Bangkok street food is one of the things that keeps travelers coming back to Bangkok. The abundance of heavenly aromas and colorful street food stalls will make choosing just one snack to complete your meal a seemingly impossible task!
The profusion of exotic flavors and fragrances makes Bangkok's gastronomic cuisine famously irresistible. Below are just some of the best and most popular dishes to try once you have settled in Bangkok.
Pad Thai
An outstanding default dish of Thailand, Pad Thai is a steamy fried noodle topped with anything of your choice and added with a spoon or two of sugar, chili flakes, and vinegar – an option by way of condiments. It is mostly available on every street corner in Bangkok.
One of the best Pad Thai restaurants in Bangkok is located near BTS Ekkamai. For 250 baht (which is quite pricey compared to the usual 50 baht), you can enjoy this hearty dish with seafood, including squid, king prawns, and mussels.
Tom Yung Goong
Tom Yung Goong is a versatile dish with a distinctive smell and exotic aroma combined in one iconic bowl. It is created with quintessential Thai ingredients that include lemongrass, chili, lime leaves, lime juice, shallots, and plenty of fish sauce. It is an all-in-one dish that combines sour, salty, sweet, and spicy.
Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung (located behind Phaya Thai BTS Station) is the city's most famous restaurant, and you will drool once it is served. Packed with giant rock lobster, squids, mussels, and prawns, this creamy soup has rightfully been dubbed the king of flavors.
Som Tum
It is a mix of everything. It is mostly made with shredded raw papaya intensely pounded in a mortar and pestle to blend the flavors. The variations mainly include nuts, tomatoes, dried shrimp, lime, palm sugar, and salted eggs. It's the most popular salad in Thailand.
These are available on most street food stalls along the alleys of Bangkok, as well as in malls and restaurants. You may try the popular Somtum Der located in the busy streets of Silom.
Kuay Teaw Neua Toon
These are noodles with intense flavors cooked for long periods. Most locals prefer to eat this dish with rice noodles (flat, small, or vermicelli, you choose).
The best location to visit for this dish would be Ekkamai. Wattana Panich will definitely hit the mark. The soup used has been there for around 60 years, as they use a master stock method. They save the soup left at the end of every night and pour it back into the pot the next day with the newly cooked stew. It is rare to find master stock these days, as it is an ancient style of cooking.
Jok (rice porridge)
It is the most popular choice for Thai breakfast. It is also known as the congee of Thailand, as it is not far from the original. It consists of rice soup mixed with pork broth topped with either a raw or a century egg and garnished with tiny ginger slices and spring onions.
The most popular place to eat jok is Jok Prince near BTS Saphan Taksin, in front of Robinson Bang Rak. For 45 baht, your congee cravings will be satisfied with this simple bowl of comfort food.
Kao Niew Moo Ping
In every aisle of Thailand comes the aroma of grilled pork. The perfect duo of sticky rice, popularly called khao neow, and pork skewers or moo ping will definitely fill the hungry tummy on the go. The great satisfaction it brings never gets old and boring. It is available everywhere in Bangkok, so it shouldn't be missed.
Pad Kra Pao
Pad Kra Pao is one of the most popular and beloved dishes for Thais and farangs. It is mostly cooked and served by small street vendors with large woks in the streets. The strong aroma and taste of basil make it spectacular. It consists of jasmine rice, egg, and meat of your choice stir-fried together with basil and chilies.
Ratcha Bar and Restaurant, located in Ratchadaphisek Soi 32, specializes in Pad Kra Pao and will cater to your Pad Kra Pao madness.
Larb Gai
This dish is highly favored, especially in the Northern and Northeastern parts of Thailand. Even though it is simple and easy to make, it is also highly nutritious with the herbs and protein it contains. Larb Gai is perfectly paired with sticky rice. Your tastebuds will definitely love the freshness of mint, the sourness of lime, and the spice of chili.
Locals and foreigners have Taksura in Ekkamai on their list of the best Larb Gai. The combination of a light and crispy meal will definitely wow you for only 100 baht.
There you go! These are just some of the flavorsome dishes Thailand has to offer. It may be overwhelming at first, but you will eventually get used to it. Traveling to Thailand offers a world of incredibly delicious cuisine, with a wide variety of choices that will hit your taste buds like a whirlwind. It may take you years to explore the delectable and authentic dishes of Bangkok fully, as the supply never ends.
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