food trip in thailand

THE 10 BEST Thailand Food Tours

Thailand food tours.

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Bangkok Midnight Food Tuk Tuk Tour

2. Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise in Bangkok

3. Manohra Luxurious Dinner Cruise in Bangkok

4. Chaophraya Cruise - Amazing Dinner Cruise

5. Bangkok Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

6. Bangkok Food Tour By Night

7. Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings

8. Small-Group Chiang Mai Evening Street Food Tour

9. Bangkok Tuk Tuk Food Tour By Night

10. White Orchid Dinner Cruise in Bangkok

11. Silom Thai Cooking School with Market Tour

12. Authentic Street Food Tour in China Town Bangkok

13. Phuket Night Food Tour & Old Town's Magical Lights

14. Go where the locals go, Eat what the locals eat! Food Tour with Local Foodies

15. The 10 Tastings of Bangkok: Private Street Food Tour

16. Evening Bangkok Food and Tuk Tuk Adventure

17. Bangkok: White Orchid Dinner Cruise

18. Private Night Street Food Tour of Bangkok's Chinatown

19. Lanna Kingdom Chiang Mai Food Tour with 15+ Tastings

20. Vertigo Rooftop Fine Dining Experience @ Banyan Tree

21. Private Tour : Bangkok Night Tour and Street food By Tuk Tuk and Boat

22. Private Culinary Kickstart Tour of Bangkok with a Local

23. A Taste of Chiang Mai: Private Tour

24. Bangkok Most Famous Food Experience (Private & All-Inclusive)

25. Shangri-La Hotel's Salathip Thai Restaurant Experience

26. Drinks & Bites in Bangkok Private Tour

27. Bangkok Food Tour of Bang Rak with Local Guide

28. Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River

29. Famous Thai Street Food Tasting Experience!

30. Bangkok Night Food and City Tour by Tuk Tuk

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Bangkok travel guide for food lovers

If you travel for food, this Bangkok travel guide for food lovers is for you.

Bangkok is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and a paradise for food lovers.

Everywhere you look while walking around the city, you’ll be tempted by something delicious – whether it be fresh green papaya salad, a spice filled coconut milk curry, or smoke pouring off a street food grill.

In this Bangkok travel guide blog post, specifically written for you as a food lover , I’m going to share some essential travel information and tips that will help you make the most of your stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok food tours available now!!

About This Bangkok Travel Guide:

Quickly, before fully jumping in, I wanted to let you know who I am, and why I wrote this Bangkok travel guide blog.My name is Mark Wiens, and I travel for food. I’ve been based in Bangkok since 2009, and while I also love to travel to other destinations , Bangkok remains my permanent home-base (and my wife is Thai).

I can still remember the day I arrived in Bangkok for the first time.

Walking down the street, the aroma of stir frying chilies, garlic, and basil, mixed with the thick humidity of the Bangkok evening, was a combination that switched on my senses, and I immediately became fascinated by Thai food and culture.

Bangkok has been my home ever since, and day doesn’t go by without me getting excited about Thai food.

Read more about my story here , and see the tools I use to run this blog here .

Ok, let’s move into the guide now…

Arriving and Leaving Bangkok

There are plenty of ways you could potentially arrive and leave, but probably the most common way is to fly directly into Bangkok.

When you fly into Bangkok, make sure you note which airport you’ll be arriving or leaving from… I have made the mistake of going to the wrong airport before!

Suvarnabhumi Airport

The biggest airport, and the hub for many of the major international airlines is Suvarnabhumi Airport , located in the southeastern part of the city.

How to get from Suvanabhumi Airport to the center of Bangkok:

• Airport Rail Link – In the airport, follow the signs to the airport rail link. You can connect with the MRT Metro at Makasan Station, or with the BTS Skytrain at Phaya Thai Station, and easily get to Siam, Silom, Sathon, or along Sukhumvit using the public train transportation. The price is 45 THB, and it operates from 6 am – 12 midnight daily.
• Taxi – To take a taxi, go to the first floor, and exit the revolving door at either #4 or #7. You take a ticket, and then go to the taxi number on your ticket. The price of taking a taxi to central Bangkok from the airport should cost about 300 – 400 THB, and there’s also an airport surcharge of 50 THB. Note that you will also be responsible for any tollway fees if used as well.

Don Mueang International Airport

In order to relieve some of the congestion of Suvanabhumi Airport, Bangkok re-opened the former main international airport, which is known as Don Mueang , located in northern Bangkok. This airport is home to many of the budget airlines carriers like Air Asia and Tiger Air, and caters mainly to destinations around Southeast Asia and Asia.

How to get from Don Mueang Airport to the center of Bangkok:

• Taxi – The easiest way to get from Don Mueang Airport to the center of Bangkok is by private taxi. Go down to the ground floor, and there’s an official taxi stand (and usually a long queue). You will be directed tot he next taxi driver. The ride all the way to the center of Bangkok should cost anywhere from 200 – 350 THB, and you’ll have to pay a 50 THB airport surcharge, and you’re responsible for any tollways used. An alternative to a taxi all the way, is to take a taxi to Mo Chit BTS Skytrain or Chatuchak Park MRT Metro, which should cost about 100 THB, and then you can take the public train from there.
• Bus – Bus #A1 goes from the airport to Mo Chit BTS Skytrain station, and from there you can take the BTS to Siam, Silom, Sathon, or Sukhumvit. Go to the ground floor and catch the bus from outside, price is 35 THB per person.

Getting your Thai tourist visa:

It all depends on your nationality, but the easiest way to get a short term visa for Thailand, if your passport qualifies, is to just get a simple 15 or 30 day tourist visa on arrival. It’s free, and all you have to do is fill out your arrival card (it will be given to you in the airplane before you land), go through immigration, and you’ll have 30 days in Thailand / Bangkok.

However, be sure to research your country and the requirements for entry and exit to Thailand.

Bus Stations in Bangkok:

• Mo Chit Station (Northern bus terminal) – If you’re traveling by bus to a destination north of Bangkok (Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani), you’ll usually arrive or leave from Mo Chit Station.
• Sai Dai Mai Station (Southern bus terminal) – If you’re traveling to a destination on the peninsular part of southern Thailand (Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani), you’ll probably arrive and leave from Sai Dai Mai station.
• Ekkamai Bus Station (Destinations near to Bangkok) – You can take short bus trips to destinations within a few hours from Bangkok, especially eastern coastal areas (usually places like Pattaya, Rayong, Trat) from Ekkamai Station.
• Victory Monument (Van terminal for short distances) – An alternative to buses are 12 seater vans. They leave from various outposts around Victory Monument and Center One. Beware though, these vans often drive crazily fast, but they can be very convenient.

Where to Stay in Bangkok?

There are so many places to stay in Bangkok, that it’s tough to narrow down your choices.

So in this next part of this Bangkok travel guide, I’ll do my best to share with you a few of the best areas of Bangkok that you can stay in, why you would want to choose a certain area, and a few of my personal hotel recommendations in each of these areas.

1. Khao San Road / Banglamphu – This is the main backpacker district of Bangkok, but at the same time it’s the historical center of the city, where many of the famous attractions (like the Grand Palace) are located. You’ll find budget hostels, historical guest houses, and hotels in this area.

• Full House Khaosan  (budget) – This place is so close to the action of Khao San Road, but it’s tucked away into a local alley, and remains quiet and friendly. My wife and I stayed here for a few nights and loved the location.
• Baan Chart Hotel  (mid-range) – It’s a decent choice for a mid-range priced hotel along Rambuttri, parallel to Khao San Road.

2. Chao Phraya Riverside / Bangrak – The Chao Phraya Riverside is scenic, with good transportation options, and a mix of both luxury hotels and mid-range options. Great area for families because of the transportation options and mix of everything.

• Glur Bangkok Hostel  (budget) – This is a new, clean, and modern hostel, near to the BTS.
• Shangri-La  (luxury) – A prime location and to the Shangri La standard, it’s expensive, but a very nice hotel in Bangkok.
• Chatrium Riverside  (luxury) – My wife and I recently spent a couple nights at Chatrium Riverside. It’s modern, and I think it’s pretty good value for money, very good place to stay as a family.

3. Silom / Sathon – Silom and Sathon, located next to each other are the business financial districts of Bangkok, and very modern areas of town. The area makes a great base with food options and transportation.

• Marvin Suites (mid-range) – For a budget and great value place to stay in Sathon, Marvin Suites is fantastic. The rooms are very spacious and it’s the type of hotel that you’d feel comfortable staying at for one day or even a week or two.
• Glow Trinity Silom (mid-range) – This is a trendy type of hotel in a good location right in the heart of Silom.

4. Siam / Pratunam – Siam and Pratunam are at the center of one of Bangkok’s most intense shopping districts, with everything from modern malls to street shopping. Stay in Siam or Pratunam if you’re serious about Bangkok shopping.

• Lub d Siam Square (mid-range) – Lub d is a trendy modern hostel, located right across the street from MBK shopping mall.
• Amari Watergate (luxury) – Step outside Amari Watergate and you’ll be in the midst of the Pratunam shopping district. Nice modern hotel, fantastic location.

5. Sukhumvit – Sukhumvit Road is one of the major developed roads running through the heart of Bangkok, and it’s home to many expats and international businesses and restaurants, but it remains local Thai at the same time.

• St. James Hotel (mid-range) – This hotel is a little old, but well kept, and very comfortable and spacious. My wife and I spent a few nights here.
• Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit (luxury) – Located near Asoke intersection, this is a nice business luxury hotel.

Where would I personally recommend? I think the best area to stay in Bangkok, if you’re coming for a visit, is the Banglamphu area because it’s the historical center of Bangkok, very close to many of the major attractions, and the area is home to some of the best street food and markets in all of Bangkok.

* Disclosure : The links to hotels above are affiliate links, meaning that if you book a hotel through that link, at NO extra cost to you, I will receive a commission. This will help me to continue maintaining this blog. Thank you in advance!

Some of my favorite gear

Here is some of the gear I use when I travel ( these are Amazon affiliate links ).

For more, check out my travel packing list and check out my camera gear and electronics on my gear page .

Street Food & Restaurants in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the world’s greatest street food cities and as soon as you arrive and start exploring the city, you’ll discover that there’s an abundance of delicious things to eat everywhere you look.

Along with street food, Bangkok is a also a city where restaurants of all levels, serving both Thai and an extensive range of international cuisine, are flourishing. You can eat modern Thai meal for lunch and sit down for a world class Italian dinner (there are so many food possibilities).

For this Bangkok guide and tips I’m focusing on Thai food. I’ve classified the main levels of food you’ll find in Bangkok, and suggested some of my personal favorite places to eat them.

Thai Street Food

Thai street food is one of the ultimate joys of being in Bangkok.

You can get anything from a snack to eat while you’re walking down the sidewalk, to an entire sit down meal feast on the streets of Bangkok, twenty four hours a day.

Bowls of piping hot noodles, stir fried dishes over rice, Thai curry and rice, grilled meats, and green papaya salad, are just a few examples of foods you’ll encounter.

A few of my favorite Bangkok street food areas:

• Wang Lang Market – Located across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace, Wang Lang Market is one of Bangkok’s premiere foodie destinations. During the day, you’ll find an immense amount of Thai street food filling the lanes of the market, both snacks and full meals are available.
• Chinatown (Yaowarat) – Exploring the congested and chaotic streets of Bangkok’s Chinatown never gets old; There’s so much delicious food to try. In the day time, you’ll find markets and some food stalls, but street food really comes alive in the evening and throughout the night.
• Silom Soi 20 – For a good central Thai morning market, check out Silom Soi 20. Both fresh ingredients and food ready to eat are available. I personally love the Thai chicken biryani, and the black sticky rice and custard at the front of the market.

Some of my favorite street food stalls:

• Som Tam Jay So (ร้านส้มตำเจ๊โส) – Som Tam Jay So is one of my go-to spots in Bangkok for real deal Isaan food.
• Kuay Jab Nay Lek (ก๋วยจั๊บนายเล็ก) – This stall in Yaowarat serves amazing peppery pork soup with noodle rolls.
• Doy Kuay Teow Reua (ต้อยก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ) – Boat noodles are one of the most popular noodle dishes in Bangkok, and this is one of my favorite spots.
• Tom Yum Goong in Bangkok (ร้านต้มยำกุ้งบางลำพู) – This street food stall in Banglamphu is a little on the dirty side, but they make one of the best versions of tom yum goong in the city.
• Somsak Boo Op (สมศักดิ์ ปูอบ) – You might have to wait to get a table here, but they make an incredible version of shrimp and mung bean noodles – called goong ob woon sen.
• Vegetarian : Chamlong Asoke (จำลอง (สันติอโศก) – This is one of the greatest vegetarian food courts in Bangkok, located across the street from Chatuchak Market in northern Bangkok.
• Halal : Yusup Pochana (ยูซุปโภชนา) – This restaurant is a little off the beaten path, but they serve some awesome Halal Thai food.

Also, don’t miss my full list of best restaurants in Bangkok here .

Local Thai food restaurants (shophouses)

While I truly love street food and the atmosphere of dining on the streets of Bangkok, I would say the actual best Thai food comes from local restaurants, or shophouse restaurants – the taste of food is often just one notch above street food.

Some shophouse restaurants actually started off as street food stalls, but due to success or progression, they have since moved into a more permanent facility. Shophouse restaurants are where many of the best traditional Thai and Thai Chinese chefs operate from.

Here area a few local Thai restaurants I love:

• Soei (ร้านเส่ย) – This has long been one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. The food is dangerously tasty, spicy, and full of vibrant flavors.
• Mit Ko Yuan (ร้านมิตรโกหย่วน) – Serving some of the best tom yum goong, Mit Ko Yuan is an old shophouse restaurant that serves mostly stir fried Thai dishes.
• Som Tam Sida (ส้มตำสีดา) – Positioned in the middle of Wang Lang Market, Som Tam Sida is a fantastic family run Isaan restaurant.
• Laab Udon (ร้านลาบอุดร) – Located right off the Surasak BTS station in Sathorn, Laab Udon serves Isaan food including the full spectrum of different som tam (green papaya salad) and dishes off the grill.
• Ran Ruam Dai  (ร้านรวมใต้) – For a true taste of authentic southern Thai food, this is one of my favorite places.
• Vegetarian :  Su Ki Jeh Ru Yi (สุกี้เจหรูยี่) – This is a pretty classic Thai Chinese vegetarian restaurant located behind Hua Lamphong train station.
• Halal : Muslim Restaurant (ร้านอาหารมุสลิม) – Located in the heart of Bangrak, this legendary Halal restaurant serves good Thai biryani and an assortment of curry.

Fine Thai Dining (higher end)

When you choose a fine dining Thai restaurant in Bangkok, you have to be careful. There are many high end restaurants that serve mediocre food (at best), that’s actually watered down from the real Thai taste, but just prettified.

The good news is, there are a growing handful of higher end Thai restaurants in Bangkok that are truly serving outstanding Thai food, using high quality ingredients, and being creative, yet not compromising the balance and robustness of Thai flavors.

• Paste  (Note: Location is at Gayson Plaza, Ratchaprasong) – Paste is the leader of modern progressive Thai food in Bangkok. Acute attention is paid to every detail of flavor and balance and you can taste the passion of the chefs in the cooking (Paste also offers vegetarian options on their menu).
• The Local – The Local is another one of my favorite nicer sit down Thai restaurants in Bangkok. It’s a nice setting and great food.
• Baan Thai Family Recipes – What I really like about Baan is that the food tastes like food you’d eat at a Thai home, but using high quality and sustainable ingredients.

NOTE : For a more extensive guide to Thai food, check out my  Eating Thai Food Guide . You’ll learn Thai eating etiquette and tips and useful instructions on how to order Thai food.

10 of My Favorite Thai dishes

• Tom yum goong (ต้มยําากุ้ง) – Tom yum goong, Thai shrimp soup, is one of the most essential dishes in Thai cuisine. I love it so much, I dedicated a t-shirt to it ! The soup has countless varieties, but lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, chilies, and in this case shrimp, are mandatory.
• Pla pao (ปลาเผา) – A whole fish is stuffed with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, rolled in a salt crust, grilled over charcoal, and served with chili garlic sauce.
• Som tam (ส้มตําา) – Som tam refers to any variety of different green papaya salad that’s an essential dish in Isaan (northeastern Thai and Laos) cuisine.
• Pad ka prao (ผัดกะเพรา) – One of the most popular and widely available Thai street food dishes is pad ka prao, a choice of meat stir fried with lots of garlic, chilies, and the all important holy basil.
• Kuay teow reua  (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ) – Boat noodles as they are commonly known, are a pork based Thai soup noodle, and a favorite in Bangkok.
• Kuay teow neau  (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อ) – Another noodle Thai noodle soup dish I enjoy is beef noodles, usually served with fall apart tender braised beef and rice noodles.
• Boo pad pongari (ปูผัดผงกะหรี่) – Pongari is a type of Thai yellow curry thickened with eggs. It’s often made with crab, but you can also order it with squid or even chicken.
• Goong pad sataw (กุ้งผัดสะตอ) – Stir fried stink beans with shrimp, or with another protein, and chili paste, is easily one of my favorite dishes in Thailand. You’ll find it at many rice and curry stalls.
• Hor mok (ห่อหมก) – If made correctly, hor mok, a type of fish curry custard, can ben extremely good. Pieces are fish are mixed with curry sauce and herbs, and steamed. Hor mok is available and rice and curry restaurants.
• Nam prik kapi (น้ําาพริกกะปิ) – Nam prik refers to any type of Thai chili dipping sauce, and this version is mainly flavored with shrimp paste. It’s typically eaten with vegetables and rice, and you’ll find it at markets throughout Bangkok.

