If you know me, you know that I love street food, and Bangkok, Thailand is the best city in the world for it. From sidewalk vendors that have been selling fresh mango sticky rice for 90 years to street food stalls that have earned Michelin stars, Bangkok's vibrant culinary scene is unlike anywhere else. The city is packed with incredible flavors, and exploring its food scene should be at the top of every foodie's travel itinerary.
Whether it's legendary noodle stalls or hidden neighborhood restaurants, here are some of the best street food spots in Bangkok.
Bangkok Street Food Guide
10 Best Places to Eat in Bangkok, Thailand
1. $1 tom yum egg noodles for breakfast (Ta Chai Sukhothai Noodles)
You know a restaurant is good when there's only one dish on the menu. Ta Chai Sukhothai Noodles is one of my favorite breakfasts in Bangkok. This local spot is known for their tom yum egg noodles and ordering is simple - you only need to choose three things: type of noodle, dry or soup noodles and portion size. Their signature dish is the dry tom yum egg noodles, a bowl of satisfyingly chewy noodles topped with BBQ pork, ground pork, bean sprouts and diced long beans. It's spicy, aromatic and slightly tangy, creating a beautifully balanced bowl of noodles to start the day. A small bowl is 50 baht or around 1.50 USD.
2. Mango sticky rice from the Royal Palace (Kor Panich)
Just a one-minute walk from Ta Chai Sukhothai Noodles is Kor Panich, one of the most famous places in Bangkok for mango sticky rice. This family-run shop has been making the dessert for over 90 years, using a recipe passed down from an aunt who worked as a cook in the royal palace kitchens. Once you place your order, you receive a number and can sit in the shop across the street to enjoy a fresh coconut while you wait. When the dessert arrives, you can tell that the cooks have mastered every element of this dish. The mangoes are perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy. It's paired with warm and soft sticky rice that's topped with a rich, fragrant coconut milk and balanced with crispy mung beans for a bit of crunch. It's easily the best mango sticky rice in Bangkok and each dish is 130 baht or around 4 USD.
3. Michelin-Star crab omelette by a local legend (Jay Fai)
When I traveled to Bangkok for the first time, as soon as we landed and dropped off our bags, we headed straight to Jay Fai. I first learned about chef Jay Fai through Netflix Street Food Asia and was instantly captivated by her story. Jay Fai is a local chef legend, becoming Bangkok's first street food vendor to earn a Michelin star. As the sole chef and owner, she personally cooks every dish herself, wearing her signature beanie and ski goggles to protect her eyes from the intense heat of the charcoal stoves. Even on a Sunday at 3 p.m., we waited several hours for her legendary crab omelette. The omelette is filled with chunks of sweet crab meat and fried until golden brown. We also ordered the drunken noodles, which came with huge, fresh prawns.If you plan to visit, try to go on a weekday morning to avoid a long queue, and expect a wait for your food after you order, as Jay Fai is the only chef. Costwise, the crab omelette is relatively expensive at 1,500 baht or around 43 USD, but it was truly an honor to eat at Jay Fai's restaurant and watch her in action.
4. Crab omelette without the wait (Nhong Rim Klong)
If you want to try a famous Thai crab omelette but don't want to wait for hours, Nhong Rim Klong is a fantastic alternative. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and is known for its authentic Thai seafood dishes. We ordered the crab fried rice and crab omelette, which were both packed with generous portions of fresh, sweet crab meat. The crab omelette is a must-try, with the soft crab wrapped in fluffy, custardy layers of egg. At 700 baht or around 21 USD, it's half the price of Jay Fai's version. Don't forget to bring friends, as one omelette can easily feed 2-3 people.
5. The oldest pad thai restaurant in Thailand (Thipsamai)
Pad thai is Thailand's most famous dish, so of course, I was on the hunt to find the best pad thai in Bangkok. My research led me to Thipsamai. The restaurant began as a street food cart in 1939 during WWII, started by the current owner's grandmother. Today, it's widely considered as one of the best pad thai restaurants in Thailand. Their signature pad thai is cooked in shrimp oil over charcoal flames and wrapped in a thin layer of egg. The result is perfectly chewy rice noodles with shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts and finished with fresh lime and crushed peanuts. The flavors are simple, but executed flawlessly. Pair it with their orange juice, which is so popular that the price fluctuates daily depending on the orange harvest for the day. The original pad thai is 150 baht or around 4 USD.
6. Mark Wiens' famous pad kaprao (Phed Mark)
If I had to pick a favorite YouTuber in Thailand, it would be Mark Wiens, so when I learned that he opened a restaurant in Bangkok, I had to try it. Phed Mark focuses on one dish only - pad kaprao, or spicy basil stir fry, a classic Thai comfort food made with stir-fried chilies, garlic, pork and holy basil. It's served with rice and a crispy fried duck egg on top. The only two choices you make is the protein and spice level, and given Mark's love of spicy food, the higher levels can be extremely hot. The dish itself is incredibly flavorful and satisfying, and the pork stir fry is 139 baht or around 4 USD.
7. Michelin Bib Gourmand chicken rice (Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice)
If you're craving something lighter, head to Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. The restaurant was founded in 1960 by Sombat Pruekpaiboon, who learned how to cook chicken rice from his Hainanese immigrant father. Since then, the restaurant has become well-known for its Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice. The dish is simple and comforting, with silky poached chicken on top of a bed of fragrant, garlic oil rice. It's served with a tangy chilli sauce and cucumber slices. At 50 baht or about 1.50 USD, this meal is an absolute steal.
8. Eating through one of the largest Chinatowns in the world
Bangkok has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and it's an incredible place for street food. Our first stop was Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai, which serves crispy fried noodles. The noodles are cooked in pork fat over high heat, giving them their signature smoky flavor. This simple, yet delicious dish has earned the street food vendor a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Our next stop was Lek & Rut Seafood. Located at the intersection of Chinatown's busiest streets, Lek & Rut Seafood is known for its bustling atmosphere and fresh seafood. The highlight was the crab curry, packed with fresh crab and served in a rich, spicy sauce. The fried noodles with chicken is 60 baht or about 2 USD, while the crab curry is meant to be shared for 850 baht or about 26 USD.
9. A hidden neighborhood restaurant with one table (Cute Corner Cuisine)
Finding this restaurant was a complete accident, but it turned out to be one of my favorite meals in Bangkok. We stayed at an Airbnb above the restaurant and walked passed it every morning. One morning, we asked the owner if we could reserve a table for dinner. We confirmed our order a day in advance, and followed the chef's recommendation. The restaurant itself is small and intimate, with one long communal table, making the experience feel like you're at a friend's house for a home-cooked meal. When the dishes came out, we were blown away. The garlic butter grilled river prawns were the biggest I've ever tried - nearly the size of lobster tails. We also ordered the steak and lamb chops, which were accompanied with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Overall, it was an amazing experience, with a cozy atmosphere and the most incredible food. The menu and prices change seasonally, and reservations and pre-orders are required, so make sure you plan ahead.
