommendations include Tamnak Isan Ekkama and Nara Restaurant.
Tom Yum Kung
Tom Yum Kung, a popular soup in Thailand, is ranked as the 7th spiciest dish in the country due to its primary ingredient, fried chili. The red-orange color of the soup indicates its level of spiciness. If you want to test your taste buds, give this spicy dish a try!
To taste the best Tom Yum Kung, visit Salathip Thai Restaurant where it costs around 100-220 baht (USD 2.90 – 6.37). You can also check out SN Bar Kitchen for this delicious street food.
Tom Kha Kai
Tom Kha Kai is a popular Thai street food dish that combines the sweet and sour flavors of Thai cuisine. It contains coconut milk, chili, galangal, onion, lemongrass, and chicken breast, resulting in a sweet but spicy taste. This dish is typically served hot as a soup and accompanied by a cup of rice.
Visitors can find it for an estimated budget of 70-100 baht (USD 2.03-2.90) at locations like Chinatown and Pattaya night markets.
Som Tam: Bangkok’s Favorite Street Food
Som Tam, also known as Thai papaya salad, is a beloved street food in Bangkok. It’s a quick and affordable dish that doesn’t require any cooking, typically made with grated green papaya and flavored with sour lemon, spicy chili, and salty sauce. Som Tam can be found all over Thailand, from night markets to food courts, and there are even roadside eateries selling it.
If you’re in Bangkok, check out Somtamnua or Baan Somtum Sathorn for delicious Som Tam with an estimated budget of 70-145 baht (USD 2.03 – 4.20).
Thai cuisine offers four basic types of curry, namely red, green, Penang and Massaman. The most popular among them is the red curry which is made with coconut milk and is spicy. On the other hand, Penang curry is sweet while Massaman curry is a specialty from southern Thailand.
Massaman curry is a delightful blend of cardamom and cinnamon. Green curry is usually enjoyed during holidays and its moderately spicy flavor comes from marinated beef, chicken or duck. This rich curry boasts of thick texture, mild aroma of coconut milk, and a mix of vegetables and spices which make it unique and charming.
“The House of Smooth Curry” in Bangkok: Recommended places to try these curries include The House of Smooth Curry located on the 3rd floor of The Athenee Hotel Bangkok, and May Kaidee situated at 59 Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.
The estimated budget ranges from 50 to 210 baht (USD 1.45 – 6.08).
Popular Bangkok Street Food: Moo Ping Skewer
| Best Street Food in Bangkok
Moo Ping skewer is a well-known and affordable street food in Thailand. The dish’s spices include pepper, garlic, jaggery, satay, and fish sauce, with coconut milk being an essential ingredient that gives it a rich and flavorful taste.
| Best Street Food in Bangkok
Moo Ping skewers are typically served with sticky rice. Eat the still-hot and fragrant skewers by dipping them in sauce or adding hot sauce on top while holding them in your hand. Take a bite with a piece of sticky rice to experience the indescribable taste!
Estimated budget: Around 30 – 50 baht (USD 0.87 – 1.45)
Recommendations:
- Moo Ping Jae Vaas: Soi Na Thong, Prachasongkroh Rd, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Moo Ping Hea Aoun: 76 Si Lom, Silom, Khet Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Coconut Ice Cream – A Must-Try Street Food in Bangkok
| Popular street food in Bangkok.
You can easily spot a large ice cream shop with green umbrellas and coconut shells hanging around at Chatuchak Weekend Market, where many shops sell coconut ice cream. This shop is always crowded and serves soft and rich coconut ice cream made from coconut milk, garnished with fresh copra, peanuts, jaggery, jelly, baby corn, or shredded pumpkin. The ice cream is served in a cup made of scraped coconut flesh, making it an authentic Siamese experience. All these delights come at the reasonable price of 30-60 baht (USD 0.87-1.74).
To enjoy this delicacy, visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market or Lumphini Park in Bangkok.
Best Street Food in Bangkok: Khao Pad Poo (Crab Fried Rice)
Khao Pad Poo is a popular Thai street food dish made with crab fried rice. It has a unique flavor due to the addition of ingredients such as garlic and chili. To prepare it, fresh crabs are steamed or boiled, and the meat is separated from the shells before being stir-fried with eggs, rice, and spices like fish sauce, sugar, and soy sauce. The dish is served with onions and herbs on top.