There are hundreds of different and unique Thai dishes, and if you see something that looks interesting and delicious when you’re in Bangkok, you should try it.

The list above includes just a few of my favorite dishes that I frequently eat (and that are quite common to find), but it should not limit you – there are so many other dishes to try to!

Latest Bangkok Blog Posts

Here are some of the latest blogs posts about Bangkok and Thailand:

Wat Phu Tok – Visiting The Most Thrilling (and Dangerous?) Temple in Thailand

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Sichon Travel Guide: Pristine Off-The-Beaten-Path Fishing Village in Thailand!

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Within Sichon (สิชล), Thailand there is a stunningly beautiful and non-commercialized coastal fishing village in Southern Thailand. In this Sichon (สิชล) travel guide I’ll share with you all details about this amazing off-the-beaten-path community in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Talad Baan Plai Thon (ตลาดบ้านปลายทอน)…

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Spur of the moment food trips are sometimes the best. This spur of the moment trip happened to be one of the ultimate travel culinary highs that I’ve ever experienced, and I’m going to share it all with you in…

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Tha Kha Floating Market – Local Relaxing Market You Can Visit in Thailand

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You have many choices for floating markets to visit in Thailand. Tha Kha Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำท่าคา), located in Samut Songkhram province (about a 1 hour drive from Bangkok) is one of the most relaxing and local floating you can visit….

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Bangpoo (บางปู) is one of the closest places you can go from Bangkok to see the ocean. Although it’s not a swimming beach, you’ll the have the opportunity to feed seagulls and eat a delicious seafood meal on the end of…

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Things To Do in Bangkok

The best thing about doing things in Bangkok, or visiting attractions and sightseeing, is that there’s never going to be a situation where you’re far from food.

The fact is, food revolves around every part of Thai culture – so don’t worry, no matter which attractions you choose to see when you’re in Bangkok, you’re never far from something delicious.

Here are a few things I would recommend doing in-between meals:

• Golden Mount (Wat Saket, Open hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily, Entrance price: 20 THB to climb to the top) – The Golden Mount is a temple in Bangkok that is built on top of a man-made hill. What I like most about visiting is that you can climb to the top for an amazing panoramic view of Bangkok. Also when you’re in the area, stop by Loha Prasat Temple too.
• Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew  (Open hours: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm daily, Entrance price: 500 THB adults) – Undoubtedly the most popular attraction in any Bangkok travel guide, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are icons of the city. For me it’s one of those places that’s well worth a visit once in your lifetime, but if you’ve been there, no need to go back again. It will most likely be packed with tourists and groups at anytime you go on any day. Also don’t miss Wat Pho, known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, located just down the road.
• Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and Vimanmek Mansion (Save your ticket from the Grand Palace for complimentary access) – Located in Dusit, both the Throne Hall and Vimanmenk teakwood mansion are open to the public as museums. Although they are very popular touristy attractions in Bangkok, they are well worth a visit.
• Wat Arun (Open hours: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm daily, Entrance price: 50 THB) – Across the river from the Grand Palace complex is Wat Arun, a temple stupa that’s also referred to as the Temple of Dawn. One of the highlights of visiting Wat Arun is climbing the steep staircase.
• Chinatown (Yaowarat) – Bangkok has a strong Chinese influence no matter where you are in the city, however the area of Yaowarat, is where a concentration of Chinese originally settled. Yaowarat is a center of commerce and industry, always busy and energetic, and you can explore markets and eat an astounding array of delicious Thai and Thai Chinese food.
• Shopping in Bangkok – Along with food, Bangkok is a well known city for shopping in Southeast Asia, especially for clothes and fashion and electronics. Some of the major Bangkok shopping destinations include Siam (Siam Paragon, MBK, Central World), Pratunam (Platinum, Pantip Plaza), and Phrom Phong (Emporium, EmQuartier). The Chatuchak weekend market is also a popular Bangkok shopping spot.
• Or Tor Kor Market – Another must visit food destination in Bangkok is Or Tor Kor Market, located across the road from Chatuchak Market. Or Tor Kor is a premium fruits and vegetables market, and they also have an amazing local food court. You’ll also find durian year round!
• Khlong Toey Market (Open hours: 24 hours daily) – One of the main central fresh wet markets in Bangkok is Khlong Toey. You can find nearly every ingredient imaginable for cooking Thai food within this market, and if you love food or cooking, it’s a great place to explore when you’re in Bangkok.
• Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market  (Open hours: 9:30 am – 4 pm, and open on Saturday and Sunday and public holidays) – There are a number of different floating markets around Bangkok, but my favorite, that’s located within the city is Khlong Lat Mayom. Along with just being a pleasant area to walk around, and you can even take a boat ride tour, the market is made for food lovers. You’ll find a dizzying array of snacks and things to eat. Don’t miss a whole salt crusted grilled fish when you go.

For the ultimate list of things to do in Bangkok , check out my  101 Things To Do In Bangkok eBook , it comes packed with useful information about visiting Bangkok, and even directions written in Thai.

How to Get Around (Transportation)

Bangkok is a city that offers nearly every type and form of transportation available – taxi, bus, motorbike, tuk tuk, longtail boat, ferry boat, above ground train, and underground train. And some areas of Bangkok aren’t too bad for walking either.

I won’t go too in-depth in this Bangkok travel guide blog, but I’ll share a few details about the best ways to get around.

• BTS Skytrain / MRT Metro  (Open hours: 6 am – Midnight daily, Prices range from about 15 – 52 THB per ride depending on distance, or you can get an all day pass) – To avoid any hassle and not have to deal with sitting in traffic, taking the BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro are your best options. The train lines are not hugely extensive yet, but they will get you to most central districts of Bangkok.
• Chao Phraya River Boat  (Open hours: About 6 am – 7 pm, Price is 15 THB on orange flag local boat, and 40 THB per ride on the yellow flag tourist boat) – For getting to Khao San Road and the Grand Palace area, the Chao Phraya Express Boat is highly convenient. You can catch the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station which connects with the pier to take the boat.
• Taxi (and Uber ) – Local taxis in Bangkok are very affordable and can be either very convenient, or full of hassles. For one thing, traffic in Bangkok can be horrible at times, and for another thing, some taxi drivers are not always honest and occasionally overcharge foreigners. Just make sure your taxi driver uses the meter (the meter should ALWAYS be used), and it’s a good idea to know where you’re going, and follow along on your phone gps so you can make sure you’re going in the right direction. An alternative from taxis is UberX (click this link to get a free ride), which my wife and I use in Bangkok quite frequently.

Alternatively, you can always jump in a local bus, a tuk tuk, or on the back of a motorbike to get around Bangkok as well. However, I would personally use the above three methods if possible, which will get you just about everywhere you need to go in central Bangkok.

Is it safe to travel to Bangkok?

For the size and busyness of Bangkok, the city is in my opinion quite safe to visit.

However, I would never say that Bangkok is an extremely safe city (I’d never say that about any city), because it’s always possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, even in the safest statistical place on earth.

Bangkok has unfortunately been in the news on more than a few occasions for malicious acts and uprisings, but these actions do not reflect the overall friendliness and peacefulness of Bangkok and its residents.

Here are a few tips for keeping safe when visiting Bangkok:

• Walking around – While theft is not extremely common in Bangkok, it does happen occasionally, especially things like bag snatching and mobile phones. It’s a good idea to not be walking down a busy street using your mobile phone, and do be aware of your hand bag or back pack when walking down a road or in a busy area.
• Scams – Many of the scams in Bangkok are not harmful, but just waste your time and maybe money. One example is a tutk tuk drivers outside the Grand Palace telling you it’s closed today, and that they will kindly take you somewhere else. For the most part, researching attractions and places to go, and knowing your facts and information, and then thinking before you make any decisions, can avoid most scams. Also, if any tuk tuk driver offers you a ride for 10 THB ($0.28) or something ridiculously low like that, you can assume there’s some kind of scam involved. Do your research, don’t act fast (think about it), and usually you can avoid many of the common scams in Bangkok.
• Night time – A majority of crime happens in Bangkok at night, especially around nightlife areas. So use extra caution when going out at night, and especially venturing into Bangkok nightlife districts. If you’re with a couple friends, it’s better than going by yourself.

I’ve included lots more Bangkok safety tips in my full Bangkok guide eBook .

Prices and Expenses

In comparison to many of the other major Asian cities , Bangkok still remains a somewhat budget destination, and I think the value you get for what you pay for – when it comes to hotels, food, and attractions – is still very good.

However, Bangkok is a major international city, and although you can travel on a budget, it’s also easy to spend a fortune if you want.

Here’s a quick sample cost of how much you’re likely to spend in Bangkok:

Accommodation:

• Hostel: $6 – $15 USD per bed
• Mid-range hotel: $25 – $80 USD per night
• High end – For anything over $80 USD per night, you can expect a very nice place

Transportation:

• Train ride in the city: 15 THB – 52 THB ($0.34 – $1.48) per ride depending on distance
• Taxi: 50 THB – 100 THB ($1.42 – $2.84) for a short ride, 100 THB – 200 THB ($2.84 – $5.68) for long ride
• Bus ride: 8 THB – 20 THB ($0.23 – $0.57) depending on bus
• Simple street food meal: 30 THB – 50 THB ($0.85 – $1.42) per plate
• Local restaurant: 100 – 200 THB ($2.84 – $5.68) per person
• Indoor restaurant: 150 – 300 THB ($4.26 – $8.52) per person
• High end restaurant: 300 – 1000 THB ($8.52 – $28.40) per person
• Drink at a bar: 100 – 200 THB ($2.84 – $5.68)
• Coffee at coffeeshop: 80 – 150 THB ($2.27 – $4.26)
• Big bottle of water: 14 THB ($0.40)

Overall budget:

• Budget: $20 – $40 USD per person per day
• Mid-range: $40 – $60 per person per day
• High end: $60 – $150 per person per day

This is just an average guide. Of course you could get away with spending less or a lot more, all depending on your choices and your traveling style, or even what type of holiday you’re having in Bangkok.

That being said, no matter what level of budget you’re on, I think Bangkok offers very decent value for money traveling.

Bangkok Travel Videos

The following playlist is from my 2 Weeks in Bangkok series , where my wife and I took 2 full weeks and visited as many attractions and ate at as many restaurants in Bangkok as we could in that time.

It’s a 15 day Bangkok food and travel guide video series:

Also, you can check our my YouTube channel for lots videos about Thai street food and travel: https://www.youtube.com/user/migrationology

Bangkok is without doubt one of the greatest cities in the world to visit if you love to eat.

In this “food lover” focused Bangkok travel guide, you’ll find tips about transportation, personal recommendations for where to stay, a concise list of top attractions (only if you have time in-between eating), and most important of all, information about Thai street food and restaurants.

If you’re traveling to Bangkok with a purpose to eat, I hope this Bangkok Travel Guide for Food Lovers will offer you helpful tips and details, so you can maximize the delicious food you eat during your trip!

You’ll have an amazing time in Bangkok!

Thank you for reading this Bangkok travel guide resource page.

If you’re interested in learning more about Bangkok, check out my Bangkok eBook , which includes information on attractions, hotels, safety, and food, and also my Eating Thai Food Guide , if you’re serious about eating delicious Thai food!

Have you been to Bangkok? Or are you planning to visit?

Leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you now!

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Best Of Bangkok, A Food-hopping Tour Like No Other!

Thailand's most favorite food tours since 2011

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As recommended by 99% of TripAdvisor users

Eat Like Thais Do

Discover and tour the top-secret food spots favored by locals in Bangkok and eat like the Thais do! Our food gurus will be your guides in our join-in and private tours, unraveling the mysteries of Thai dishes and the local food scene. You'll be a Thai food aficionado in the blink of an eye, and we promise, it's a tasty adventure!

Meet & Greet Your Chefs

Step into restaurants, which are multi-generational businesses with rich family legacies. Here, you'll mingle with passionate chefs and proud owners, all eager to share their heartwarming tales of tradition and taste.

Hassle-free Experience Throughout

Reserving your spot is a breeze, just a few clicks away. Your adventure awaits worry-free, with no haggling over prices or language barriers to slow you down on your join-in or private food-hopping tour in Bangkok.

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Experience The Real Flavors Of Bangkok

Embark on the ultimate Bangkok culinary adventure with our exclusive join-in and private food tours in Thailand. Our Bangkok culinary tour package is your passport to uncovering the city's gastronomic treasures.

Delight in delectable dishes while our seasoned guides reveal the rich tales behind beloved local eateries and their iconic recipes. Along the way, savor not only food but a taste of history, culture, and tradition. Each Thai food tour package features a mouthwatering array of tastings, generously satisfying your cravings for both lunch and dinner. From Thai specialties to ethnic delights, and renowned street food stalls to historic fine dining establishments, we've got your taste buds covered.

With an abundance of culinary delights awaiting you, our mission is to make it easy. Let us be your compass, guiding you to the most exquisite dishes and connecting you with the finest local chefs in town. We handle the planning; you get to explore, savor, and relish in this foodie dream come true!

What people say about us

"If you want to experience the best of Thai cuisine then this tour is an absolute must, it's converted us to the delights of street food..."

— BritishTraveller123, TripAdvisor

"This was one of the best food tours we have ever experienced. Our tour guide was great and cery knowledgable..."

— parraazu, Viator

"The itinerary they made was so good. The food in each place was so delicious. We are so craving for the lotus & those giant shrimps again..."

— AngeliLM, TripAdvisor

"Highly recommended the tour and the company. Very personal, easy to book, met up with Nuch without an issue..."

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"The best way to get off the tourist track and visit local markets and experience a totally different side to Bangkok!"

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Bucket List Worthy: Exploring Thai Floating Markets

• January 16, 2024

No trip to Thailand is truly complete without basking in the unique charm of the floating markets around Bangkok! Enter Bangkok Food Tours, your culinary tour guide, celebrated for our top-notch service by throngs of delighted foodies. Let us whisk you away on an extraordinary adventure with one of our day tours in Bangkok, “Offbeat Floating Markets Food Tour.” Embrace the unique charms of three Thai floating markets where you can enjoy fresh produce and traditional local delicacies. We even sneak in a visit to the renowned Mae Klong Railway Market, where a train astonishingly zips right through the marketplace! These floating markets, a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Thailand, are prized for tantalizing seafood dishes, made fresh by local cooks. Relish the array of mouth-watering treats, some sizzling right on the boats! What to Expect The tour is approximately 6 to 7 hours long and starts bright and early to catch the markets at their liveliest. It’s ideal for small groups for an intimate experience and is suitable for all ages, including children. Our tour package includes all food tastings, boat rides, a local guide, and round-trip transportation. For the best experience, be sure to wear comfortable clothing and bring your camera and an appetite for when you explore these attractions: Amphawa Floating Market A true gem of a floating market in Samut Songkhram, Amphawa is renowned for its quaint charm and old wooden shops. As you glide through the canal, expect to see houses on stilts and vendors selling an array of traditional Thai food and handicrafts. The market’s vibrant evening atmosphere is enhanced by the aroma of grilled seafood, such as prawns, squid, and shellfish, making it a culinary adventure. Bang Noi Floating Market This market near Amphawa presents a more traditional and historical experience, having been an important trading spot along the Mae Klong River. Bang Noi is less crowded and more relaxed, allowing a genuine glimpse into the past. The old wooden houses and shops that line the waterways add to its charm, offering a picturesque backdrop to your exploration. Tha Kha Floating Market This market is considered to have preserved its authentic, local quality and is less frequented by tourists. However, Tha Kha lets you experience a floating market in a more traditional village setting. This market, active for a few days around the lunar calendar, offers a quieter and more serene experience. Local vendors paddle their small boats, selling products ranging from local farm produce of vegetables and fruits to humble, home-cooked meals. Mae Klong Railway Market A highlight feature of our tour is the visit to the Mae Klong Railway Market or Hoop Rom. Marvel at the sight of a train passing swiftly through the market at designated times, with vendors deftly moving their goods and awnings to make way. This unique phenomenon showcases the vibrancy of Thai markets and the adaptability of the local people. Reasons to Visit Thai Floating Markets A Culinary Adventure Thai floating markets are culinary hotspots where you can indulge in a wide range of local dishes, from fresh seafood to sweet Thai desserts. Visitors will get to experience authentic Thai street food in its most traditional form, with dishes and delicacies prepared right on the boats. A Cultural Immersion A visit to a local floating market is a feast for your taste buds, as well as a closer glimpse into the local way of life. As you weave through waterways, you’ll see local vendors on wooden boats adorned with vibrant produce, easily a living postcard of Thailand. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Thai lifestyle and the historical significance of these markets as a central hub for communities to engage in trading and commerce. Our floating market food tour includes a serene rowboat ride into an orchard showcasing traditional coconut palm sugar production. Visitors will surely be swept up by the nostalgic ambiance of the markets, with the traditional flavors of local Thai cuisine among the sturdy wooden shops and homes taking you on a time-travel journey to the 1960s. A Shopping Experience Thai floating markets are ideal for purchasing local handicrafts, fresh produce, and unique souvenirs. By shopping and eating at these markets, you contribute to the local economy and support small vendors in the community. It’s also a great opportunity to have genuine interaction with the locals. Floating markets are enjoyable for visitors of all ages and are a family-friendly experience. Join Bangkok Food Tours and tick off this incredible experience from your Thailand bucket list. Book your day tours in Bangkok today and prepare for a trip that’s as uniquely flavorful and colorful as it is unforgettable! Take a moment to dive into this reel; see what it’s like to experience authentic Thai food and culture in the floating market

