Best Street Food in Bangkok: Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide (2026)

Bangkok is not just a city with good street food. Bangkok IS street food. Every soi (alley), every corner, every overpass hides a vendor who has spent years — sometimes decades — perfecting a single dish. The city has an estimated 300,000 street food vendors, and UNESCO once considered naming Bangkok the world's street food capital.

This is not a list of "10 things to try." This is the definitive, neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of where to eat in Bangkok, what to order, how much to pay, and when to show up. We have walked these streets, eaten at these stalls, and compiled the most comprehensive Bangkok street food guide you will find anywhere.

What makes this guide different: We cover 10 neighborhoods with specific stall recommendations, real prices in Thai Baht, exact locations, the best times to visit, and how to reach each area by BTS, MRT, or boat. We also include night markets, "best of" categories, a full-day budget breakdown, and practical tips for ordering like a local.

Grab your appetite. We are going deep.

How to Use This Guide

Bangkok is enormous. You cannot eat your way through the entire city in a day — or even a week. Here is how to approach it:

Pick 1-2 neighborhoods per day based on where you are staying or what you are sightseeing
Go hungry — seriously, skip breakfast at your hostel
Eat small portions at many stalls rather than one big meal
Peak hours matter — some stalls only open at specific times
Bring cash — most street vendors are cash-only (20B and 100B notes are ideal)
Download Grab — for getting between neighborhoods when your legs give out

Quick reference — which neighborhood for what:

| Craving | Best Neighborhood | Time to Go | |---------|-------------------|------------| | Chinese-Thai seafood | Yaowarat (Chinatown) | 6pm-midnight | | Trendy local food | Ari | 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm | | Late-night street food | Khao San area | 9pm-2am | | Classic Thai dishes | Bang Rak | 7am-2pm | | Night market vibes | Jodd Fairs / Rod Fai | 5pm-midnight | | Budget blitz | Pratunam | 10am-10pm | | Office worker lunch | Silom/Sathorn | 11am-1pm | | Weekend grazing | Chatuchak | 9am-6pm | | Old Bangkok charm | Rattanakosin | 8am-4pm | | International + Thai | Sukhumvit | All day |

Neighborhood 1: Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Why it is #1: Yaowarat Road is the undisputed king of Bangkok street food. This is where Thai-Chinese cuisine reaches its peak, where the smoke from a hundred woks fills the air every night, and where you will eat some of the best food of your entire trip. Anthony Bourdain called it one of his favorite food streets on the planet. He was right.

How to get there: MRT Wat Mangkon station (exit 1) drops you right into the action. Or take MRT to Hua Lamphong and walk 10 minutes northwest.

Best time: 6pm to midnight. Many stalls do not open until sundown. The neon signs light up around 6pm and the whole street transforms.

Vibe: Chaotic, smoky, loud, packed, magical. Bring patience and an empty stomach.

Top Stalls in Yaowarat

1. Nai Ek Roll Noodle (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหลอดนายเอ็ก)

What to order: Kuay Jab (rolled rice noodle soup with pork offal, crispy pork belly, boiled egg in a peppery broth)
Price: 60-80B
Location: Yaowarat Road, near Mangkon intersection
The deal: This stall has been here for over 40 years. The broth is rich with five-spice and white pepper. Get the "special" (พิเศษ) which adds extra crispy pork. The rolled noodles are silky and the soup is deeply savory.
Tip: There is usually a queue. It moves fast. Grab a plastic stool and wait.

2. Jek Pui Curry Rice (เจ๊กปุ้ยข้าวแกง)

What to order: Khao Gaeng (curry over rice) — point at whatever looks good in the metal trays
Price: 50-80B for rice with 2 curries
Location: Charoen Krung Soi 5 (just off Yaowarat)
The deal: This no-frills curry rice stall has won a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Seriously. The curries rotate daily but the massaman and the gaeng som (sour curry) are legendary. They open early (around 5pm) and sometimes sell out by 9pm.
Tip: Get there by 6pm for the best selection. Point at 2-3 curries and they pile them over rice.

