Best places for street food in Bangkok

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If you’ve never been to Bangkok, prepare yourself because there’s nothing quite like the food scene in Thailand’s capital.

It's simply impossible to walk down any street in Bangkok without finding something sizzling or bubbling. But not all is made equal and for the uninitiated find the best places for street food in Bangkok can be tricky.

Fear not. Try one of these favourite street food spots and you can't go wrong or join the city's highest rated Bangkok food tour. Pull up a colourful little plastic stall, grab some cutlery and get your taste buds ready for the ride.

Yaowarat / Chinatown

Street cooks in Yaowarat

Let’s kick off with a biggie. If you’ve got just one evening to delve into Bangkok street food, make it Yaowarat, the capital’s Chinatown.

To many this might come as a surprise. Why visit Thailand and eat in Chinatown? And how can Chinatown be one of the best places for street food in Bangkok?

Well, Chinese influence over centuries of immigration has permeated almost every part of Thai culture including the cuisine. Many Thai dishes’ roots can be traced back to the Asian behemoth and most people in Bangkok consider it to be one of the best places to eat in the city.

Don’t come expecting the type of Cantonese cuisine you might find in your local takeaway, there’s some seriously good Sino-Thai street eats getting served up along the neon-light main drag and backstreets of Yaowarat.

Look out for steamy bowls of peppery kway chap noodle soup, piles of colourful crabs being mercilessly devoured by hungry Bangkokians, delicate birds’ nest soup and all types of meat sizzling over charcoal.

If you’re looking for the best place for street food in Bangkok, you’ve just found it.

How to get to Yaowarat

The easiest way to reach Yaowarat is by taking the MRT to Wat Mongkon Station along Chareon Krung Road, just a short three-minute walk from Yaowarat Road.

Victory Monument

Boat noodles in Victory Monument

The capital’s transport hub is awash with street vendors and tiny eateries. This isn’t a place for fine dining, nor is it first-date proof. The ramshackle markets that lead off the main roundabout may not be pretty but nab one of the tiny tables that sit next to the rickety old stands and you’ll find this to be one of the best places for street food in Bangkok.

Alternatively, make a beeline for the row of boat noodle shops that line the canal nearby and dive into 15-baht bowls of silky white rice noodles topped with beef balls, crispy pork and a rich, dark broth. Trust us, one is never enough.

The province of Issan might be 500 miles north of the capital, but that hasn’t stopped the little restaurants flanking nearby Soi Rang Nam from knocking out some fine North-eastern Thai food. Expect zingy som tum papaya salads, grilled pork and crispy fried fish.

How to get to Victory Monument

The quickest way to get to Victory Monument is via the BTS Skytain which stops right at the heart of the foodie beast. Take the steps down any of the exits and follow your nose.

Nang Loeng Market

Nang Loeng market

Nang Loeng Market is little visited by foreigners other than those joining one of our chef-designed Bangkok food tours. This is somewhat of a surprise as it’s close to the infamous backpacker district Khao San Road and is, without a doubt, one of the best places for street food in Bangkok.

Come hungry because it’s hard to resist feasting your way through Bangkok street food here where everything from gaeng keow wan green curries to grilled Thai sausage have been refined since the indoor market opened in the late 19th-century.

While you’re there, be sure to take some time to wander around this peaceful old district and visit what’s left of Bangkok’s oldest silent cinema.

Don’t leave without gorging on the desserts. Expect bananas slow cooked in sticky syrup, pandan leaf cakes, kanom buang Thai crepes and steamed coconut cups.

How to get to Nang Loeng

There’s no public transport to get to Nang Loeng Market, so your best bet is jumping into a tuk tuk or taxi.

Still a little confused about where to go? If you've got a flying visit in the city, why not join our award-winning daily food tour designed by a Bangkok chef? We know the best places for street food in Bangkok.