Uncover Yaowarat’s Best Thai-Chinese Street Food Spots

• December 7, 2023

Welcome to Yaowarat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown, widely regarded as one of the city’s best epicenters for Thai and Chinese street food. Renowned for its neon-lit streets, it’s a common sight to see long queues forming as the evening settles in. These queues are filled with eager foodies, all patiently waiting for their chance to savor the distinct flavors offered by the numerous unique restaurants that Chinatown boasts. In this blog, we’ll guide you through a tantalizing tour of Chinatown’s most celebrated culinary stars. Culinary Stars in Bangkok’s Chinatown Bangkok Chinatown’s streets are lined with street food that has carved a niche in the hearts of locals and tourists alike. Here’s a sneak peek at some of these gems: Guay Jub Ouan Pochana (Bib Gourmand): A landmark for over 50 years, this stall, located in front of China Town Rama Cinema in Yaowarat, is a hotspot for those seeking authentic Thai street food. It’s best known for its ‘Guay Jub’ – traditional rolled rice noodles in a hot, peppery broth. The soup’s intense peppery flavor is said to be so strong that it could clear a blocked nose, offering a unique experience for first-timers. Khao Phad Pu Chang Phueak (Bib Gourmand): Located opposite 142 Yaowarat Road, this Thai street food cart is a go-to place for fried rice lovers. Their signature dish, Khao Phad Pu – crab fried rice, is praised for its slightly oily texture, a hallmark of good fried rice, and the generous, well-prepared chunks of crab meat that require no tedious shell or bone picking. The dish is further enhanced by a smokey aroma and topped with fresh coriander, complementing the crab meat. Lim Lao Ngow (Bib Gourmand): With over 60 years in the business, this family-run eatery boasts several branches, but the original location is in Chinatown. They are celebrated for their bouncy fish balls, made from fresh fish without added flour, and served with Chinese noodles and wontons. The fish balls leave a joyful aftertaste, living up to their reputation. Nai Ek Roll Noodles (Michelin Plate): From a pushcart in Chinatown, Nai Ek has evolved over half a century into a Michelin Plate-recognized eatery. The highlight here is the aromatic black pepper soup used for the Guay Jub, with minced garlic and coriander giving it an extra edge. Their menu includes various pork dishes, including entrails, blood soup, and crispy pork. The crispy pork belly, deep-fried to ensure a crunchy skin, is a star dish here. Pa Tong Go Savoey (Michelin Plate): This eatery specializes in Chinese-style fried doughnuts, known for being fried to perfection. These doughnuts make a delightful snack while exploring Chinatown’s vibrant streets. Bangkok Food Tours: Your Gateway to Chinatown’s Delights Craving more? Join Bangkok Food Tours on one of our crowd-favorites, the Yaowarat Street Food Tour, for a private or join-in adventure. This experience is perfect for anyone ready to dive deep into Chinatown’s culture and Thai and Chinese street food flavors in Yaowarat. Let The Tour Begin! Our taste adventure starts with a leisurely stroll from Hua Lamphong MRT station to our first delightful stop: fish balls in pink noodle soup near the Golden Buddha Temple. This local favorite dish offers a unique blend of tender fish balls in a visually striking pink broth. We then meander through the heart of Chinatown to savor some scrumptious Dim Sum, each bite-sized piece bursting with various flavors. Next on our menu is the Michelin-starred Chinese fried dough, a crispy, golden treat that will make your taste buds dance with joy! Seafood lovers will be thrilled with our next stop, where we’ll enjoy the freshest, most succulent seafood cooked to perfection. For those seeking a more adventurous taste, we offer pig organ soup, a traditional Thai delicacy rich in flavor. If you prefer something more familiar, the crispy pork in a zesty broth is equally tantalizing. We round off our tour with a duo of desserts: creamy ice cream followed by sesame dumplings in sweet ginger tea, offering a warm, comforting finish to our food adventure. Finally, after this feast of flavors, we’ll either walk you back to Hua Lamphong MRT station or arrange for a taxi or Tuk Tuk to take you home, ending your unforgettable journey through the heart of Thai-Chinese street food culture on Yaowarat Road. A Hassle-Free Experience From Start to Finish To ensure a seamless experience, we provide: An experienced and friendly licensed tour guide. Over ten dishes and drinks, as mentioned in the itinerary. Accident insurance for peace of mind. A Bangkok dining guide pamphlet to further explore the city’s culinary delights. Ready For A Feast? Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the iconic street food feast on Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road with Bangkok Food Tours. Browse our website for our full list of curated adventures throughout Bangkok and beyond to ensure you dine like a local and soak up every flavor the city offers. Booking with us is your ticket to a whirlwind of taste, culture, and history. It’s a journey that takes you beyond the guidebook right into the heart of Bangkok’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Contact us today for a join-in or private tour – we look forward to dining with you!

Slurping Through Thailand: Top Thai Noodle Dishes To Try!

• November 27, 2023

Welcome to the street food capital of the world – Thailand! An integral part of the Thai street food scene here is the endless variety of noodles dishes available. These strands of yum are more than just food – they amalgamate cultures, traditions, innovation, and oh-so-good flavors. However, with this many choices available, it can feel overwhelming. Let’s start with our top five recommended popular Thai noodle dishes for you to explore. Top 5 Popular Types Of Thai Noodle Dishes 1. Goong Ob Woon Sen Imagine a dish where delicate glass noodles meet the succulence of whole shrimp. That’s Goong Ob Woon Sen for you! Traditionally cooked in clay pots, this popular Thai noodle dish features tiger prawns or freshwater shrimps harmoniously blended with soy sauce, peppercorns, coriander, and ginger. Some versions might surprise you with bacon, oyster sauce, garlic, or other tantalizing herbs and spices. A Chinese culinary influence is evident, but today, this dish is a star of Thailand’s seafood cuisine. 2. Yam Wun Sen For our next stop, enter Yam Wun Sen, a salad that’s like a refreshing cool breeze on a hot day. This glass noodle salad has bright, zesty flavors and a delightful crunch. It mixes glass noodles, fried garlic, cilantro, chili peppers, dried shrimp, and more, dressed in lime juice and fish sauce. Adding ground pork or beef turns it into a protein-rich feast. This popular Thai noodle dish is typically enjoyed cold or lukewarm and is a summer favorite in Thailand. 3. Khao Soi Northern Thailand’s creamy dream, Khao Soi, is where coconut meets curry in a divine soup. This type of Northern Thai noodle dish is a medley of influences, featuring a slightly spicy broth with coconut milk and red curry paste. Served with flat egg noodles and a choice of meats like chicken, beef, or pork, it’s garnished with crispy fried noodles and fresh cilantro. Accompanied by lime, pickled cabbage, shallots, and chilis, each spoonful will have you going wowza! 4. Yen Ta Fo You may have spotted these colorful, bright pink noodle bowls on street stalls during your explorations in Thailand – they are hard to miss! Yen Ta Fo is a visual and gastronomic delight. This pink noodle soup is vibrant thanks to fermented red bean curd, promising a delightful array of flavors and textures. It contains different noodles in a rich chicken or pork broth, topped with fish balls, squid, shrimp, tofu, and water morning glory, making it a hearty and satisfying main course. 5. Pad Thai Saving the poster child of popular Thai noodle dishes for last – your noodle tour will be incomplete without the famous Pad Thai! This national dish, born from a quest for culinary identity, is a stir-fried marvel combining rice noodles, tofu, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, and eggs. With chicken or pork, it’s a dance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. The textures, history, and taste – Pad Thai is quintessential Thailand on a plate. However, these five types of Thai noodle dishes are merely a drop in the ocean among the actual number of varieties available on the Thai food scene. Worry not – this is where Bangkok Food Tour comes in. Why Choose Bangkok Food Tours? Imagine having friends in Bangkok who know all the best food spots – that’s us! Our tours are all about guiding you through the city’s vibrant Thai food scene with a big smile and a sprinkle of fun. Make memories that’ll stick with you longer than sticky rice! Join us for Thai food adventures on our tours like the “Historic Bangrak Food Tasting & Culture Tour” or hop onto a “Yaowarat Street Food Tour” that’s as thrilling as a dash of chili in your Tom Yum! Whether you’re up for a cozy private tour or want to mingle in a join-in tour, we promise a delicious journey. Our enthusiastic team of food lovers and local experts can’t wait to show you around. We’ll ensure you eat, explore, and enjoy Bangkok just like the locals do – with an open heart and an appetite for adventure. The Great Noodle Expedition Awaits Ready to try all the different types of popular Thai food and noodle dishes? Book your unforgettable food journey now and prepare to be amazed. See you on the streets of Thailand!

• The 21 Best Thai Dishes...

The Best Dishes to Eat in Thailand

Thailand is world-famous for its mouthwatering cuisine and for good reason, and is famous for its rich Thai food culture. Come and explore the flavours of the Land of Smiles by eating your way through our list of the best dishes this foodie nation has to offer. We will tell you what to eat in Thai cuisine, you just have to find the places to eat in Thailand. Warning: You’ll be coming back for more.

Hungry for a taste of Thai food? You’ll find top foodie experiences on either of our 10-day trips to Northern Thailand or Southern Thailand to tempt your taste buds.

Guay Teow (Noodle Soup)

Guay teow is arguably one of the most popular Thai dishes and can be found almost everywhere. Guay teow describes any type of noodle soup. It can be made with chicken, pork, or beef (rarely vegetarian-friendly) as well as either rice noodles or egg noodles. Most of the time, vendors also add wontons or meatballs to the broth. The dish is best topped with a selection of condiments including, sugar, dried chilli peppers, lime juice, and fish sauce. Guay teow can be eaten at any time of day and is particularly good as a late night snack.

This iconic bowl of steaming goodness is bold, aromatic and comes with a fairly strong spicy kick. Tom yum goong is created with quintessential Thai ingredients like lemongrass, chilli, galangal, kaffier lime leaves, shallots, fresh lime juice and plenty of fish sauce. Fresh prawns and mushrooms are added and coconut cream if you want the creamy version.

Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)

Tom kha gai is related to tom yum and offers people with a lower tolerance to spice the opportunity to have a taste of beautiful Thai flavours. Besides the spice scale, Tom kha gai is also unique in that it typically comes with lots of creamy coconut milk creating a rich sweet soup. Like most Thai foods, vegetarian options are easily adaptable by substituting a few ingredients.

Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)

Som tam hails from Isaan in Northeastern Thailand and is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand. Som tam comes in a variety of styles, however, the classic som tam consists of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, peanuts, dried shrimp, runner beans, palm sugar, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and plenty of chillies. The ingredients are mixed together using a mortar and pestle, which amplifies the flavours into a super moreish dish.

Yam Pla Dook Foo (Fried Catfish with Green Mango Salad)

‘Fluffy’ and ‘crispy’ might be the best words to describe this dish. Catfish is fried in teeny tiny pieces (read “blown up”) creating an airy, fluffy and scrumptious fish salad. The secret to this dish is the pairing of the crispy fish with sweet, sour and spicy green mango salad. This dish is one of the best foods in Thai that is enjoyed as an appetizer with a group of friends or as a beer snack.

Yam Talay (Spicy Seafood Salad)

This mixed seafood salad is not only delicious but is also a healthy meal option. Depending on where you are, this salad can have any combination of squid, shrimp, mussels, scallops or crabmeat in it. Added to the seafood medley are tomatoes, onions and rice glass noodles for good measure.

Laab (Spicy Salad)

Laab is a northeastern-style salad with meat or mushroom and mint which originates in the northeastern province of Isan. Laab comes in a variety of styles including chicken, pork, and mushroom. It is not recommended for those who can’t handle spice as it tends to come with a hefty kick.

Pad Phuk Tong (Stir-Fried Pumpkin)

Stir-fried pumpkin or “pad phuk tong” is one of the best vegetarian-friendly dishes in the Land of Smiles. While it is more difficult to find than a good helping of pad thai , you should definitely be on the lookout for this dish. Order it with a plate of brown rice if available and you’ll be laughing.

Pad Thai (Thai Style Fried Noodles)

Pad thai is one of Thailands national dishes and is a go-to for tourists who are starting out their Thai cuisine exploration. Pad thai is a fried noodle dish which is usually made with shrimp or chicken, however, the vegetarian option is popular too. Pad thai is available on almost every corner that serves street food and is a cheap and tasty meal.

Pad See Eiw (Thick Noodle Dish)

This dish consists of wide rice noodles which are stir-fried in thick dark soy sauce with chicken, pork, or beef as well as either Chinese broccoli or cabbage. A flavorful but safe choice, it’s an excellent option for those who can’t handle spicier Thai dishes but want to branch out from pad thai. Foodies who like a little more kick can add dried chilli flakes, vinegar, or both.

Pak Boong (Morning Glory)

Pak boong (morning glory) is known for being extremely healthy. This spinach-like vegetable is typically fried and seasoned with soybean paste, soy sauce, garlic, chillies and more. Morning glory is salty, spicy, sour and crunchy all at the same time, satisfying anyone’s palette. This dish is often made with oyster sauce, however, the vegetarian option can easily be prepared.

Khao Pad (Fried Rice)

Khao pad is maybe comparable to England’s love of sandwiches – consumed on mass khao pad is a Thai go-to. Khao pad simply translates to “fried rice” and is just that with some egg, onion and that’s about it. The dish usually comes with slices of cucumber to garnish and plenty of condiments are usually dumped on top to suit the consumer’s taste.

Pad Krapow (Fried Basil)

Pad krapao usually is made using minced pork or chicken (it’s also great with tofu) which is stir-fried with Thai basil and plenty of chillies. Pad krapow is definitely not a dish for picky eaters: The Thai basil has a very sharp, peppery flavour, while the chillies add a hefty dose of spice. You can always take the heat down a notch by asking the vendor to make it “ pet nit noi ” (only a little spicy). The dish served with white rice and topped with an oozing running friend egg “kai dao” which blends through the rest of the dish for an unforgettable taste sensation.

Panang (Thai Curry)

Panang curry is a bit milder than its other curry counterparts in Thailand. It is for this reason that it remains a popular dish amongst tourists who are remaining in the spicy “safe zone.” Panang curry typically is served with shrimp, although vegetarian options are popular too.

Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)

Originating from central Thailand, green curry is the spiciest of them all, with a perfect balance of sweet from the added coconut milk. Green curry is made from some of the most mouthwatering ingredients, including fresh green chillies, ginger, eggplant, and, of course, plenty coconut milk. Eat with lots of steamed rice to bring down the spice level.

Khao Soi (creamy coconut curry noodle soup)

Arguably the quintessential northern Thai dish, Khao soi is a Burmese-inspired coconut curry noodle soup. Available in chicken, beef, pork or vegetarian options, this mouthwatering dish has a rich coconut curry base, boiled egg noodles and is garnished with deep-fried crispy egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime and ground chillies fried in oil. Khao soi should be on every travellers’ ‘must eat’ list in northern Thailand with Chiang Mai being considered the khao soi mecca.

Gai Tod (Fried Chicken)

Fried chicken may not be a uniquely Thai dish, but it’s extremely popular in Thailand. Gai tod is typically prepared by marinating chicken wings or drumsticks in a blend of spices and rice flour before deep frying the whole mixture. To add a little extra flavour, the chicken is also often served with a spicy dipping sauce like “ nam jim.” Gai tod is best eaten with sticky rice and makes for a perfect on-the-go snack.

Pad Phak (Fried Vegetables)

This Thai classic will leave vegetarians and carnivores alike full and content. Most Thai dishes attempt to combine as many flavours as possible to make the most noteworthy dishes, and stir-fried vegetables are no exception. It’s worth not underestimating the flavour of these fried vegetables as they are mixed with a perfectly harmonious blend of sugar, salt and spices.

Kai Med Ma Muang (Chicken with Cashew Nuts)

Kai med ma muang is loved by locals and foreigners alike. This sweet and flavourful dish is stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, soy sauce, honey, onions, chillies, pepper, mushrooms, basically whatever vegetables the chef has on hand. Simple, yet very tasty.