One good place to try khao pad poo is Streats Bar Bistro Khaosan, where it costs around 50-150 baht (USD 1.45 – 4.35). Another recommended spot is Thipsamai.
Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is a well-known Thai snack made from glutinous rice, mango, and coconut milk. The dish is shiny and transparent, with fragrant coconut milk sprinkled over sticky rice grains, served alongside ripe yellow mango slices. It is a great dessert for those who love sweets or want to satisfy their appetite.
It is also a popular street food in Bangkok, and can be found at an estimated cost of 40-110 baht (USD 1.16 – 3.19). Two recommended places for tasting this dish are Ban Khun Mae Restaurant and Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Durian Sticky Rice
A beloved Bangkok street food, Durian Sticky Rice is made with white sticky rice, coconut milk, durian, and shelled green beans. The durian flesh is boiled with coconut milk and sugar to create a thick paste which is then poured over the cooked rice. Served with shredded coconut and green beans, this dish has a delicious fragrance.
Visit Chatuchak Weekend Market to enjoy this famous delicacy. Estimated cost: 50-130 baht (USD 1.45 – 3.77).
Recommendations:
- Ban Khun Mae Restaurant: 444 Floor 2, MBK Center, Phaya Thai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Grilled Seafood Delicacy in Thailand
| A popular Bangkok street food
Thailand is renowned for its fresh seafood, and on chilly days, visitors can relish grilled seafood skewers such as chili octopus, grilled shrimp, and squid. The unique marinade recipe used in preparing these dishes blends the pungent taste of chili with the sweetness of seafood to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
| A popular Bangkok street food with an estimated budget starting from 45 baht (USD 1.30).
Recommended places to try this delicacy include:
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Chinatown: Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Khao Soi: A Must-Try Street Food in Bangkok
Khao Soi is a popular street food in Bangkok and a definite must-try when in Thailand. This dish features fresh noodles and crispy fried noodles mixed with a flavorful curry sauce, served with chicken or beef, and topped off with chili sauce, fermented cabbage, lemon, and chives. After indulging in this spicy dish, it’s recommended to quench your thirst with a refreshing cup of gotu kola juice. Prices can range from about 35 – 65 baht (USD 1.00 – 1.88).
Where to try:
- Took Lae Dee: PHM6+396, Soi Sukhumvit 16, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
- Zong Pet Paloe: 11/58 Soi Lat Phrao, Wang Hin, Bangkok 10230, Thailand
Thai-style Crepes
| Bangkok’s Famous Street Food
Thai crepes are distinct from European-style crepes due to their crispiness and unique flavor. They are filled with meringue (beaten egg whites and sugar) and minced egg yolks before being wrapped and toasted. Once you try them, you’ll want to indulge in these delicious crepes again and again in the land of golden pagodas.
| A Must-Try Street Food in Bangkok
Estimated cost: 20 – 45 baht (USD 0.58 – 1.30)
Recommended locations:
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Chinatown: Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Luk chup: A Must-Try Street Food in Bangkok
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Luk chup is a popular sweet in Thailand. Originally from Portugal, this dessert is shaped like miniature fruits and vegetables such as mango, chili, mangosteen, strawberry, mini watermelon, orange slices, etc., and coated with artificial colors to make it more vivid. The sweet filling is made from green beans mixed with sugar and coconut water.
Recommended budget: About 30 – 60 baht (USD 0.87 – 1.74)
Recommended place:
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Khanom Krok
| Must-try Bangkok street food.
Khanom Krok is a popular Thai street food made by mixing flour and coconut milk in a unique ratio, then cooking the mixture in small molds on a charcoal stove. It is commonly sold at Thai markets and alleys, and served with chives, green onions, and sweet corn for added flavor and aroma.
| Estimated budget: 30 – 60 baht (USD 0.87 – 1.74)
Recommended locations:
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: 587, 10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Rd, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Other local markets
The delicious street foods mentioned above are all authentic Thai dishes. Don’t miss out on the unforgettable flavors during your trip!
Bangkok’s Royal Palace
