Part 3: Sawadee Krub, food lovers! It’s Kenn Dodson here, and today I’m thrilled to share with you my list of Bangkok’s Top 10 Street Food Spots. As someone who has been exploring the world of street food for over a decade, and spent weeks on end exploring the sois of Bangkok, I can honestly tell you it is the BEST street food city in the world, offering an incredible array of flavors, aromas, and textures that will tantalize your taste buds.
So without further ado, let’s dive right into my list of Bangkok’s Top 10 Street Food Spots.
1. Jay Fai (327 Mahachai Road, Samran Rat)
Located in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Jay Fai is an iconic street food vendor that has been serving up delicious crab omelets, drunken noodles, and other classic Thai dishes for over 70 years. Jay Fai’s food is known for its exceptional quality and taste, and you can often see long lines of hungry foodies waiting to get their hands on her dishes. That’s why it earns the first spot on my very tasty list of Bangkok’s Top 10 Street Food Spots.
2. Or Tor Kor Market (Kamphaengphet Road opposite Chatuchak Weekend Market)
Or Tor Kor Market is not just a street food vendor, but an entire market that offers a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, and street food. This market is known for its high-quality ingredients and its selection of street food vendors that serve everything from crispy pork belly to spicy papaya salad.
3. Raan Jay Fai (327 Mahachai Road Samranras Subdistrict, Phra Nakon District)
If you’re looking for delicious seafood, Raan Jay Fai is the place to go. This street food vendor is run by the daughter of the famous Jay Fai, and her dishes include seafood tom yum soup, crab curry, and stir-fried squid with salted egg yolk. And don’t be surprised if you see shrimp the size of most American lobsters! Cross my heart . . .
4. Petchaburi Soi 5 Street Food Alley (60 Soi Phetchaburi 5, Khwaeng Thung Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400)
Petchaburi Soi 5 is a street food alley that is located near the Pratunam area, and it’s a great place to go if you want to try a variety of street food dishes. Some of the must-try dishes here include pork satay, deep-fried pork belly, and spicy papaya salad. Oh, and remember that the definition of spicy in Thailand is much, much more “burn intense” than that in the Western World. And then triple that among street food dishes! So take small bites at first.
5. Thipsamai Pad Thai (313-315 Maha Chai Rd Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon)
Thipsamai Pad Thai is a street food vendor that is famous for its pad thai, which is arguably one of the best in Bangkok. The dish is made with fresh ingredients and has the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. I LOVE my Pad Thai! Especiall wrapped in fried egg like a giant omelet.
6. Chinatown District (Downtown Bangkok)
Bangkok’s Chinatown is a food lover’s paradise, offering a wide variety of street food vendors that serve everything from dim sum to roasted duck. You could literally spend a week here trying, but unable to, try every single vendor. Some of the must-try dishes in Chinatown include crispy pork belly, oyster omelets, and shark fin soup. I’d go for the shark fin soup – it has quite the bite!
Bangkok street food vendors come in three types: those who “solo”, those who “cluster”, and those who join large markets. Here wee see a street cluster running along the sidewalk in downtown Bankok.
7. Silom Soi 20 Street Food Alley (Silom Soi 20, Silom Rd)
Silom Soi 20 is another street food alley that is located near the Silom area, and it’s a great place to go if you want to try a variety of street food dishes. Some of the must-try dishes here include mango sticky rice, chicken satay, and fried chicken. Although I was raised among the endless corn fields of Indiana, I have come to really, really, REALLY love mango sticky rice. Once you have it prepared at just the right stickyness and with the proper hot vs. cold contrasting taste, you will to. Definitely give it a try.
8. Ekkamai Soi 21 Street Food Alley (Ekkamai Soi 21)
Ekkamai Soi 21 is a street food alley that is located near the Ekkamai BTS station, and it’s a great place to go if you want to try a variety of street food dishes. Some of the must-try dishes here include grilled squid, green curry, and pad see ew. Pad see ew is one my favorites. And I’ve found it impossible to find a good one in the U.S. So I load up when in Thailand and this is a great place to do it.
9. Talat Rot Fai (Srinakarin Soi 51, just behind Seacon Square Shopping Mall)
Talat Rot Fai, also known as the Train Night Market, is my favorite place to jostle for and delight in the savory flavors of Bangkok. But there is one big problem for most tourist – it is on the far east side of Bangkok, away from the tourists sights and nightlife of downtown. That’s just one reason I love it so much. It is a night market that offers a wide variety of street food vendors, as well as vintage shops and live music. Some of the must-try dishes here include grilled seafood, fried chicken, and spicy papaya salad. But if you can’t make it due to the 2 hour drive, you’ll enjoy our next market just as much . . .
10. Bang Rak Market (North Side of Sathon Road along Chao Phraya River)
Bang Rak Market is a street food market that is located near the main river in dowtown Bangkok. Par of a lively neighborhood, this market is full of various handcrafts and a significant number of food stalls. So take you time – and lots of Baht – and lingerly stroll the day away. But suggest avoiding the night time crowd. It can get busy, pickpockets start to come out, and heat can become oppressive.
READ NOW: In part 2, we take a look at the most amazing places to visit in Thailand.
And be sure to chatch part 1 in our series, the “Must Knows Before You Go to Thailand“.