Kai Jeow (Thai Omelette)

Kai jeow is one of the simplest Thai dishes but is a great protein-rich quick meal on the go or accompanying dish. Kai jeow is usually served on rice and served with sweet chilli sauce. Ask for “kai jeow pak” if you would like some vegetables added to your Thai omelette. If you’re new to Thailand and haven’t embraced “jok” (Thai rice soup) for breakfast, kai jeow can be a great way to start your day.

Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sticky Rice)

Looking for dessert? Look no further than the all-time crowd pleaser of mango and sticky rice. Kao niew ma muang is simple but extremely delicious, made with sticky rice, fresh mango slices, and lashings of sweet condensed milk.

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12 essential food and drink experiences to try in Thailand

Feb 23, 2024 • 7 min read

Known for its aromatic ingredients, piquant flavors and razor-sharp spices, Thai cuisine ranks among the top culinary traditions in the world © AlivePhoto / Shutterstock

Food alone is a worthy reason to visit Thailand . Famous for its inimitable melange of aromatic ingredients, piquant flavors and razor-sharp spices, Thai cuisine ranks among the top culinary traditions in the world.

From street-side stalls peddling wholesome, inexpensive meals to fine-dining establishments plating exquisite delectables on par with the world’s best restaurants, Thai food checks pretty much every box on the gastronomic spec sheet, even for the most demanding and discerning foodies.

While no volume of literature would do justice to the diversity of Thai food, the following are some essential experiences that comprise a rite of passage for food lovers plotting their way around Thailand (or simply passing through the capital Bangkok ).

Read more: Local Bites: the best places to eat and drink in Bangkok

1. dig into pad thai, thailand’s "national dish".

Designed as part of a nation-building exercise in the first half of the 20th century, pad thai ( pàt tai ) was conceptualized to represent Thailand on a plate. A wok-fried dish featuring flat noodles, shrimp, beancurd, bean sprouts, spring onions, peanuts, assorted spices and sauces, pad thai brings together everyday ingredients consumed in Thai households across the country.

It is wildly popular with travelers — especially those acquainting themselves with Thai food for the first time. Don't be surprised if you find yourself gorging on nothing but pad thai through your first 48 hours in Thailand. Many others have done just the same before you.

Where to try it:  Thip Samai  and  Baan Phadthai , Bangkok.

2. Earn your stripes with a pad kra pao lunch

After the initial infatuation with pad thai has worn off, most travelers take a cue from locals and graduate to ordering their first pad kra pao (basil stir fry). This is a simple meal of steamed rice topped with spicy, basil-laced minced meat (chicken, pork or beef) and a fried egg.

Pad kra pao is the definitive working lunch for millions of Thai office-goers looking for a quick and filling fix. The regulation pad kra pao comes loaded with bombastic chilis, so let the chef know well in advance if you prefer it on the mild side.

Where to try it:  Phed Mark , Bangkok. 

3. Master your Thai curries by their colors

The hallowed trinity of Thai curries – the spicy red, the piquant green and the aromatic yellow – is perhaps the most recognizable inclusion on any authentic Thai menu around the world. All three can be prepared with a permutation of meats, seafood or vegetables (the green curry lends itself particularly well to a vegetarian rendition).

After you have sampled all three, round off your curry excursion by tucking into a bowl of massaman , an iconic curry from Southern Thailand featuring potatoes and meat in a star anise-flavored gravy.

Where to try it:  Sanguan Sri ,  Paste  and  Krua Apsorn , all in Bangkok.

4. Explore Northern Thailand’s rustic culinary gems

The food in Northern Thailand is a universe of its own, deriving from the traditions of its resident Indigenous communities. While you're there, sample a bowl of the legendary khao soi (fried noodles in creamy soup), snack non-stop on sai oua (spicy pork sausage) and tuck into impossibly flavorful gaeng hung lay (tender pork belly simmered in aromatic red curry).

Where to try it:   Kiti Panit , Khao Soi Khun Yai and  Khao Soi Mae Sai in Chiang Mai . 

5. Sample Southern Thailand’s seafood delicacies

In the quaint urban grid of Phuket Town are a bunch of culinary institutions showcasing the best marine delicacies of Thailand’s ocean-hemmed south, prepared according to the region’s signature recipes.

Served with rice-noodle rolls, crabmeat in yellow curry is a must-try, as are deep-fried whiting flavored with turmeric and the many versions of fried grouper, bass and snapper, served with an assortment of sauces.

Where to try it:  Raya ,  One Chun  and  Tu Kab Khao , all in Phuket.

  6. Raise a late-night toast at a Bangkok rooftop bar

Rooftop watering holes are synonymous with Bangkok’s nightlife. There’s no dearth of options when it comes to choosing a stylish bar situated on a terrace overlooking the city’s skyline, where the cocktails are stiff and delicious, the house beer is chilled to a crisp and the company is cheerful and irreverent.

Many have a smart-casual dress code so make sure you don't turn up in a T-shirt, shorts or flip-flops.

Where to try it:  Above 11 ,  Moon Bar  and Octave , all in Bangkok. 

7. Splurge on a high-end Bangkok dinner

Home to some of the world’s most renowned contemporary chefs, Bangkok is a fine-dining wonderland , where a jaw-dropping number of haute cuisine kitchens jostle for position on best-of lists year after year.

While a single meal at any of these perpetually booked-out places can easily make your wallet lighter by several hundred dollars, the intangible experience of being served by the best names in the business is priceless.

Where to try it:  Gaggan Anand ,  Sühring  and  Sorn , Bangkok. 

8. Enjoy a riverside dinner on the Chao Phraya

If you are a romantic who values ambience as much as food, book yourself a dinner table at a riverside restaurant on the banks of the Chao Phraya. Enjoy a memorable meal while gazing out onto the dark waters of Bangkok’s principal waterway, beaming with a magical glow cast by city lights as it snakes its way through the metropolis. You could also book yourself a dinner cruise, allowing you to savor the electric atmosphere from a boat cruising the placid waters. It’s a quintessential experience without which no culinary adventure in Thailand is complete.

Most restaurants and cruises get booked out days in advance, so grab your spot well ahead of your date.

Where to try it:  Chakrabongse Villas ,  Steve’s Café & Cuisine  and  Asiatique , Bangkok. 

9. Lap up a sweet serving of mango sticky rice

A simple but thoroughly enjoyable serving of sticky jasmine rice, sliced ripe mango, crisp-fried lentils and coconut cream, this balmy dessert provides the perfect balance to close out a spicy Thai meal.

Practical tip for vegetarians with a sweet tooth: this dish makes for a fantastic meal option if you find yourself in a Thai restaurant with a meat-only menu.

Where to try it:  Ban Khun Mae  and  Eathai , both in Bangkok. 

10. Vegetarians and vegans, head to Bangkok

In spite of its robust meat-and-seafood reputation, Thailand’s capital boasts an enduring vegetarian and vegan food culture. To let people know "I’m vegetarian" in Thai you'll need to master " pŏm gin jair"  (for men) or " dì chăn gin jair" (for women).

A selection of stylish Bangkok vegan eateries whip up refreshingly creative meals suitable for global palates and healthy lifestyles, while a formidable line of Indian restaurants belts out iconic vegetarian dishes. The annual Vegetarian Festival – a nine-day celebration of plant-based food, usually held in September or October – is a great time to be in the city  as Chinatown comes alive with innumerable street stalls selling a mind-boggling variety of vegetarian delights.

Where to try it:  Veganerie ,  Bonita Cafe & Social Club  and  Saravana Bhavan , all in Bangkok. 

11. Crunch into the local insect specialties

While the eco-foodies from some parts of the world have begun championing insects as an excellent source of environmentally friendly protein, these creatures have been part of the menu in Southeast Asia for centuries. Normally served with soy sauce and pepper, bamboo worms (rót dòo an) are an excellent beer snack and a good introduction to bug dining. Fried grasshoppers (tak kâ tan)  and crickets (jîng reed)  are also a popular crunchy beer snack: remove the wings and legs before consuming. Silkworms ( nhon măi) are soft and mushy in the center and are normally fried with kaffir-lime leaves. Often used in salads and omelets, red ant eggs (kài mot daeng) are white in color with a sour, lemony flavor for a taste contrast.

12. But wait, there's so much more to try... 

A few more must-try dishes before you leave Thailand include:

Larb: Salad of boiled minced meat (chicken, pork or beef), seasoned with lime juice, crushed rice powder, fish sauce, chili, onion, lemongrass and mint.

Pad see ew: Stir-fried soy-glazed flat noodles with leafy greens, featuring beef, seafood or tofu.

Kor moo yang: Slices of charcoal-grilled pork shoulder, served with spicy sauce.

Seafood spaghetti: A unique Thai concoction of stir-fried spaghetti and assorted seafood in a super-spicy pepper sauce, flavored with kaffir lime leaves. 

Thai coffee: Locally grown organic coffee – particularly from the Chiang Rai highlands – has a loyal fan base across Thailand. You’ll find innumerable cafes in the country’s urban centers serving the beverage in a plethora of different brewing styles and traditions.

This article was first published November 2012 and updated February 2024

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The Ultimate Guide to the Best Food in Thailand

• Last Updated: January 21, 2024

A comprehensive guide to the best food in Thailand.

Thailand is home to one of the most famous cuisines on the planet.

Thai restaurants and Thai dishes are abundant all over the world. But there is nothing quite as special as tasting the traditional food right at the source.

In Thailand’s food culture, the recipes are simple, the ingredients are fresh, and the food is always prepared and served with a smile.

Foodies flock from all over the globe to take a Thai cooking class where they can grind their own curry paste and sprinkle peanuts over their own, homemade Pad Thai.

Travel documentaries often show tourists trying fried scorpions and grasshoppers in the street or sipping fresh coconuts on the beach.

The quality and uniqueness of Thai food is no secret, and the food only adds to Thailand’s list of appealing qualities.

Thailand is very diverse and very cheap, which means there is so much different Thai food to try and it is all affordable.

This article will serve as a guide to the best food in Thailand.

If you’re travelling to Thailand for the first time and asking yourself questions like “What are the best dishes to try? How much does it cost? And what’s the deal with street food?” then this is the article for you.

You’ll also learn about Thai food culture and see some recommendations for amazing places to eat around the country.

READ MORE: Plan your trip to Thailand with our Thailand Travel Guide .

Table of Contents

Thai Eating Habits

The importance of presentation, traditional thai flavours and ingredients, regional differences in thai cuisine, vegan/vegetarian diets in thailand, soup and salad, noodles and stir fry, best street food in thailand, street food, local restaurants, touristy restaurants, high-end restaurants, thailand food culture.

No one loves the delicious and flavourful Thai cuisine more than the Thai people themselves.

Thai food is celebrated by the locals, and any significant events are always supplemented with food.

Because food is so central to Thai culture, there are some specific customs, traditions, and eating habits associated with Thai food that travellers should be aware of.

In Thailand, most meals are eaten family-style. This means a group of family or friends sit around a communal table, order lots of different dishes that everyone can share.

Shoes are usually removed before entering a restaurant or home, and locals often sit on the floor around a low table.

There are plenty of restaurants in Thailand that have normal tables and chairs, but if you are ever invited to a local’s home for dinner you can expect to probably sit on the floor.

Meals are eaten with a fork and a spoon. You usually don’t get a knife, and you use your fork to push rice onto the spoon before taking a bite.

Thais take food presentation very seriously.

Dishes are prepared in an attractive way, and at restaurants and special events, you’ll usually be able to spot some fruit and vegetable carvings.

Carving fruits and vegetables is a highly-respected art form in Thailand, and the designs people can create in a simple melon, cucumber, or carrot are astonishing.

Thai food has plenty of consistent local ingredients that you can find in almost any dish.

Garlic, black pepper, galangal (local ginger), lemongrass, Thai basil, chilli, Kaffir lime, coconut milk, fish sauce, palm sugar, and peanuts are all some of the most common ingredients in Thai food.

At communal meals, locals try to have sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavours on the table.

If you are very sensitive to spice, beware of the frequent use of chilli in Thai food.

When eating out in a restaurant, make it clear that you want “no spice” in your meal (“mai phet” in Thai).

Thai food varies in different parts of the country, so it is helpful to brush up on your knowledge of the country’s geography and how the food changes.

Food in Northern Thailand is the least spicy. The flavours tend to be a bit mild, and dried spices are more common than fresh, intense spices.

Thai food in Central Thailand is the sweetest. Here you’ll find lots of dishes sweetened with coconut milk and palm sugar.

Food in Southern Thailand is the spiciest, and many dishes revolve around seafood.

Despite these regional differences, you can still find all variations of sweet and spicy around the country. Fish sauce is used everywhere, as are the usual spices.

There are also plenty of international communities in Thailand that infuse their own culture into the cuisine.

Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Muslim influences are common throughout the country.

Check out this great cooking class in Phuket if your travels will take you down to the south!

Being a vegetarian in Thailand is very easy.

Lots of the cuisine revolves around rice, noodles, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Tofu is also very common, and there are often menu options for tofu instead of meat in certain dishes.

Being a vegan is a bit more difficult, but it is definitely possible.

Fish sauce and oyster sauce are used in lots of dishes, and egg is often thrown into pad Thai.

Brush up on your Thai language skills so you can ask for dishes without animal products, or just stick to the touristy areas where English is common.  

But in general, tofu curries and veggie stir-fries are very easy menu options for vegetarians or vegans.

Best Traditional Thai Dishes to Try

Now that you understand the basics of Thai cuisine, it is time to dive into the actual dishes. From the delicious mango sticky rice to the hearty panang curry to the spicy tom yum goong soup, there is so much to try.

You should try as many of these as possible throughout your stay in Thailand!

Soups and salads in Thailand are usually small dishes eaten as an appetizer or a light snack.

They are very light and refreshing, though often spicy so keep that in mind if you have a sensitive palate! Lime juice and chilis are often combined for a zesty taste.

Tom Yum Goong: A spicy and sour soup made with fresh lime juice, lemongrass, mushrooms, and shrimp (Tom Yum Goong is the most popular Thai soup!)

Tom Kha Gai Soup: Tom Kha Gai is a rich and creamy soup made with coconut milk and chicken

Som Tam: A spicy green papaya salad made of shredded green papaya, tomatoes, string beans, carrots, peanuts, and a light, sweet and spicy sauce and lime juice

Yam Talay: A spicy but light salad that mixes seafood with tomatoes and thin rice noodles and lime juice

Yum Pla Duk Foo: A salad composed of crispy fried catfish and chilled green mango strips

Combine traditional Thai dinner with a spectacular view in Bangkok !

There are lots of amazing noodle dishes and fried rice dishes in Thailand. Fish sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce, as well as garlic and chili, are almost always used in stir fries.

Rice noodles, egg noodles, and wheat noodles are all common in Thai food. Pad Thai is the most famous option but there are some other less popular Thai food dishes you must try!

Pad Thai: Pad Thai is one of the most famous Thai dishes! Pad Thai is a fried noodle dish that includes bean sprouts, peanuts, spring onions, fish sauce, scrambled egg, and tofu, shrimp, or chicken

Pad See Eiw: A noodle dish with wide, flat noodles and usually beef, chicken or pork with soy sauce

Khao Pad: Khao pad is a classic Thai fried rice. Khao pad is often served with scrambled egg or a fried egg, a few veggies and your choice of meat or tofu

Khao Med Ma Muang: A delicious stir fry with cashew nuts, veggies, soy sauce, and chicken, though you can also get vegetarian cashew nut stir fry as well

Pad Krapow Moo Saap: Stir-fried minced pork or chicken mixed with garlic, chili, and Thai basil served over rice

Thai curry is one of the most flavourful dishes you can get in Thailand.

Locals grind their own curry paste using a mortar and pestle, so the ingredients are fresh and fragrant. Most curries use coconut milk, such as red and green curry and massaman curry. The coconut milk makes them thick and creamy, but not overly intense.

All Thai curries are served with a side of rice, and you can usually choose if you want tofu, chicken, shrimp, pork, or beef as your main protein.

Green Curry: Green curry is the spiciest Thai curry, made with lots of fresh green chilli and usually made with Thai eggplant and coconut milk

Red Curry: Made with red chilli instead of green, red curry is often quite spicy as well and is often topped with Kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil

Massaman Curry: A hearty curry composed of mainly meat and potatoes, with an aromatic sauce including cinnamon, tamarind, and peanuts

Panang Curry: Panang Curry is the sweetest and least spicy of the curries, very creamy and delicious with lots of coconut milk

Khao Soi: Khao Soi is of the most popular Thai dishes in Northern Thailand. Khao Soi is a soup-style curry with crispy egg noodles

READ MORE: Try the best Thai food around the country in these top places to visit in Thailand !

Thai food also has some amazing desserts! Though the savory dishes like Pad Thai, Khao Pad, Panang Curry, and Tom Kha Gai soup are the most iconic dishes, indulge in some delicious sweet treats in Southeast Asia as well.

Kao Niew Ma Muang: Also known as “Mango Sticky Rice”, this simple dessert is just a plate of sweet, thick rice with coconut cream and a side of fresh mango. Mango sticky rice is seriously delicious!