3. Lek & Rut Seafood (เล็ก & รัช ซีฟู้ด)

What to order: Pad Thai wrapped in egg (ผัดไทยห่อไข่), grilled river prawns (กุ้งเผา)
Price: 80-200B depending on the prawns
Location: Phlap Phla Chai Road area
The deal: The Pad Thai here is not the tourist version. It is smoky, slightly charred from a screaming hot wok, and wrapped in a thin omelet. The river prawns are massive and grilled over charcoal until the shells crack and the meat is sweet and smoky.
Tip: Share the prawns — they are big enough for two people.

4. Guay Jub Ouan Pochana (อ้วนโภชนา)

What to order: Kuay Jub Nam Sai (clear broth version)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Yaowarat Soi 11
The deal: If Nai Ek is the dark, peppery version of kuay jab, Ouan Pochana is the lighter, cleaner alternative. The broth is clear and herbal, the noodles are perfectly rolled, and the pork is tender. Both are excellent — try both and pick your favorite.

5. T&K Seafood (ที แอนด์ เค ซีฟู้ด)

What to order: Tom Yum Goong (spicy prawn soup), grilled squid, garlic shrimp
Price: 150-400B per dish (this is the pricier end of Yaowarat)
Location: Corner of Phadung Dao Road — look for the green tables
The deal: T&K is the most famous seafood spot in Chinatown. Tourists and locals queue together. The tom yum is blazing hot, sour, and packed with prawns. It is not cheap by street food standards, but the portions are generous and the quality is restaurant-level.
Tip: Split dishes with friends. Order 3-4 plates for a group of 4 and share everything.

6. Mango Sticky Rice Cart (opposite T&K)

What to order: Khao Niao Mamuang (mango sticky rice)
Price: 80-100B
Location: Directly across from T&K Seafood
The deal: After your seafood feast, walk 20 meters and get dessert. The mangoes are sliced fresh, the sticky rice is warm and sweet with coconut milk, and they drizzle extra coconut cream on top. Peak season for mangoes is March-June, but they serve it year-round.

7. Fried Oyster Omelet Stalls (หอยทอด)

What to order: Hoi Tod (crispy mussel/oyster omelet)
Price: 60-100B
Location: Multiple vendors along Yaowarat Road
The deal: These are everywhere in Chinatown. A batter of rice flour, egg, and mussels or oysters is fried until the edges are crispy and the center is soft. Served with a sweet chili sauce and bean sprouts. It is a Chinatown classic.

8. Ba Mee Jub Kang (บะหมี่จับกัง)

What to order: Ba Mee Haeng (dry egg noodles with wonton and roast pork)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Soi Texas, off Yaowarat
The deal: Thin, springy egg noodles tossed with dark soy sauce, topped with sliced roast pork, wontons, and crispy pork. Simple, perfect, and deeply satisfying.

Yaowarat Budget

A full evening eating your way through Chinatown costs:

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Kuay Jab | 70B | | Hoi Tod (oyster omelet) | 80B | | Grilled squid stick | 40B | | Mango sticky rice | 80B | | Thai iced tea | 25B | | Total | 295B (~$8.50) |

That is five dishes and a drink for under 300 Baht. Welcome to Bangkok.

Neighborhood 2: Chatuchak

Why go: The Chatuchak Weekend Market (JJ Market) is famous for shopping, but the food section is one of Bangkok's best-kept secrets. Thousands of locals eat here every weekend, and the prices are lower than tourist areas because the vendors are feeding Thais, not backpackers.

How to get there: BTS Mo Chit or MRT Chatuchak Park. Follow the crowds on Saturday or Sunday.

Best time: Saturday-Sunday 9am to 6pm. Go early (before 11am) to beat the heat and crowds. The food section is in the southern half near Section 2 and the surrounding edges.

Vibe: Intense heat (no AC), massive crowds, treasure-hunt energy. Wear light clothing and bring water.

