(SPOT.ph) Bangkok has long been a popular destination for many reasons: it’s only a short flight away, it’s an affordable place to visit, and it’s known to be a shopper’s paradise.
But you can’t talk about Bangkok without mentioning the city’s rich food culture. Not only are the streets filled with vendors hawking everything from grilled seafood to fresh fruit, Bangkok is also home to dozens of restaurants that offer their own unique take on local favorites. From the city’s most famous street stalls to its Michelin-starred restaurants, we’ve rounded up a list of just some of the best places to eat out there.
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Here are 10 places to visit in Bangkok, Thailand every foodie must visit:
Yaowarat
They say the best way to get to know a city is to find out what the locals eat; and for Bangkok, that’s street food. To get an authentic feel of their street food scene, head on over to Chinatown, or as the locals call it, Yaowarat.
Yaowarat is said to be the birthplace of Bangkok’s strong street food culture and it’s easy to see why. This long road is lined with stalls that sell everything from grilled skewers and noodle soups to curries and fried rice, and even desserts. The choices can be a bit overwhelming but just follow the crowd and you’ll be sure to find some amazing food.
Yaowarat Road is in Samphanthawong, Bangkok, Thailand.
Raan Jay Fai
You can’t really talk about Bangkok street food without mentioning Jay Fai and her eponymous stall. She first rose to worldwide fame when she was awarded a Michelin star back in 2017, being the only street food vendor in the city to do so. She’s since been featured on the Netflix series Street Food and has been called the best chef in Thailand by none other than Martha Stewart.
Despite being in her 70s, Jay Fai still manages to cook most of the food and sell them herself. Her offerings are pretty comprehensive, ranging from fried rice dishes to spicy soups to stir-fried noodles. If you only have time to order one dish of her menu though, it has to be her signature crab omelet. Coming in at the size of a burrito, this omelet is stuffed with sweet and succulent crab meat. It’s good enough to be eaten on its own, but Jay Fai recommends dipping it in some sweet chili sauce.
Raan Jay Fai is at 327 Maha Chai Road, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 2:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Thipsamai
Mention Thai food to anyone and the first dish they’ll probably think of is pad thai. This savory, spicy, and zesty stir-fried noodle dish is considered to be one of Thailand’s national dishes, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that almost every street stall and restaurant in Bangkok has their own version.
But ask locals where you can find the best pad thai in the city and they might point you in the direction of Thipsamai. Open since the mid-1960s, this restaurant serves up two different kinds of pad thai. There’s one that’s wrapped in egg, locally called pad thai haw kai goog sot. Think of it as a pad thai omelet. There’s also one that’s been cooked using fat from shrimp heads or pad thai sen jan man goong. The fatty shrimp heads lend a nice umami flavor to the noodles. Speaking of noodles, Thipsamai uses a special sun-dried version for their pad thai dishes.
Thipsamai is at 313-315 Maha Chai Road, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open from Monday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Pee Aor
Tom yam is another national dish of Thailand. This soup dish is characterized by its hot and sour flavors and it usually comes served with seafood like prawns, squid, and clams.
For an extra decadent take on tom yam goong, head on over to the street stall Pee Aor. They make their broth with non-fat milk instead of coconut milk, making their version of this popular soup somewhat of a cross between Singaporean laksa and tom yam. The broth is also extra rich, as they infuse it with fat from prawn heads.
Pe Aor is at 68 51 Phetchaburi Road, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Somtum Der
Take a stroll around any street food market in Bangkok and you’ll see vendors pounding together a hot and sour mix of green papaya, fish sauce, chilies, and lime in a mortar and pestle. This dish is called som tam or papaya salad.
While you can easily get som tam anywhere in Bangkok, one restaurant has made the dish their specialty. Somtum Der has over 20 variations of the papaya salad, ranging from sweet to mild to extra spicy. For some twists on som tam, there’s som tam kor moo yang, or papaya salad with grilled pork neck and som tam hoy dong, or papaya salad mixed with pickled seafood.
Somtum Der is at 5/5 Saladaeng Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Go-Ang Pratunam
Hainanese chicken rice is a dish that’s more associated with Singapore than Bangkok, but trust us when we say the Thais have made this dish their own. Known as khao man gai locally, the Thai take on chicken rice is noticeably less oily than its Singaporean counterpart and comes with a sweet and spicy soy sauce rather than the three separate dipping sauces that come with the Singaporean version.
For one of the best takes on khao man gai, pay a visit to Go-Ang Pratunam, one of the restaurants found in Michelin’s Bangkok guide. Their steamed chicken is delicious enough on its own, but it’s their spicy and sweet sauce that really makes it worthwhile. Their rice is also extra fragrant, having been cooked in chicken broth and chicken fat.
Go Ang Pratunam is at Poonam Market, 960-962 Phetchaburi Road, Soi 30, Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Or Tor Kor Market
Bangkok is also highly regarded for its fruit, whether it’s sweet mangosteen, hairy rambutan, or notoriously smelly durian. If you’re on the hunt for some of the freshest produce in the city, then it’s best to pay a visit to Or Tor Kor Market.
Located right next to the popular Chatuchak Market, Or Tor Kor Market sells everything from fruit and vegetables to spices used in everyday Thai dishes. Their main selling point is the produce. Although the fruits and vegetables here are pricier than what you’d find in other markets, you can always be sure that you’re getting the freshest available.
Or Tor Kor Market is at 101 Kamphaeng Phet Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Khlong Lat Mayom
Long before Bangkok built roads, its people used the river as a way to not only get around the city, but to also sell their goods. Nowadays, Bangkok is a lot more modern, but the Thai have retained these floating markets as an essential part of their city.
The Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa Floating Markets remain the most popular among tourists, but if you’re looking for an authentic experience, it’s best to visit Khlong Lat Mayom, located right in central Bangkok. This floating market is not as grand as the others but it’s a lot easier to navigate around, as it’s more popular with locals than tourists. As it is a floating market, the best things to purchase would be, of course, seafood. Make sure to check out pla pao, or Thai salt crusted grilled fish, a local delicacy that they say is best eaten while it’s fresh off the grill.
Khong Lat Mayom is at 15 Bang Ramat Road, Bang Ramat, Taling Chan, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open from Saturday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MBK Food Island
MBK Center is one of Bangkok’s most popular malls and not just because of the bargains you can get. This giant shopping area is also hometo a grand food court that has more than a dozen stalls.
While most of us would think of mall food courts as simply a place to grab a quick bite, Food Island at MBK Center is so much more. Think of the food court here as a giant indoor market, selling everything from local favorites like pad krapaw moo, or Thai basil pork rice, to Indian cuisine and even vegetarian fare. The choices can be a bit overwhelming but it’s a good excuse to keep coming back.
MBK Food Island is at 8/F MBK Center, 444 Phayathai Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Gaggan Anand Restaurant
Everyone in the culinary world was shocked when Chef Gaggan Anand announced that he would be closing his award-winning restaurant, Gaggan, back in 2019. It was thought to be a highly unusual move, considering that the Indian restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars and was a regular on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
But after a few months, Chef Gaggan was back with a new eponymous restaurant, once again offering a unique culinary experience to diners in Bangkok. Since Chef Gaggan is known for his molecular gastronomy techniques, expect only unique dishes on your plate, such as bite-sized versions of samosas and curries.
Gaggan Anand Restaurant is at 68 Soi Sukhumvit 31 Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthna, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.