Khao Nom Krok: These are tiny pan-fried coconut pancakes that are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside

Some of the best Thai food is found in the street.

Street food is a huge part of Thai culture. Street markets pop up all over the country where travellers and locals alike can indulge in fresh and cheap local treats.

Some of the traditional Thai dishes listed above are also popular at street markets, like pad thai, papaya salad, mango sticky rice, and fried rice.

But some Thai specialties are more commonly found in the street and aren’t always available in sit-down restaurants.

Here are some quick descriptions of the best street Thai food.

Poh Pia Tod: Fried spring rolls served with sweet chilli sauce

Pa Pia Sod: A lighter alternative to the fried spring rolls, these ones are steamed instead

Cha Yen: Known as Thai iced tea, this sweet drink is made with a mix of black tea, red tea, and sweetened condensed milk, and is served over ice

Kai Jeow: A small omelette served over rice

Itim Kati: Delicious dairy-free ice cream made with coconut milk, usually served in an actual coconut with some of the coconut meat scraped into the ice cream

Satay Skewers: Strips of meat marinated in a flavourful sauce and grilled on a skewer

Kluay Tod: Deep-fried bananas often rolled in coconut flakes and sesame seeds

Fried Critters: Some street markets in Thailand will have fried scorpions, grasshoppers and other creepy critters for the risk-taking tourists to try

Fresh Fruit: Try some of the tropical local fruits, including dragonfruit, guava, mango, papaya, durian, mangosteens, rambutans, lychee and jackfruit

Fruit shakes: Some street vendors have lots of plastic cups filled with different assortments of fruit, where you can pick which cup you want and they’ll blend it with water and ice to make a healthy fruit smoothie

The Cost of Food in Thailand

Generally speaking, Thailand is a very affordable country. You can find delicious, high-quality Thai food for decent prices, regardless of whether you are eating on the street or in a sit-down restaurant.

Here is a brief overview of the cost of food in Thailand.

Similar to most countries around the world, the cheapest place to eat in Thailand is in the street.

Because there is no real customer service or people waiting on you, you are solely paying for the cost of the Thai food and nothing else.

This means you can get amazing local food for dirt-cheap.

At a street market in Thailand, it is very common to find full meals for around 50 or 60 Baht, which is the equivalent of about 2 USD.

Little snacks cost even less. Fruit shakes usually cost 30 Baht (1 USD) and a single spring roll or meat skewer usually costs 10-20 Baht (0.30-0.60 USD).

So if you are travelling on a tight budget, eat most of your Thai food at a street market and you’ll save heaps of money.

BOOK NOW: Join a cooking class in Chiang Mai

Even if you want to sit down and have a meal, local restaurants can sometimes be just as cheap as street food.

Local restaurants refer to the typical hole-in-the-wall, family-run places where there are very few tourists and usually only a handful of menu items.

However, those few menu items are super traditional and not geared towards tourists, and they are usually cooked to perfection.

The average price for a Thai food meal in a small, local restaurant can cost anywhere from 60 to 150 Baht (2-5 USD).

Because Thailand hosts lots of tourists throughout the year, there are plenty of Western-style restaurants selling all the universal dishes.

You can find Italian restaurants, American burger bars, Irish pubs, Japanese sushi joints, Indian restaurants, Greek Restaurants, and plenty of health food cafes.

As these places are geared towards tourists, the prices are on the more expensive side compared to local prices.

But of course, you can also find authentic Thai food restaurants, they just might tone down the spices and up the prices for the tourists.

A Thai food meal in a tourist restaurant can cost anywhere between 100 and 300 Baht (Between 4 and 10 USD).

READ MORE: Plan the perfect trip to Thailand with these 1, 2 and 3-week itineraries .

There are plenty of fancy restaurants in Thailand that are still affordable.

High-quality meals can cost a few hundred Baht, and they will probably taste just as delicious as the super cheap, local restaurants.

But for those who really want a taste of luxury, Thailand has lots of fine-dining restaurants as well.

As you are paying for the highest quality possible, Thai food meals at luxury restaurants can cost up to 1,000 Baht.

This is still only about 30 USD, which is incredibly cheap as far as fine dining goes.

So if you’ve always wanted to dabble in some creative and high-quality cuisine, Thailand is an affordable place to do it.

Best Places to Eat in Thailand

Now that you’ve learned all about the best food in Thailand and how much it costs, here is exactly where to find it.

From mango sticky rice and Thai fried rice, to noodles with fish sauce and garlic and green curry thick with coconut milk, you can find all the best Thai specialities in almost every restaurant.

There are so many incredible restaurants in Thailand that it would be impossible to cover them all, and of course, this list would vary based on personal opinion.

But if you are looking for a little inspiration about where to eat Thai food in various destinations around Thailand, here are some great ideas.

For each major city, you will find an option for street food, and options for budget, mid-range, and high-end restaurants.  

BOOK NOW: Learn to cook traditional Thai in Koh Samui

When you travel to Bangkok, among the many great things to do will be to check out these places to eat.

• Street Food: Khao San Road Night Markets
• Budget: Ran Nai Oo
• Mid-Range: Krua Apsorn
• High End: Eat Me Restaurant

Visiting Chiang Mai is a must. So too is trying these delicious markets and restaurants.

• Street Food: Chang Phuak Gate Night Market
• Budget: Khao Soi Khun Yai
• Mid-Range: Reform Kafé
• High End: Oxygen Dining Room

When you visit Phuket you’re going to want to give these places a try.

• Street Food: Bangla Road Street Food
• Budget: Mor Mu Dong
• Mid-Range: Nam Yoi Restaurant
• High End: Blue Elephant Governor’s Mansion

Krabi has some pretty amazing dining options. Be sure to swing by these places when you visit Krabi.

• Street Food: Krabi Night Market in Chaofah Park
• Budget: Red Chilli Thai Cuisine
• Mid-Range: Kodam Kitchen
• High End: Gecko Cabane Restaurant

When you make it to Koh Samui, checking out these markets and restaurants should be on the top of your list of things to do .

• Street Food: Chaweng Night Market
• Budget: The Hut Cafe
• Mid-Range: Kawin’s Kitchen
• High End: Supattra Thai Dining

READ MORE: Make the most of your trip to Thailand with these Thailand travel tips .

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Gabby Boucher

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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8 BEST Food Tours in Bangkok, Thailand

This post contains product affiliate links. These are mainly on items/hotels/tours that I personally endorse & love. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but at no extra cost to you.

It’s time for the best food tours in Bangkok! From a delicious street food tour to a Thai cooking course like no other, check out these Bangkok food tours!

The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Bangkok are a mix you can’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s a place that’ll set all your senses on fire (literally – the food is mega spicy in Thailand!) That’s why this country is home to some of the world’s best food tours in Bangkok.

For me, it’s the contradictions and contrasts that make Bangkok such an amazing place to visit. I could go from discovering something yummy in a 7-Eleven to munching on a cheap £1 plate of pad Thai on the streets to a sumptuous fine-dining feast with the best views of the city all in a few hours. There aren’t not many places where you can do all of that in a day.

Add in beautiful temples, a bustling nightlife that can rival any and the smiliest people you’ll ever meet and you got the perfect ingredients for one of my favourite cities.

And as you’ll quickly learn from the moment you arrive here, the food really is incredible. You really can’t beat Thai food straight from the source.

Planning a trip to Bangkok? Then check out my guides to the best hotels in Bangkok , what to eat when you’re in the city, and how to celebrate Songkran water festival in Thailand. These guides are packed full of advice and information.

Foodie experiences in Bangkok

From a Bangkok Midnight Food Tour to a trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, there’s an intense mix of flavors in Thailand – spicy, sweet, salty, sour.

Influences have flooded in from all corners of the globe making Bangkok one of the best dining destinations in the world. It’s just so diverse and I love all the food on offer here – even the offal.

Also, it’s generally very cheap to eat in Bangkok, so you can get a lot of bang for your buck. The street food isn’t just cheap, it’s quality too. Think £2 for a bowl of Michelin-starred noodles (yes, this is actually a thing here!)

Personally, I think the best way of getting to know the city is on a food tour. Then you get to see all the city has to offer while trying some local delicacies along the way. And let me say this: you’re in for a treat because there are some amazing food tours to choose from.

If you want to eat your way through the city while getting to know the history and the culture, then these are the best Bangkok food tours for you. Go on any of these tours below and you’re in for an amazing time!

Best Food Tours in Bangkok

1. cooking with poo – cooking class in bangkok.

It’s not often you can say this but I loved cooking with Poo!

Poo has become a bit of a legend in Bangkok. She started from very small beginnings in the backstreets of one of the poorer districts of Bangkok. Learning to cook from her mum, people started flocking to her for her delicious food. These days, almost from nothing, she has built one of the best cooking schools in the city.

This cooking class starts off at 8:30am in the Klong Toey wet market. This is where you’ll pick up your ingredients to cook with for the day. What I loved about this was you actually learned about all the different ingredients straight from the source. Also, it really gives you a connection to the local community too.

From the market we then made our way to Poo’s cooking school. In the small intimate setting of her home, we learned how to make a spicy beef salad, pad Thai and a delicious green curry. It’s easy to say this, but it was genuinely some of the best food I had in Thailand. Everything was so simple to make and so delicious too. It really teaches you about Thai food and flavours. Oh, and every day there’s a different menu too so you can keep on coming back to learn new dishes!

One of the best things about cooking with Poo is a lot of the money goes back into the local community, so you’re actually helping the people living around Poo too.

I really do think this is one of the best Bangkok food tours and I can’t recommend it enough!

Cost: £36/$47 per person. You can find out more about this food tour here .

2. Expique’s Evening Food & Tuk Tuk Adventure

This is another Thailand food tour you just have to do while you’re in the capital.

On this food tour you’ll explore the city in your own little tuk tuk (don’t worry, you have a driver too.) This means you can get to those little places that no one else knows about.

What I loved about this tour was we really went off the beaten path. Our first stop was at a tiny food market followed by a tasty hot pot on the streets surrounded by locals. From them on it was a flavour odyssey as we tried anything and everything under city’s lights.

On this Bangkok street food tour you’ll be like a local visiting the most known landmarks like the Old Town temples and the flower markets all with one major difference – it’s without the crowds that you find on usual tours.

Also, our guide Lek was brilliant at explaining everything we were eating. We even got to try a few interesting things like bugs and tripe. It really shows you what the local delicacies are in Bangkok.

I lost count of how many stops and dishes we tried on this food tour. I think we tried well over 10 different dishes so it really is amazing value for money. Also, your tuk tuk driver will drop you off at your hotel at night afterwards too. Bonus! This really is a Bangkok tuk tuk night food tour like no other.

Expique also offer some of their own cooking courses too that I’ve only heard great things about. These are cooking classes with a twist so well worth checking out.

Cost: £57/$74per adult, £28/$37per child (aged 5-11). You can find out more about this food tour here .

3. Local’s Favorite Dishes: Secret Food Tour of Bangkok

Experience a locals’ favorite dishes on this delicious Bangkok street food tour. Dine with others from out of town and discover food stalls, favorite hidden spots, and experience the cultural history and rich foods the area has to offer.

On this tour you get to journey through different parts of Bangkok. Also, make sure you’re hungry as you’ll eat at 6 different places in the city to experience the true taste of Thailand.

The tour will start off with fresh mouthwatering papaya salad that is slightly spicy and will make your taste buds dance. On the next stop, you’re able to experience all the sweet fruit the country has to offer.

Ever tried fishball noodle soup? It’s now one of my favorites (I really mean that!) Be prepared to eat this dish next to a gorgeous temple while appreciating the colorful and vibrant Chinatown.

Sit down here for a nice Thai-style dim sum soup and end your day at the local pub to taste the local beer and share your experiences with others. So much fun!

Cost: £34/$44 per adult, £30/$38 per 13-17-year-old, £26/$33 per 3-12-year-old. You can find out more about this food tour here .

4. The Ultimate Bangkok Bicycle & Boat Tour

I wanted to go for an all-day adventure so I joined the Ultimate Bangkok Bicycle & Boat Tour. Going out of the city, this explores areas far from typical tourist traps.

You’ll enjoy visual cultural contrasts of Muslim and Buddhism, classic and modern, rural and urban.

We began in Chinatown where for about an hour we wandered through pathways with markets, temples, and a vibrant street life.

After a 30 km train ride, we arrived in eastern Bangkok and rode for about 2.5 hours on the paths through neighborhoods and klongs, again noting the strong contrasts of lifestyles along the way.

Next we enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant and a temple before riding on a tail boat in the canals. This is such a good way of getting around and seeing a lot of Bangkok.

A quick bike ride ended at the BTS station and then we rode through urban Bangkok back to the tour beginning, enjoying the unique neighborhoods along the way.

Cost: £55/$70 per adult. You can find out more about this food tour here .

5. Old Town Bangkok Food Tour

Join this tour for a true culinary adventure in Bangkok’s Old Town, one of the best places to eat in Bangkok. In just a few hours you’ll gain all the knowledge you need on one of Thailand’s local culinary scenes.

At these local spots you’ll get the chance to try things like BBQ-pork buns, roasted duck, red curry, and beyond. But not only will you get to try these dishes, but you’ll also go behind the scenes for a personal, hands-on learning experience. You’ll discover a range of tastes in one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhood.

Sign up for a half-day tour with only a few other visitors. Your Bangkok food guide will introduce you to some of Bangkok’s best chefs who will share their stories and answer any foodie questions you have.

Explore Bangkok’s tastiest neighborhood through abundant samples, street foods, and even fine dining options. You’ll feel like a local in no time!

I think that this 3.5-hour tour is a foodie tourist’s dream. You can pick your favorite spot out of five different locations where you’ll taste over eight delicious culinary delights. But save some room for walking. In between eating you’ll explore hidden neighborhood gems, ancient temples, and some of the local’s favorite spots.

Ever had a Thai green custard bun or the royal recipe for green curry beef and chicken? How about roti? Or Kao-Nha-Ped, roasted duck with rice? Among the many exotic flavors you’ll sample are Som Tam (papaya salad), curry on egg, crisped catfish, coconut ice cream, and iced lemon tea.

Plus as a bonus, you’ll get to try secret dishes available only for the group. It’s a great experience.

Cost: £33/$42 per adult, £26/$33 per child, infants free. You can find out more about this food tour here .

6. Bangkok Chinatown 3.5-Hour Night Food Tour

Do you want a cultural experience that will leave you dreaming of coming back for more? Look no further than the Bangkok Chinatown 3.5-Hour Night Food Tour. During these few incredible hours you will experience Chinatown like never before.

In the 200-year-old Chinatown district, you will experience a variety of foods to satisfy your taste buds. This cuisine ranges from street food vendors to fine dining restaurants. The food will range from herbal teas to sweet treats to satisfying noodle soups. There is no doubt there’s something for everyone on this tour!

In between the 7 delicious food stops on this Bangkok street food tour, you’ll be getting an up close and personal view of the neighborhood. You’ll meet the locals, hear their stories, and develop a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture through religious and symbolic landmarks. For me this is one of the best tours of Bangkok.

Cost: £35/$45 per adult, £28/$36 per child, infants free. You can find out more about this food tour here .

7. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Bangkok Tour at Ratchaburi

Although Venice is famous for its canals and gondolas, Thailand offers the greatest example of a floating market in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market Bangkok Tour at Ratchaburi. This remnant of yesteryear completely charmed me and ensnared my senses with its vibrant colors and enticing scents.

The tour begins at Gardner’s House, where you will learn the process of making coconut sugar. Learning how to husk the coconuts and extract the milk is a fascinating lesson, and at the end it’s possible that you’ll get to taste some of the final product.

After that, it’s straight to the floating market where hundreds of different types of boats bob together on the water. All sorts of things are available to purchase, including a variety of snacks and foods, clothes and fabric, jewelry, and much, much more.

The floating market at Ratchaburi is a great place to view the friendliness and kindness of local Thai people on full display. They are quite welcoming and eager to barter and banter with travelers, so feel free to immerse yourself in the experience!

Cost: £17/$22 per person. You can find out more about this food tour here .

8. Bangkok Dinner River Cruise

The Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise by Grand Pearl Cruise is a must for anyone who wants to experience the romance of Bangkok. Offering unforgettable views of the city, an exquisite buffet of Thai delicacies, and live music and dance, this experience is sure to delight even the most experienced traveler.

The cruise departs from the River City Pier and takes passengers upriver, past the illuminated visages of the Temple of Dawn, Grand Palace, and Temple of the Golden Buddha. Upon return to the pier, a delightful repast is served, including local and international dishes that are seasoned to perfection.

This dinner cruise by the Grand Pearl is truly an experience like no other, and one that is sure to leave one with amazing memories of Bangkok. What a wonderful way to experience this amazing city!

Cost: £37/$47 per adult. You can find out more about this food tour here .

So, out of these Bangkok food tours which one catches your eye? I would love to know which one you’d go on so let me know in the comments below!

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About the Author

Macca Sherifi is the founder of the multiple award-winning blogs An Adventurous World and the Great British Bucket List. Every month he inspires over 200,000 avid readers to travel the world.