Top Stalls at Chatuchak

1. Viva 8 (วีว่า 8)

What to order: Coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell
Price: 50-80B
Location: Section 26 area (southern edge)
The deal: The queue is always long and it is always worth it. Real coconut ice cream — not the fake stuff — served in a fresh coconut shell with toppings like peanuts, corn, sticky rice, and palm seeds. In 35°C heat, this is paradise.

2. Pad Thai at Section 8

What to order: Pad Thai with shrimp
Price: 50-60B
Location: Section 8, food alley
The deal: Watch the vendor toss noodles in a screaming wok. Classic Pad Thai with tamarind sauce, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and lime. Nothing fancy — just done right.

3. Kuay Teaw Tom Yum (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำ)

What to order: Tom Yum noodle soup with pork
Price: 50-70B
Location: Section 2 food area
The deal: A small bowl of fiery tom yum broth with rice noodles, ground pork, and crushed peanuts on top. Add extra chili flakes and lime juice from the condiment station. It will wake you up.

4. Moo Ping (หมูปิ้ง) Stalls

What to order: Moo Ping (grilled pork skewers) with sticky rice
Price: 10-15B per stick, 10B for sticky rice
Location: Multiple locations near gates
The deal: Marinated pork skewers grilled over charcoal. Sweet, slightly smoky, incredibly juicy. Buy 3-4 sticks and a bag of sticky rice. Total cost: 50-70B. This is the ultimate Thai snack.

5. Fresh Fruit Shake Stalls

What to order: Mango shake, passionfruit shake, or watermelon shake
Price: 30-50B
Location: Throughout the market
The deal: Fresh fruit blended with ice. No sugar needed — Thai fruit is naturally sweet. The mango and passionfruit shakes are the best. Essential for surviving the Chatuchak heat.

6. Thai Boat Noodles (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ)

What to order: Kuay Teaw Ruea (boat noodles) — get both pork and beef
Price: 15-25B per tiny bowl
Location: Section 23 area
The deal: Boat noodles come in tiny bowls because they were traditionally served on boats in the canals. The broth is dark, rich, and intensely beefy (it contains a small amount of pig's blood, which adds richness — you cannot taste it). The tradition is to stack your empty bowls to count how many you ate. 5-8 bowls is a normal meal.

Chatuchak Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | 6x boat noodle bowls | 120B | | 3x moo ping + sticky rice | 55B | | Coconut ice cream | 60B | | Mango shake | 40B | | Total | 275B (~$8) |

Neighborhood 3: Ari (อารีย์)

Why go: Ari is where Bangkok's young professionals eat. It is hipster without being pretentious, local without being touristy, and the food scene is incredible. If you want to eat where Bangkokians actually eat on their lunch breaks, Ari is the neighborhood.

How to get there: BTS Ari station. The food is concentrated along Soi Ari (Phaholyothin Soi 7) and surrounding sois.

Best time: Lunch (11am-2pm) for the office crowd stalls, or dinner (5pm-9pm) for the evening food scene. Weekdays are best — some stalls close on weekends.

Vibe: Relaxed, local, tree-lined streets, zero tourist crowds.

Top Stalls in Ari

1. Jok Prince (โจ๊กปริ๊นซ์)

What to order: Jok (rice congee/porridge) with pork, egg, and ginger
Price: 50-70B
Location: Soi Ari 4 — opens early morning
The deal: This is one of Bangkok's most famous Jok spots. The congee is silky, the pork is minced and tender, and a raw egg is cracked on top to cook in the hot porridge. Add white pepper and sliced ginger from the condiment tray. This is Thai breakfast at its finest.
Tip: Go before 9am — they sell out.

2. Khao Man Gai Ari (ข้าวมันไก่อารีย์)

What to order: Khao Man Gai (chicken rice) — get the mixed version (ไก่ต้ม + ไก่ทอด) with both boiled and fried chicken
Price: 50-70B
Location: Soi Ari 1
The deal: Poached chicken served over rice cooked in chicken fat, with a bowl of clear chicken broth on the side. The sauce — a dark, tangy soybean dip with ginger and chili — makes the dish. The fried version adds crispy-skinned chicken on top.

