Bangkok Bites: A FOOD LOVERS GUIDE

Bangkok is filled with hundreds of temples and cultural landmarks. However, out of all of these, the one thing I think of when looking back at my time there was the food. This post will give you all the ins and outs of food in Bangkok’s night markets and shops.

Getting to the Food

First of all, it is important to note that Bangkok is huge and vastly different from the rest of the country. On the map, the city may look small, but it definitely isn't the most walkable as most must-see sights, or in this case, food spots, are located quite far from one another.

That being said, there are a plethora of public transport options available. The main options are BTS, MTV, bus (two types), and boat taxi. Of course, there is also the option of grabbing a tuk-tuk, motorbike, or taxi. However, while in Bangkok, the public transportation was so easy to figure out that there was never a need for these.

BTS (skytrain)

The BTS skytrain was the transport I used the most while in the city. It has two different lines: Silom and Sukhumvit; the trains go around every five minutes and are open from 6:30-23:00. The cost depends on your final destination. During my time, I never spent more than 50 Thai Baht on a ticket.

MTV (subway)

The MTV is a bit cheaper than the BTS train but goes to fewer places as it only has one line. You can expect to pay around 20 Thai Baht for a ticket; again, this also depends on your destination. Each train comes about every seven minutes and goes from 6:00-23:00.

Bus (two options)

Option one is the air-conditioned bus which is usually blue and white. The price is often a bit more than the non-air conditioned bus; these buses are often bright colors such as green and red. They are also a bit cheaper with prices ranging from 10-20 Thai Baht. Both buses run all over the city.

Boat (water taxi)

This mode of transport was my favorite. Not only was it a cheap and fast way to get around the city but also a great experience. During my time in Bangkok, I took the water taxi the most, never paying more than 20 Thai Baht for a ride. They normally operate from 6:30-19:30 every day and have various routes throughout the city.

A Stop in Chinatown

The first stop on our food adventures is Chinatown. This was my first experience in a “Chinatown district,” and it did not disappoint! The streets are lined with food vendors selling all types of noodles and, specifically, lots of seafood. The first stop was for the fresh squid that seemed to be on every other cart. It was perfectly grilled with a slight smoky taste and had a slight rubbery texture to it.

After the squid, we made our way through the streets, stopping to take a look at the various vendors selling various types of meat and vegetables one could imagine. Although I must be honest and tell you that I didn’t recognize or try the majority of the things. Mostly because it felt as though my stomach might not handle it all.

Soon, we stumbled upon a little bakery. The first thing to catch my eye was the mooncakes in the display case. They looked freshly baked and absolutely tasty. I had heard about these sweet treats previously and did not even think I would be trying them here.

I ordered the mooncake along with a bean, coffee, and nut pastry. Upon trying the mooncake, an explosion of textures and taste came alive. The pastry was made up of a sesame paste, nuts, dried fruits, and a salted duck egg in the middle. The other pastry was filled with black bean paste with a creamy and sweet flavor.

Unfortunately, I can’t give an exact location for the squid stand nor the little bakery. However, upon entering the Chinatown area, you will stumble upon many options for both of these delicious foods. 

Lhong Tau Cafe is a cute little cafe tucked just off the main street in Chinatown. The cafe serves brunch and lunch Asian-style food. With various pastries, dim sum, and porridge. There are also many options for tea and coffee on the menu. While there, I tried the pumpkin dim sum, prawns dumplings, and fried kale salad.

The food was delicious, but it was the fun seating that made this place stand out. The cafe has benches that stand on top of one another. Inside, you will have two seating options: to climb up or sit below. With large mirrors on the opposite wall, this makes for a cute spot for pictures and a unique dining experience. 

From Chinatown to India Road

Another area I did not expect to stumble upon was what I refer to as India road. You will find the area on Sukhumvit road. Along this street, you will find shops and restaurants, all of which are Indian in one way or another.

As India is my favorite country, I had to stop for some street food. It was also my duty to introduce my friend to Pani Puri. This is a very common street food in India made with small deep-fried spheres often filled with potatoes or chickpeas and a spicy sauce.

While the food was a bit overpriced, it did not disappoint with flavor and texture. It was also super authentic and gave me a little flashback to the beautiful country of India. If you're a lover of spice, I would definitely recommend taking a detour to India road.

A 40-Year Soup Journey

Okay, okay, I will admit that even the heading sounds a bit strange, but let me tell you, the forty-year-old soup is a thing and to this very day has to be the best broth I have ever tasted in my life.

Located just a twenty-minute walk from the Ekkamai BTS sky rail, this is hands down the one food you cannot miss when coming to Bangkok. The restaurant is called Wattana Panich. Since opening, they have not only kept the same recipe for their famous beef soup but also have kept the same broth.

Each night after closing, the soup is left and in the morning reheated, while adding in the same ratio of ingredients. Around the large pot, you will see a brown texture of what looks to be fat. This is from the spillage of the soup for the last forty years as the pot has never been moved nor cleaned.

Now, I realize I am not making this sound all too appetizing, but I promise it is worth it. Each bowl of this delicacy is priced at 100 Thai Baht, and with it having a Michelin award, it will probably be the cheapest five-star dish you will ever try!

The Night Market Adventures

I will say that I have tried the majority of unique foods while at the various night markets throughout South East Asia. Bangkok, of course, has a variety of options when it comes to street food. Upon perusing up and down the aisles, one will find a dish for every taste.

My night started off right with a 5 Thai Baht chicken foot. This was not too far from my comfort zone and was fun to try. The foot was fried and had a very crispy texture; biting into it, I found it to be very chewy with mostly muscle and tendon to chew on.

Next was a papaya salad, a quite common dish in Thailand. However, this one was unique in the fact that it incorporated fermented fish. The fish was a bit sour and sort of acidic; in general, it was a bit too fishy for my taste.

The night ensued with many other random stops. Such as mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream, and a cold Chang beer. We ended the night with a stop at a small dim sum stand where I had the most delicious pork-stuffed dim sum.

From street corners to hidden alleyways, there are probably hundreds of incredible spots that I missed during my food travels through the city. Whether it's a tiny stall serving a local delicacy or a renowned eatery that's been around for generations, there's always something new to experience in Bangkok's culinary landscape. Nonetheless, I hope this blog serves as a useful starting point, offering you a taste of what the city has to offer.

~A Fellow Wanderer