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2 thoughts on “8 BEST Food Tours in Bangkok, Thailand”

Was it really that good? Bangkok and any other Asian country has such interesting street food. I think I’m craving it now!

Yeah, these food tours are really great – I’d definitely recommend them the next time you’re in Bangkok!

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Thailand Real Food Adventure

8 days | take a tantalising culinary journey through bangkok and chiang mai.

Indulge in the complex flavours, fresh aromas and heavenly spices that make Thai food so addictive. Explore bustling markets and taste tropical fruits and aromatic dishes whipped up in front of your eyes. Learn the trick behind making palm sugar, experience the thrill of cruising through Tha Kha Floating Market by paddleboat, slurp noodles alongside locals in Bangkok, enjoy some home-cooking with a family in Chiang Mai, sit down to a khan tok feast and tour all the must-see sights of Thailand. This is an incredible culinary journey through one of South East Asia’s most addictive food cultures.

Trip overview

• Learn how to prepare and present the traditional 11-dish Northern Thai speciality khan tok and experience Thai life from a local's perspective at a village homestay.
• See dishes whipped up before your eyes, like kaeng som, spicy fish cakes at a community farm and roti sai mai at a market food stall in Ayutthaya.
• Cruise Bangkok’s floating market on a paddleboat and sail aboard a longtail boat to an island Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya
• Tuck into your favourite iconic Thai dishes and discover new ones along the way: guay-tieo-ruea (boat noodles), roti sai mai, khao soi, som tum, larb and more.
• Dine on a plant-based meal at a Chiang Mai restaurant that sources organic, local vegetables for their daily array of delicious meals.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, EcoThailand Foundation. Donations help educate school children on important environmental issues like climate change, nature appreciation, conservation and sustainability.
• The cuisine of Thailand includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Thailand which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
• This trip includes an overnight train between Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai. Accommodation is simple but comfortable – soft sleeper class multishare compartments with air conditioning and bunk beds, with sheets and a pillow provided.
• There is one night at a homestay on this trip, a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday Thai life. Facilities can be basic and multishare, with fold-out mattresses on the floor and shared bathrooms. The rewards of such an authentic local experience are immeasurable.

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand's capital, Bangkok – famous for its tuk-tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai dishes. Your food adventure begins this evening with an important welcome meeting at 5pm, but Bangkok has so much on offer that you might like to arrive a day or so early to explore: perhaps uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in a Thai massage. After the welcome meeting, head out with your group for dinner at popular restaurant Krua Apsorn. After dinner, explore the area and sample some Thai sweets with your leader and fellow travellers.

• Hotel (1 night)
• Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
• Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After an early breakfast, visit Tha Kha Floating Market. Walk past canals filled with sellers hawking their colourful fruits and wares at this authentic local market, then board a paddleboat to explore the waterways further. The area is well known for coconut palm sugar production and you’ll stop in at a riverside operation to see how it is made. Afterwards, travel back to Bangkok, where you will have a free afternoon to shop, sightsee or simply relax at a cafe. Tonight, head to Chinatown for a walking tour. This is a great place to sample some local street food, so ask your leader for their insight and recommendations. You might also like to join other members of your group to enjoy live music at one of the lively bars in the area.

• Bangkok - Tha Kha Floating Market tour
• Bangkok - Palm Sugar Demonstration
• Bangkok - Chinatown walking tour

After breakfast leave Bangkok and travel by private vehicle to a local village and community farm for an epic day of cooking Central Thai regional specialities and feasting with your hosts. Learn about the age-old agricultural traditions still being practised today and enjoy the freshest ingredients straight from the garden. You will help to prepare a home-cooked lunch of local delicacies, such as kaeng som (green papaya soup), spicy fish cakes and watercress salad with chicken, followed by multiple desserts using ingredients like coconut, rice milk and crispy noodles! Later this afternoon board a longtail boat and cruise the Chao Phraya River to visit a Buddhist temple located on a small, remote island. Head to Ayutthaya city for a free evening to explore and – of course – eat more!

• Ayutthaya - Regional Specialties Cooking Class
• Ayutthaya - Homemade Dessert Making Lesson
• Ayutthaya - Chao Phraya Long Tail Boat Cruise
• Ayutthaya - Wat Niwet Thamma Prawat Visit

Today we explore Ayutthaya, the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai, and once one of the most powerful cities in Asia. Stop by a street food stall for a demonstration and tasting of roti sai mai, a dish synonymous with the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It consists of a thin pancake wrapped around delicious, fine strands of thin-spun cotton candy. Lunch today is a steaming bowl of guay-tieo-ruea, or boat noodles. The Ayutthaya take on this classic combo of fragrant pork broth, roasted slices of meat, Thai-style pork balls, sliced morning glory stalks, fresh green onion and a choice of rice noodles is considered the original and best. While the food is no longer served out of sampans on the river, the narrow rowboats are used as decoration at roadside eateries to indicate what's on the menu. See the remains and reminders of Ayutthaya’s golden age with a guided tour of the picturesque ruins and temples spread across the town. The rows of headless Buddhas at Wat Phra Mahathat, sacked by the Burmese in the 18th century, are very atmospheric, and a Buddha head surrounded by Banyan tree roots is perhaps the most photographed site in all of Ayutthaya. Freshen up at a hotel and grab a bite to eat before boarding your overnight train to Chiang Mai (approximately 13 hours).

• Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
• Ayutthaya - Temple Ruins entrance & guided tour
• Ayutthaya - Roti Sai Mai demonstration & tasting

You will be accommodated in soft sleeper class on the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Multishare compartments have bunk beds with sheets and a pillow provided, as well as air conditioning. Your baggage travels in the carriage with you. There's a food and drink service available on board but you might like to purchase some snacks before the journey.

Arrive in Chiang Mai by mid-morning. The most vibrant city in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has many famous temples and an interesting old city area. Most importantly, Chiang Mai is famous for its Northern Thai cuisine and may well be home to many of your favourite Thai dishes. Lunch today is a plant-based meal at a popular local restaurant that sources organic vegetables from nearby farms for their daily array of delicious meals. Afterwards, take an orientation walk around the streets of the city, stopping at Wat Chedi Luang and enjoying a pick me up at Akha Ama – a social enterprise created by a member of the Akha tribe who wanted to highlight the produce of his community and provide an income source to its coffee growers. Take time to relax and refresh before an included dinner at a local restaurant. If you’re keen to explore further, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar beckons, full of local handicrafts and fabulous Northern street food dishes.

• Chiang Mai - Wat Chedi Luang entrance
• Chiang Mai - Leader-led Old Quarter orientation walk
• Chiang Mai - Coffee stop

Today you’ll travel to a small Thai village where you’ll meet Aoi, your gracious host for an incredible overnight homestay experience. On the way to Aoi’s village, stop for lunch at a restaurant specialising in the local delicacy of fermented rice noodles. Next, visit some local producers – including a mushroom farm where you'll pick up ingredients for a Northern Thai cooking class. Over the years, a khan tok dinner has become the traditional way to welcome guests in Northern Thailand, with the term ‘khan tok’ meaning both the meal and the raised tray on which it’s served. Eleven dishes are featured on this delicious khan tok menu, so cut, chop and sizzle the day away, then tuck into dishes like nam prik ong (chilli paste with tomatoes), deep fried vegetables, hung leh (curry) and mushroom larb (spicy mushroom salad). Enjoy the fruits of your labour against a backdrop of local musicians singing and dancing.

• Homestay (1 night)
• Homestay - Khan Tok Cooking Class

You can leave your main luggage at the Chiang Mai hotel and pack an overnight bag for the homestay. As we will be staying in a traditional rural community, please be mindful to pack and wear conservative dress. The accommodation tonight is multi-share and basic, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Beds are fold-out mattresses on the floor and bathrooms are shared.

Wake up and enjoy a sumptuous Northern Thai breakfast of gai tod (fried chicken), fried rice, sweet sticky rice and egg custard. Bid farewell to your homestay hosts and take a scenic, winding drive (1.5 hours) to one of the country's most stunning temple complexes: Doi Suthep. A 300-step naga-guarded stairway leads you to the temples, and the climb is well worth the effort. The hypnotic chanting of Buddhist monks and the sweeping views of the city make for a memorable experience. Head back into town for a delicious lunch of khao soi: a curry noodle dish that is renowned in the region. This afternoon you might like to check out the bustling Warorot Market (Kad Luang). One of Chiang Mai’s largest markets and a thriving social hub, this is the perfect place to get a glimpse into daily life, as well as experience some of the ingredients and snacks unique to the regional cuisine. Taste your way through the stalls and be sure to try sai ua (Chiang Mai sausage) or bamboo worms.

• Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep Temple Visit

There are no activities planned for today, and your delicious Real Food Adventure comes to an end this morning. You are free to leave at any time, but this doesn’t mean your own adventure has to end! If you would like to spend more time in Chiang Mai, we’ll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Private Vehicle, Boat, Overnight Train, Songthaew

Hotel (5 nights), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night), Homestay (1 nightt)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Overnight Train) and Day 6 (Village Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Please note that some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested. 2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip. 3. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 5pm on Day 1 in Bangkok. This trip ends on Day 8 in Chiang Mai and you are free to leave at any time.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Welcome to Thailand

From exotic destination to tourists’ darling.

First, the backpackers came. Then, groups and groups of travelers arrived, searching for the perfect photos in the blue water archipelagos and the sumptuous religious temples. Tasting the local cuisine has become an attraction apart. With a food culture influenced by different Asian peoples, it is no exaggeration to say that meals in Thailand are almost a trip in itself: in a single bite, you can navigate between savory, sweet, bitter and spicy flavors that will stay in your memory forever.

Discover Thailand

Food & travel guides, taste thailand, book food experiences, authentic thai cooking class and farm visit.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hands-on Genuine Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour

Bangkok, Thailand

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All about thailand, where to stay in chiang mai: best areas and hotels to stay, where to stay in bangkok: best areas and hotels to stay, food & drinks, travel around the world with 20 typical soups, the world’s best rice dishes that will make your mouth water, tom kha gai – thai chicken soup with coconut milk, the unesco creative cities of gastronomy.

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Bangkok Food Guide — 9 Street Food Stalls Most Recommended by Locals

Let’s be real — Bangkok’s street food is the main reason why everyone loves this city.

Ask anyone to name their top three cuisines and chances are, Thai food will be included in the list. The Thais understand flavours really well — you can always expect a good combination of sweet, spicy and sour hints!

It’s flavourful and comforting, a cuisine I’d gladly eat over and over again.

We had the chance to stay in Bangkok for a month (where we even visited Hua Hin on a road trip! ) and got to try several famous street food stalls. To my fellow foodies, here are nine street foods worth making a trip to Thailand for!

1) Jeh O Chula — Thai dishes with a twist

Jeh O Chula  serves up hearty Thai dishes with a twist. It’s popular amongst students, as it’s located near Chulalongkorn University and the queues can go up to a few hours.

Here are the signature dishes you have to try!

The first is Tom Yum Mama Noodles, Thailand’s version of Korea’s army stew. It’s filled with instant noodles, eggs, crispy pork, and tons of seafood — the perfect comfort food. 🤤

Next is the Crispy Pork Belly. I’m not the biggest fan of fatty meat, but I’d readily devour this bad boy on my own.

Lastly, the Yum salmon — glorious salmon sashimi doused in Thai chilli and salad.

*Pro-tip: Book a  set meal on Klook  to reserve a time slot and get priority access. There is no other way to make reservations and waiting times can be up to an hour!

Cost: From ~S$25.90  for a set meal Opening hours:  5:30PM – 11:30PM How to get there:  14min walk from W1 National Stadium BTS station (Silom Line)

2) Lhong Tou Cafe — Tiktok famous dim sum cafe

Photo credit: @nikui via Instagram

We first came across Lhong Tou Cafe on social media. What caught our attention first wasn’t the food, but the restaurant’s unique layout!

I was kinda sad there weren’t any top-floor seats available while we were there, but my disappointment was short-lived after seeing the menu.

They sell these cute dim sum sets (฿299, ~S$11.30) for sharing, plus loads of fun desserts like Thai milk tea cake (฿80, ~S$3) and durian lava buns (฿59, ~S$2.20).

Photo credit: @lhongtoucafe_official via Instagram

The drinks were really Instagram-worthy too! I had a buttery pea lemonade (฿70, ~S$2.60) — a little sweet, but perfect for cooling down in Bangkok’s heat.

Cost: ฿299 (~S$11.30) for a dim sum set Opening hours:  9AM – 8PM How to get there:  3min walk from BL29 Wat Mangkon MRT Station (Blue Line).

3) Jay Fai — Michelin star roadside hawker 

Jay Fai is a Bangkok street food legend. The owner Supinya “Jay Fai” Junsuta is a feisty 73-year-old, decked in iconic ski goggles and a beanie.

She’s gathered numerous accolades over the years, from achieving a Michelin star four years in a row to getting featured in Netflix’s Street Food series. Jay Fai cooks each dish on her own, so expect a long wait.

The main attraction here is the crab omelette (฿1000, ~S$37.80). At almost S$40, it’s not the cheapest street food around. But this thicc dish is stuffed to the brim with crab meat — kinda resembles a burrito more than an omelette!

We couldn’t just order one dish, so we had the goong phad yellow curry (฿1500, ~S$56.80) and phad-kee-mao talay (drunken noodles) for ฿500 (~S$18.90).

We’d recommend booking a table way, way in advance via Instagram . I tried booking in April and found out they were fully booked till July — though walk-ins were accepted.

We made the mistake of arriving 1.5hrs after opening time and had to wait for 3hrs (from arrival to getting our food).

Cost: ~฿800/pax (~S$30/pax) Opening hours: 9AM – 8PM (Wed – Sun), closed Mon – Tue How to get there: 8min walk from BL30 Sam Yot MRT station (Blue Line)

4) Mae Klong Noodles — Spicy pork spine soup 

Photo credit: Mae Klong Noodles

Leng Saap  is a spicy pork spine soup — with pork spines stacked to form a tower of mouth-numbing goodness. At Jodd Fair’s  Mae Klong Noodles , it comes in four sizes, ranging from ฿150 (~S$6) to ฿599 (~S$24.10)! 

We ordered a medium portion which came flooded in chilli and lime. The meat was really tender and not unbearably spicy — my spice tolerance is pretty low so you can trust me on this one.

Cost: From ฿150 (~S$6) Opening hours: 12PM – 12AM How to get there: The nearest BTS station (Asok) is 2.6km away, so we recommend taking a Grab to Jodd Fairs

5) Wattana Panich — 45-year-old beef broth 

You’ve probably heard of Wattana Panich — Bangkok’s famous beef broth that’s been simmering for over 45 years. This street-side restaurant has been run by three generations.

At the end of each day, the soup is reduced and allowed to simmer in a pot. The stock is used as a base for the soup the following day — and they’ve been doing this since the day they opened. That’s years and years of flavour in a single bowl of soup!

The famous Thai beef noodles come with tender braised beef and beef balls. It’s available in two sizes — small (฿100, ~S$3.80) and large (฿150, ~S$5.70) — we ordered small ones.

Besides beef noodles, Wattana Panich also serves braised goat noodles and pad see ew (Thai stir-fried noodles).

Cost: From ฿100 (~S$3.80) Opening hours: 9:30AM – 7:30PM How to get there: 25min walk from E6 Thong Lor BTS station (Sukhumvit Line). Alternatively, take a Grab

6) Jek Pui — Authentic streetside curry rice

Jek Pui is another eatery featured on Netflix’s Street Food series. This streetside curry stall is popular among locals; we arrived 20 minutes after opening time and there were already long queues!

There are no tables here — diners sit on red stools along the red street, curry in hand. You just have to pull out a chair, and raise your hand to order!

We got their best-selling yellow curry rice with pork sausage. Affordable and hearty, it’s easy to see why locals love this.

Cost: ฿60 (~S$2.30) Opening hours: 3PM – 8PM How to get there: 4min walk from Wat Mangkon MRT station (Blue Line)

7) Ung Jia Huad — Hearty basil pork rice

Ung Jia Huad is an unassuming street food hawker in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood. We came here searching for one of my favourite Thai dishes — pad kra pao (basil stir fry).

Fun fact: The owner has been making this dish for around 50 years!

Pad kra pao is a simple dish, yet it’s always a crowd pleaser. I ordered the stir-fried pork with rice, which came with a yummy, greasy fried egg. Chicken is available as well!

Cost: From ฿75 (~S$2.80) Opening hours: 10AM – 4PM, closed on Sun How to get there: 7min walk from E4 Asok BTS station (Sukhumvit Line)

8) Nai Ek Roll Noodle — Kway Chap

Situated along Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road is Nai Ek Roll Noodle , a Bangkok street food stall that’s been around since 1989. It’s known for kway chap and even earned a spot in the Michelin Guide .

We ordered the popular roll noodles soup (฿70, ~S$2.70) which came with all sorts of pork cuts — crispy pork, sliced pork, stomach, liver, kidney and tongue.

They’re also known for their rice dishes, so we tried the braised pork rump with rice (฿60, ~S$2.30). The meat was tender and paired well with salted vegetables.

The deep-fried crispy pork is highly raved about too — do let us know in the comments below if you tried it!

Cost: From ฿70 (~S$2.70) Opening hours: 8AM – 12AM How to get there: 3min walk from BL29 Wat Mangkon MRT Station (Blue Line)

Bonus: 9) Learn to Cook Your Favourite Thai Dishes at Sompong Thai Cooking School

You can’t dabao Bangkok’s street food back to Singapore, but you can take home Thai recipes and some cooking skills! Thai food is one of our favourite cuisines, so we couldn’t resist experiencing a cooking class to fully immerse ourselves in the local food scene.

The class at  Sompong Thai Cooking School  starts with a tour of Wat Khaek Fresh Market, where the instructor shares tips on sourcing ingredients.

The four-course menu is different each day — we went on a Sunday and made chicken red curry, stir-fried tamarind prawns, spicy chicken salad, and mango sticky rice. You also get tot bring home a recipe book with extensive instructions to make your own dishes back home!

Cost:  ~S$52.70 via Klook Class timings:  9.15AM – 2PM, 2:45PM – 7PM How to get there:  10min walk from S4 Saint Louis BTS station (Silom Line)

Tips for Planning Your Bangkok Food Trip

I love Thai food. Just looking at photos of our Bangkok street food adventures induces hunger and has me dreaming about my next trip to Thailand . Before you go forth and embark on your own Bangkok food adventure, here are some tips:

1) Check whether you can book in advance

If you’re visiting Bangkok for a few days, you wouldn’t want to spend three hours queueing for one meal. Popular places like Jay Fai offer reservations, while Jeh O Chula has a “ fast track access ” option on Klook!

2) Go during off-peak hours

Arrive at opening time if you can, or avoid peak lunch and dinner crowds at 12PM – 2PM and 6PM – 8PM.

3) Check out our Bangkok itineraries

Plan your meals and activities by location to save time! Here are some of our Bangkok itineraries to help you get started.

– Epic 8D Bangkok Road Trip Itinerary Under S$900 – Thailand Road Trip Guide: 5 Epic Ideas Under 3hrs from Bangkok – 3D2N Pattaya Itinerary — An Unexpected Adventure 2hrs from Bangkok

What’s your favourite Thai dish in this Bangkok food guide? Share with us in the comments below!

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Explore Bangkok With Food Tours

Experience the thrill and excitement of Bangkok's street foods!

Explore Bangkok with Food Tours

Bangkok Food Tour

Bangkok Tuk Tuk Food Tour

Hello! My name is Worawut Kijsiravej, you can call me Alex if you prefer. I am the owner of Bangkok-based Food Adventure Food Tours. We are a small food tour operator founded in 2019, just a few months before the pandemic hit us hard. Now that business has returned to normal. We are a locally owned business, and our FEO (Food Experience Officer) and I were born and grew up in the neighborhood where we run the tour and everyone is knowledgeable about local foods.

We have been food experts in the area where we run the tour for many years. We’ve worked with a variety of restaurants and caterers to help them create one-of-a-kind menus for our customers. For a few years, I also worked as a food tour guide for a local company. I understand what people want when it comes to food, and I am always able to assist them in finding the ideal place to eat. Before we decided to start our own company in 2019.

We are, however, a small food tour company run by locals. When you book our tour, you are not only supporting local businesses, also the employees and their families. But when you book a food tour with a foreign company, the profits leave our community. Please kindly support local businesses!

We are extremely enthusiastic about food. We have visited many different countries. No matter where we go, we’ll also take a food tour with a local to try out new foods we’ve never seen or tried before. Food can teach us about their culture and history. This is the primary reason we founded a food tour company, allowing our clients to sample different cuisines and discover eateries that are unfamiliar to many tourists.

Our Food Tours & Adventures

Let's foods intimate your adventures with insight into the history and cultures. Every dish has its own origin and story, you will get to try the very authentic Thai street foods where you can't find it in your country's Thai restaurants.

Experience our food tours in different way

Forget about Pad Thai, which local least favorite. Try popular things that local eat daily.

Experience the taste of thailand

Not only foods, you will get to experience the adventure in between the tour. It is our concept that bring our guests to places that they would never have been to if travel by their own.

Taste of Thailand: The Best Food Tours in Bangkok 2024

Experience the amazing flavors of Thailand and explore the culture of this beautiful country on our Taste of Thailand food tours.

• Trip Details

Accommodation Information

• Pricing & Tour Dates
• Culinary Vacations
• Cooking Vacations
• Taste of Thailand Culinary Vacation in Southeast Asia | The International Kitchen

Thai Cooking Classes in Bangkok & Chiang Mai

The capital city Bangkok is a bustling place, with roads packed with cars and noisy tuk tuks, pavements crammed with ramshackle food stalls, and shrines laden with fragrant flowers. In the north Chiang Mai is surrounded by hills and exhibits its distinctive Lanna inheritance through its architecture, handicrafts, and cuisine. Considered Thailand’s cultural hub, Chiang Mai is home to silk weavers, artists, and wood carvers.

Embark on a foodie tour in Bangkok to explore the diverse flavors of the city and take a cooking class in Chiang Mai to make a wealth of memories on our Taste of Thailand itinerary!

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The details of bangkok and chiang mai cooking vacations.

Your food tour in Bangkok and Chiang Mai includes accommodations and activities as per the itinerary. But we can easily customize your Thai food tour to suit your tastes and the length of stay desired. Contact us to start planning.

• 4 Night Itinerary

Order of activities subject to change depending on the specific dates.

• Arrival at Bangkok airport and transfer to your hotel.
• Free time to rest or explore, with dinner on your own.
• Overnight in Bangkok.
• Breakfast at hotel.
• Today, depart around 8:30 am to see the highlights of Bangkok. (Please note that proper attire is required: no bare shoulders or knees, no strap-heeled shoes. You will be required to remove shoes before entering all temples.) You will visit two of the most important sights of Bangkok, the Reclining Buddha at Wat Po—a giant supine Buddha covered in gold leaf—and the Grand Palace, a “must see” for every visitor to Thailand. Located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace is the perfect example of an ancient Siamese court. Within the compound you will find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Pra Kaew).
• Lunch in a Thai restaurant.
• This afternoon, travel on the Chao Phraya River (The River of Kings) and on through the canals (Klongs) of Thonburi. You will be able to observe and photograph serene family homes and temples along the waterways, which gave the city the name “The Venice of the East.” You will also stop at one of the most photographed sites in Bangkok, the Wat Arun. The majestic shrine has a pagoda 76 meters high, decorated with glazed ceramics that reflect the rising sun and give the temple its name. (Note that the temple may still be undergoing renovation, but the temple compound remains open.)
• Back to your hotel to refresh.
• Pickup from your hotel in the afternoon and transfer to Chinatown for a private Tuk Tuk ride and walk along the narrow streets filled with thousands of vendors and food stalls. Taste various dishes — from Hong Kong noodies and Dim-Sum, to grilled jumbo prawn and fried battered mussels — and learn about the food, history, culture, and religion of Chinatown before returning to your hotel.
• Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the Bangkok airport for a flight to the lovely northern city of Chiang Mai. ( Cost of flight quoted separately based on dates booked .)
• Arrival at Chiang Mai airport, meet and greet with your guide.
• This afternoon, meet your guide for a tour of Chiang Mai. You will visit the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, a sacred temple with a challenging flight of stairs flanked by Naga serpents, as well as Wat Chedi Luang, the site of a formerly massive pagoda that was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1545. Next, return to the city center to visit additional impressive temples, such as Wat Suan Dok, which once was home to the Thai monarchy in the 14th century; today it’s home to the ashes of several white Chedis as well as a famous Monk school. Lastly, visit Wat Jedyod, also known as the Temple of Seven Spires.
• Transfer to your hotel for checkin, and dinner on your own.
• Overnight in Chiang Mai.
• Breakfast at your hotel.
• This morning, visit a jungle area to experience the Elephant Care Centre. Meet your English speaking guide to learn about the elephants and change into traditional Karen clothing. After a brief talk about safety, you’ll spend the morning at the camp participating in a variety of activities; in addition to interacting with the elderly elephants, you can learn how to make ground grass, feed the elephants bananas, make herb balls, and even bathe with the elephants in the nearby mud spa! Finish the experience by walking with the animals to a nearby river and join them in the water.
• This afternoon, transfer to the outskirts of Chiang Mai for a great Thai cooking experience. The Lanna-style school is located in a countryside village. Learn about Thai ingredients, and use them during your cooking lesson. Dinner to follow, transfer back to the hotel.
• Breakfast at your hotel, and transfer to the airport. (If you would like, we can arrange a return flight to Bangkok for an additional cost.)

Trip Details of Our Best Cooking Classes in Bangkok

• 4 Night Details

Included in the 4-Night Food Tour in Bangkok & Chiang Mai

Accommodations.

4 nights accommodation (2 nights in Bangkok and 2 nights in Chiang Mai)

Food & Beverages

• Daily breakfast
• 1 tasting tour dinner
• Meal (lunch or dinner) after cooking class

Classes & Instructors

Chiang Mai food tours offer a unique culinary experience in the countryside village near the city. Take a Lanna-style cooking class to create traditional Thai dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

• Guided tour of Bangkok
• Cruise on the Chao Phraya River
• Excursion to Chinatown
• Guided tour of Chiang Mai
• Visit to the Elephant Care Center

Transfer Details

• Arrival transfer from Bangkok airport
• Departure transfer to Chiang Mai airport

Miscellaneous

• English-speaking guide for all excursions
• Entrance fees
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle

Not Included

• Drinks and personal expenses
• Internal flight Bangkok to Chiang Mai (usually around $160 per person)
• Visa fees (if applicable)
• Trip insurance (Please note that our international partners require travelers to have travel insurance for this itinerary. You may order travel insurance through us or another company, but proof of coverage may be requested.)

Average Rating

Tour Dates:

Available any dates you choose for a minimum of two people. Please review our complete pricing details .

Starting at

The 5* Hotel, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, provides a lavish escape from the bustle of downtown Bangkok. Nestled on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, this tranquil oasis sits amidst 11 acres of lush jungle equipt with World-class dining, entertainment, and spas. With Thai-inspired rooms with a modern touch, including a private balcony and partial river views.

Bangkok Thai Foodie Tour Pricing & Dates

Below are the dates and pricing for Bangkok cooking vacations in Thailand. Contact us to book your trip or check availability.

• 4 Night Pricing

4-Night Bangkok Cooking Classes Sample* Pricing:

4-night Program

US$1810 per person based on double occupancy

*Pricing can vary by season and specific dates booked. Please inquire!

Peak/festive season supplement, if applicable (i.e. during major holidays): please inquire

30% deposit due to confirm booking.

Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!

Inquire for single supplement.

Want to save? Inquire for a quote with 4* hotels.

4-Night Chiang Mai & Bangkok Cooking Tour Dates

Available any dates for a minimum of 2 people.

2024 Please inquire for available dates.

We Can Help Plan the Best Thai Cooking Classes in Bangkok and Chiang Mai

We understand that planning a vacation can be overwhelming, which is why we are here to help!

In addition to arranging transportation, we also offer additional tours and nights to enhance your experience.

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Cookly Magazine

Food Guides & Cooking Tips

Top Cities in Thailand to Explore Thai Food

Last Updated on May 18, 2023

What makes Thai food amazing is that it celebrates fresh ingredients and bold flavors at the same time. A Thai dish is never complete without combining something spicy, sour, sweet, and salty. The tricks Thai cooks have been incorporating seem to be working just fine, as Thai cuisine is also one of the most celebrated cuisines around the world.  

But where to begin? Should you follow the crowds to the bustling street food stalls of Bangkok or venture off the beaten path to discover the hidden gems in the countryside? The possibilities are endless, and the only way to truly immerse yourself in the delicious food and discover everything Thai cuisine has to offer is to get out there and eat! 

So grab a fork, pack your bags, and get ready to embark on the ultimate food journey through the land of smiles. In this guide, you’ll find the top Thai cities for foodies.

The Top Thai Cities for Foodies and What to Try

Thai cooks often use a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and meats. Some special ingredients you’ll find a lot in Thai food are fresh herbs and spices like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chili peppers. These ingredients give Thai food its unique and complex flavor profile, which helps balance different flavors.

The dishes are usually presented with beautifully arranged fruit, vegetables, and herbs, from colorful curries to stir-fries. Thai food is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

Having said that, Thailand is huge, and the cuisines in different regions are not quite the same. There are 4 main regions that come off strong with their gastronomical traditions. Each of these regions has developed its own cuisine through different influences, which we’ll discuss in detail below.

Northern Thailand: Chiang Mai

Northern Thai cuisine is known for its use of fresh, high-quality ingredients and bold flavors. The region’s mountainous terrain and fertile soil provide an abundance of produce, including tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers, which you’ll find in most traditional dishes.

Grilled meats, such as pork and chicken, are also popular in Northern Thai cuisine, as are noodle dishes and curries made with coconut milk.

Dishes here tend to be milder in flavor than in other Thai regions, as the vegetables and meats used are strong enough to stand on their own without too much seasoning.

Chiang Mai , the region’s largest and most culturally significant city, is also one of the most popular travel destinations in the country and a major foodie scene. For that reason, gastronomic endeavors in the city ascend the region’s traditions. Apart from Thai food, you’ll find different international cuisines here, like Italian, Western, and Indian.

You’ll also find crafty cafes, bars, and restaurants where you can try fusion food, creative spin-offs from traditional Thai recipes, and shaggy stalls that sell excellent traditional Thai food. 

Chiang Mai is also full of events you can join in enlarging your horizon on the cuisine. You can learn traditional ways of handling ingredients at an organic farm , be a guest at a traditional Chiang Mai house and cook all day, or join a food adventure by bike around the city.

Curious about what to eat in Chiang Mai? Here are some of the city’s most popular Thai foods.

One of the signature dishes of Northern Thai cuisine is Khao Soi , a curry soup made of coconut milk served over egg noodles with a handful of crispy, deep-fried noodles on top that adds a visual impact and amazing texture to the dish. You can have pork, chicken, or beef khao soi, all of which are delicious and hearty and guaranteed to fill you up nicely.

Khan toke isn’t a dish per se. It’s actually the name for a traditional dining experience typical for the Lanna region in Northern Thailand. It involves sitting on cushions around a low table and enjoying a variety of traditional northern dishes like grilled meats, stir-fries, salads, soups, and desserts served family-style.

Khan toke dinners are often accompanied by live traditional Thai music and dance performances, making them a cultural as well as culinary experience.

Sai ua is a spicy sausage packed with herbs and spices. It’s usually made of ground pork, garlic, shallots, dried chili peppers, and tangy herbs and spices. The sausage is wrapped in pork fat or banana leaves and grilled or smoked. It does resemble the northeastern-style Isan sausage but has a richer and meatier flavor with strong herbal and chili aromas.

Nam Prik Nume and Nam Prik Ong

By Tony Worrall Photography

Nam prik nume and nam prik ong are two popular chili dips from Northern Thailand. Nam prik nume is made of roasted spur peppers and has a very spicy flavor, while nam prik ong features a milder taste. It’s made of ground pork and a tomato-based paste seasoned with coriander, spring onions, and dried bird’s eye chili peppers.

Both of the condiments are very popular in Northern Thailand and are served with many dishes like grilled meats, vegetables, and sticky rice, as well as fresh vegetables like long beans or cucumbers as a dip.

Kaeng Hang Le

This is a yellow curry from Northern Thailand. It’s made of pork chunks, shallots, and shrimp paste all mixed in a tamarind-based sauce. The dish originated in Burma, where it’s made with much more oil but no coconut cream or spices. The Thai version is lighter and richer in creamy notes and spices.

NorthEastern Thailand: Isan

By Nathan Skillen

Isan is a major city in North-Eastern Thailand where the cuisine is known for its bold flavors and the use of fermented and pickled ingredients, such as fish sauce and green papaya. Grilled meats, including chicken and pork, are also a staple of Isan cuisine, as are sticky rice and tams (salads with fresh vegetables and herbs).

Isan cuisine isn’t the type of food that pops up in Western minds when they think of Thai food. Even though it’s not as popular worldwide as the cuisines from other Thai regions, it’s quite popular within the country.

Instead of the long-simmered curries common for other parts of Thailand, Isan cuisine is characterized by its fresh, bright, and savory salads flavored with ingredients like dried shrimp, lime, chili peppers, peanuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh herbs. 

Sticky Rice

Isanians prepare rice as one big, sticky clump, the clumpiest of all sticky rice you’ll find throughout Asia, served in a small bag or steamer. Isanian sticky rice is pretty hard to eat with utensils, so locals typically eat it with their hands by pulling off a clump and dipping it into the side dish (usually a meaty stew or a tom).

Som tam is a salad made with raw papaya, chili peppers, garlic, green beans, peanuts, fish sauce, and various other ingredients. All the ingredients are pounded together in a mortar to get a salty, tangy, sweet, and spicy mash.

Som tam is often served as a side dish with grilled chicken or other meats. Coming from Isan, som tam is a very popular dish throughout the whole country, so you can find it at street food stalls and restaurants all around Thailand.

Larb and Nam Toke

Larb and nam toke are two different meat salads. Larb is made of ground meat, and nam toke is made of sliced grilled meat. They are both laid in a sauce made of crunchy roasted rice, fish sauce, lime, and other aromatizers. Both of these dishes are often served at room temperature and are one of the most refreshing dishes in Thai cuisine.

Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken)

By jj angie

This is another Isan specialty that’ll get you hooked. Isanian chefs cook the chicken on a petite charcoal grill that you can spot on the side of the street you’re walking on. It’s a very common way to fill one’s belly in Isan. 

You can also have grilled fish and pork neck from similar stalls where they bathe the meat in a simple marinade, a mixture of herbs, spices, lemon juice, and sometimes sugar, along with other aromatizers. Even though some ingredients with strong tastes and flavors go into the marinade, none overpower the taste of meat.

Fried Chicken

Isan folks know how to fry up excellent chicken too. The crispy coating is scented with sweet, salty, and savory flavors. They are often garnished with sesame seeds or herbs and served with a dipping sauce that can be super spicy for tender palates.

A meal composed of som tam, gai yanng, and sticky rice is a classic Isanian lunch or dinner. 

Moo ping is skewers of grilled marinated meat, just like shish kebab from Middle Eastern cuisines. It’s typically grilled pork meat and always served with dipping sauce. The tender greasy meat is marinated in a sauce with sweet and salty notes, which is also full of garlic.

Moo ping is the perfect on-the-go meal, but if you’re feeling extra peckish, you can always turn it into a full meal with a cup of sticky rice and a plate of tom. 

Sai Crok (Isan Sausage)

By Tinker&SS

Sai krok is a type of fermented sausage made of pork and rice. The chefs stuff a mixture of meat and rice into casings as a line of small balls, let them ferment for a few days, then grill and serve. It sounds risky, but the garlicky, sour flavor is sublime.

The meaty and funky bite-sized sausage balls are popular evening snacks, typically served with chili peppers, raw cabbage, and slices of ginger.

Edible Insects

Edible insects are also a staple in Isan cuisine and are a popular snack among rice farmers. They are often deep-fried or grilled and often eaten as a snack or as part of a larger meal.

Some popular dishes that contain insects include toasted grasshoppers served with sticky rice, crickets cooked with chilies and spices, and bamboo worms stir-fried with vegetables. Northeast cuisine is popular in all four regions of Thailand and is a major focus among travelers, particularly first-time visitors.

The Central Region: Bangkok

The central region of Thailand, also known as the plains area, is home to a diverse selection of dishes thanks to the mixing of various cultural influences. As the capital and largest city in Thailand, Bangkok is a food lover’s paradise. It is a culinary arts hub with a thriving local food scene that evolves constantly. 

Bangkok is not only a city with a rich and vibrant culture but also a place where people can enjoy delicious home-style Thai cuisine, as well as new and innovative dishes that are constantly being created and introduced to the local food scene. 

Because the city is quite cosmopolitan, markets and restaurants in Bangkok also offer a wide range of Thai dishes from every region, like spicy soups and curries, fresh seafood, and grilled meats. 

Street food is also quite a popular way to eat in Bangkok. You can find colorful vendors throughout the city, particularly in Chinatown and Khao San Road. 

And lastly, you’ll find some Royal cuisine dishes that are now gaining popularity as restaurants start to share these previously secret recipes with the rest of the world.

On top of everything, Bangkok also is a great place to get your hands dirty by learning about the cuisine and experiencing it firsthand. You can learn about traditional Thai cooking techniques and ingredients in a traditional Thai cottage or join a cooking class with a market tour where you pick the ingredients yourself or an intensive cooking class for those who want to get serious with their Thai cooking.

Ready to eat your way through Bangkok? Here are some dishes you should taste during your visit to the capital of Thailand.

Pad Thai is considered the national dish of Thailand. It was introduced to the country during the Ayutthaya kingdom through Chinese traders. It consists of stir-fried rice noodles mixed with tofu, tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, and sometimes bean sprouts, creating a sweet and sour flavor.

Khanom Chin

Khanom chin sounds like a Chinese-inspired dish, but it originates from the cuisine of Mon people who migrated from Myanmar. 

It’s actually a side dish made of fermented rice noodles. If you travel around Thailand, you’ll see the 3-part ensemble dish composed of snow white rice noodles, a type of curry, and charred veggies with fresh condiments. The combination really brings the fermented rice noodles alive.

Tom yam is a type of spicy Thai soup. It features a combination of meat or seafood, herbs, and spices. The base of the soup is typically made with chicken, beef, or shrimp broth, and it is flavored with ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, chili peppers, and lime juice. Tom yam is known for its spicy and sour flavor and is often served with a side of rice or noodles.

Southern Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Chang, and More

Southern Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, and tropical climate. Here, access to a variety of fresh seafood inevitably defines the cuisine. However, the food here is also known for its spicy flavors as it has been heavily influenced by the neighboring Muslim country Malaysia’s cuisine.

There are many events you can immerse yourself in besides enjoying yourself on the gorgeous bays of southern Thailand. Discover the subtleties of wok in Koh Samui , explore the Napali cuisine in Koh Chang , take an intimate cooking class from humble local cooks in Koh Tao , learn to cook with Thai wine in Khao Yai , or get creative with Thai cuisine in Koh Lanta .

Sataw, also known as stink beans, are a common ingredient in Southern Thai cuisine, as they grow in abundance in the region. They are often stir-fried with prawns and shrimp paste, creating a dish with a unique, pungent flavor.

It may be an acquired taste, but once you get used to the tangy kick, you might end up craving it. Despite the strong smell, the combination of sour and spicy flavors in this dish makes it a tasty choice for those willing to try it.

One of the signature dishes of Southern Thai cuisine is khua kling , a spicy dry curry stir-fried with diced pork and a generous amount of chilies. It’s extremely spicy and a popular choice among those in the Southern region of Thailand who love bold, fiery flavors.

It is important to be cautious when eating khua kling moo saab, as biting into one of the chilies may make you cry with an intense burst of heat. But if you can handle your spicy food, it’s an adventure waiting for you.

Massaman Curry

Massaman curry is a type of Thai curry that is typically made with a mixture of spices, such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and cumin, as well as coconut milk and peanuts. It’s often made with chicken, beef, or lamb, but you can also find vegetarian versions. It’s typically served with rice and is known for its rich, creamy texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor. It’s a must-try during your time in Southern Thailand.

Ready to Explore!

Now you’re ready to embark on a culinary adventure that will take you to the heart of Thailand’s vibrant and diverse food culture. From the spicy and aromatic curries to the fresh and flavorful seafood dishes, Thailand is certainly a haven for any foody. 

Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the country’s big culinary centers, where you’ll find many gourmet Thai restaurants and the best fusion foods in these capitals. But don’t let this keep you from exploring the dishes in the rest of the country. 

The north is famous for its spicy, creamy, and sweet curries, the coastal cities are especially rich in a variety of seafood, and the chefs in Bangkok and Chiang Mai know how to satisfy hungry customers. You can also eat good, inexpensive food in the rural areas of Thailand and discover a  regional specialty that the Thai restaurants in the west haven’t exported yet.

In the end, remember that eating in Thailand is not all about food. Thai cuisine is also about the experience. Dining here often involves sharing plates and eating with your hands, so come hungry, open-minded, and ready to get your hands dirty!

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10 thai dishes to try when you travel to thailand.

It is now common to find Thai food in most major cities around the world. This is because the appetite for Thailand cuisine continues to grow around the globe.

The fact that you can get Pad Thai (stir-fried noodles) or Tom Yum Goong (spicy and sour shrimp soup) at a deli a few blocks from your home is good. But I guarantee the Thai dishes you eat when traveling in Thailand will blow them all out of the water.

If you love Thai food and want to experience really authentic Thai cuisine, plan a trip to Thailand and get ready to eat your heart out. In this article, I will show you some of the culinary delights you will find when you take a foodie trip to the ‘Land of Smiles’, as Thailand is nicknamed.

PRO TIP: One of the best ways to experience Thai cuisine while visiting Thailand is to take a cooking class. Some cooking classes are even hosted in Thai local’s homes, giving you a unique glimpse of what ordinary life looks like for locals.

Heading to Thailand? Read about the floating markets of Bangkok and see our Essential Travel Guide to Bangkok . You can pack out your itinerary with these great things to do in Bangkok .

Table of Contents

Interesting Facts about Thai Food Culture

• Thai cuisine usually has four seasonings that are perfectly blended to create mouthwatering meals. These are salty, sweet, sour and spicy. You’ll taste all four seasonings in almost all Thai dishes. If you don’t like spicy food, don’t worry there are plenty of meals that don’t have spices.
• People in Thailand enjoy sharing meals together, it is actually considered bad luck to eat alone. So don’t be surprised when you order food from a street vendor, for example, and it is served in platters that will be enough to be shared by the number of people present.
• When sharing meals only serve 1-2 spoonfuls of a dish at a time. If you serve more than this in Thai culture you’ll be seen as a greedy person. So be considerate of others when serving yourself.
• Unlike other countries in Asia , Thai people don’t normally use chopsticks to eat. They prefer to use a spoon and fork, I am sure this is good news if you’re not good at using chopsticks like me. The fork is used to push food onto the spoon.
• As you travel around Thailand and interact with the locals, you’ll often be asked “Gin Khao Yung” which means “have you eaten”. Thai people love their food and are constantly eating. Because of this, they like to offer their guests food at any time of the day.
• Thai food is not only delicious but it is also very cheap. You can pay as little 40 Thai Baht, which is less than $2, for a large meal that will leave you uncomfortably full.

Now that you know a little bit more about Thai food culture let’s get into the best Thai foods you should try when you travel to the Bangkok , Chiang Mai , or another part of this amazing country.

The Best Thai Dishes to Eat in Thailand

1. tom yum goong (spicy shrimp soup).

This is the most popular Thai soup but if you’re not a fan of seafood you may not like it because the main ingredient used to make it is shrimp. Other ingredients include lemongrass, birds-eye chili’s, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, fresh lime juice, shallots, fish sauce, and coconut cream if you prefer a creamy version.

Because of the chili used to prepare it the soup is hot, so if you don’t like spicy foods remember to order a milder version. You can also order Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in Coconut Soup) instead. The soup is made from spices similar to tom yum goong but the chilies are optional this time.

Also instead of seafood, tender strips of chicken and aromatic Asian mushrooms are used to prepare the soup. Tom kha khai is the perfect soup to order if you’re not so keen to try Thai chili dishes.

2. Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)

A lot of Thai food has meat in it, mostly seafood. If you’re a vegetarian one of the best Thai meals you can order is this salad. Som Tam is prepared from green (unripe) papaya, tomatoes, carrots, long beans, peanuts, lime juice, garlic, palm sugar, and galangal.

Mixed together they create a tasty salad that provides 5 vibrant flavors sweet, spicy, salty, sour and savory. As you travel around Thailand you’ll find there are many different variations of this meal, all of which are very tasty.

3. Pad Thai (Stir-Fried Rice Noodles)

You cannot go to any Thai restaurant in the world and miss this dish on its menu. It is an extremely popular meal and is considered one of Thailand’s national dishes. Most tourists exploring Thai cuisine for the first time will almost always start by sampling this cheap and tasty meal.

Thai chefs prepare it using stir-fried rice noodles, shrimp or chicken, eggs, groundnuts, lime juice, bean sprouts, tasty tofu cubes, and onions. You can try pad thai wherever you go in Thailand, from Michelin star-rated restaurants to noisy food stalls. This dish is more sour and sweet not spicy.

» Make Chicken Pad Thai at home with this recipe.

4. Guay Teow (Noodle Stir Fry)

This is another popular Thai dish you can get anywhere in Thailand. The soup can be made from chicken, pork or beef together with egg or rice noodles.

Street food vendors also add meatballs and top it up with sugar, lime juice or fish sauce. You can have guay teow at any time of the day. Another version of this dish you’ll find everywhere is Char Guay Teow, which is the dry, grilled version (pictured above).

5. Kai Med Ma Muang (Chicken with Cashew Nuts)

I particularly enjoyed this dish and I bet you’ll too. As the name suggests the main ingredients used to make it are cashew nuts and chicken breast meat.

These are deep-fried in a pan before soya sauce, honey, mushrooms, pepper, onions, and other vegetables are added to make a sweet, spicy and chewy meal. If you’re to ask me only one stir-fried food to order while in Thailand I would definitely recommend this.

6. Gaeng Keow Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)

This Thai curry originated from central Thailand. It is very spicy so it is usually served with steamed Thai rice to tone down the spice level. It contains chicken, but if you want you can have it with beef, too. The dish often consists of green chilies and spices ground into a curry paste, ginger, coconut milk, eggplant and fish sauce.

This is one of the spiciest curries in Thailand, but don’t let that stop you from trying it. It’s also one of the most flavorful curries in Thailand.

7. Thai Spring Rolls

If you’re looking for a Thai snack, try this. Almost all street vendors and restaurants serve these spring rolls mostly as a snack or appetizer.

They are freshly made each day and fried when you order then, so they come to you crispy and hot from the oil. Eat them dipped in sweet chili sauce or hot sauce. Spring rolls are made both with just vegetables or with minced chicken or pork. They are simply amazing.

8. Pad Kra Pao Moo (Holy Basil Stir-Fry with Pork)

This minced pork dish is one of the street food favorites that locals and visitors alike order again and again. It’s cooked with a fatty minced pork, lots of fresh holy basil, sometimes green beans, and red chilies.

The holy basil has a very unique licorice / spice flavor that gives the dish its uniqueness and it’s often what drives people to love it so much. You’ll see what I mean once you try it.

9. Khao Soi

A dish that you’ll find in Northern Thailand is this rich and delicious Khao Soi. It’s a yellow coconut curry noodle soup with egg noodles, pickled cabbage, shallots, a chicken leg, and crispy noodles on top. We hadn’t heard of this dish until we visited Chiang Mai and found it just about everywhere. It’s slightly different each time, depending on the preferences of the chef, but it’s always rich, aromatic, and super filling.

10. Pad Woon Sen (Stir-fried Glass Noodles)

One of my favorite dishes to order in Thailand and back at home at my local Thai restaurant is Pad Woon Sen. This dish uses glass or cellophane noodles and is packed with fresh crisp veggies, like sugar snap peas, carrots, baby corn, and shallots. The sauce is light and simple, a little oyster sauce for seasoning. You can add prawns or chicken if you want.

Additional Thai Dishes to Try

Thai cuisine has a wide variety of tasty dishes, and I can’t mention all of them in this article. However here is a short list of other delicious meals you could try:

• Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice)
• Mookata Thai BBQ (Thai Style bbq pork)
• Pla Nueng Manow (Steamed Fish with Spicy Lime Sauce)
• Yum Nua (Spicy Beef Salad)
• Banana Roti (Banana Pancake)
• Sai Oua (Northern Thai Sausage)
• Yam Pla Dook Foo (Fried Catfish with Green Mango Salad)
• Pad Phuk Tong (Stir-Fried Pumpkin)
• Pak Boong (Morning Glory)
• Pad Phak (Fried Vegetables)
• Kai Jeow (Thai Omelette)
• Kao Niew Ma Muang (Mango and Sticky Rice)

→ Visiting different parts of Thailand? Be sure to check out our Thailand travel guide for information on many top destinations and activities you shouldn’t miss while you’re there.

Be Prepared For Travel Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:

🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home

• Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
• Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner )
• Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
• Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)

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As you travel to different places in Thailand ask the locals or you guide to suggest some Thai meals. I am sure they’ll recommend amazing meals you’ll enjoy and miss once you get back home.

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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

7 thoughts on “ 10 Thai Dishes to Try When You Travel To Thailand ”

Delicious Thai food.

#4 picture does not match. It must be a soup, not dried or fried noodles.

You’re correct. It should say noodle stir fry. Sorry for the typo.

My wife and I, both Americans, live in Chiang Mai. Your web page on Thai cuisine is just marvelous. Just looking at your excellent images makes me so hungry. The narratives accompanying the photos are very well done. Everything you say about Thai food is correct. It is delicious beyond mere word descriptions and photos. It is heavenly, indeed.

I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for the feedback Don. I absolutely love Thai food and look forward to every visit to Thailand so I can indulge in the food.

Two of the very best Thai meals I ever had were in two distinctly different locations: One in the Hilton Honers Hotel in Bangkok, and the other on a floating restaurant in Lak Mah Chow in the jungle on the border with Burma. The Hilton offered a huge, round, self-serve table with every type of seafood you can even imagine, and all that-day fresh, of course! On Lak Ma Chow, we were fishing for giant snakeheads and tranverse bar-barbs, and sleeping and eating on a floating motel/restaurant. One evening at dinner an 8-foot cobra swam by our dinner table looking for rats! Interesting. Hard to sleep due to little lizards that made the most God-awful screeching noise all night long! But the food??? Indescribable! Maybe because we thought it might it might be our last meal after seeing the Cobra!! lol….

That’s a great story, Bill. Thanks for sharing.

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