3. Pa Thong Ko Stall (ปาท่องโก๋)

What to order: Pa Thong Ko (Thai-Chinese fried dough sticks) dipped in sweetened condensed milk or pandan custard
Price: 20-30B for a set
Location: Near Ari BTS exit
The deal: Hot, golden, slightly chewy dough sticks served with a small cup of sweet pandan custard or condensed milk for dipping. The perfect 3pm snack.

4. Khao Kha Moo Stall (ข้าวขาหมู)

What to order: Khao Kha Moo (braised pork leg on rice)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Soi Ari, near the main intersection
The deal: A massive pork leg braised for hours in five-spice, soy sauce, and star anise until the meat falls apart. Served over rice with a hard-boiled egg, pickled greens, and a sweet chili vinegar sauce. The skin is gelatinous and the meat is meltingly tender.

5. Som Tam Stand (ส้มตำ)

What to order: Som Tam Thai (papaya salad, the milder version without fermented crab)
Price: 40-60B
Location: Multiple carts along Soi Ari
The deal: Watch the vendor pound garlic, chilies, tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, and shredded green papaya in a clay mortar. The dressing is lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar. Tell them "mai pet" (ไม่เผ็ด, not spicy) or "pet nit noi" (เผ็ดนิดหน่อย, a little spicy) unless you want to cry. Three chilies is "Thai medium" which is "Western nuclear."

6. Kuay Teaw Moo Tom Yum (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหมูต้มยำ)

What to order: Tom Yum pork noodle soup
Price: 50-60B
Location: Ari Soi 2
The deal: A lunch favorite for office workers. The broth is sour-spicy, the pork is tender, and the noodles are sen lek (thin rice noodles). Quick, cheap, perfect.

Ari Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Jok (breakfast) | 60B | | Khao Man Gai (lunch) | 60B | | Pa Thong Ko (snack) | 25B | | Som Tam + sticky rice | 50B | | Thai iced coffee | 30B | | Total | 225B (~$6.50) |

Neighborhood 4: Silom & Sathorn

Why go: Bangkok's business district becomes a street food paradise during lunch hours when thousands of office workers pour out of glass towers and line up at food carts. This is where you see the "real Bangkok" — suits and ties eating 50-Baht noodles on plastic stools. Soi Convent and Soi Sala Daeng are food corridors.

How to get there: BTS Sala Daeng or MRT Silom.

Best time: 11am to 1:30pm on weekdays. Many stalls pack up by 2pm because they have sold out. Some return for the evening crowd around 5pm-8pm.

Vibe: Fast-paced lunch rush, business casual crowd, efficient vendors.

Top Stalls in Silom/Sathorn

1. Khao Gaeng Jake Puey (ข้าวแกงเจ๊กปุ้ย)

What to order: Khao Gaeng (curry rice) — point at 2-3 curries from the display
Price: 40-60B
Location: Soi Convent
The deal: A no-nonsense curry rice joint where you point at trays of curries and they pile them over rice. The gaeng khiao wan (green curry) and pad prik king (stir-fried red curry with beans) are excellent. A filling lunch for the price of a coffee back home.

2. Silom Soi 20 Food Stalls

What to order: Multiple vendors — grilled chicken (gai yang), papaya salad, fried rice
Price: 40-80B per dish
Location: Silom Soi 20
The deal: An entire soi of food vendors operating during lunch. The grilled chicken vendors use whole butterflied chickens over charcoal, and you can buy a quarter or half chicken with sweet chili sauce and sticky rice. Pair it with som tam from the vendor next door.

3. Pad Kra Pao Cart (ผัดกระเพรา)

What to order: Pad Kra Pao Moo Kai Dao (stir-fried holy basil with pork, topped with a fried egg)
Price: 50-60B
Location: Along Silom Road near Soi 10
The deal: This is THE everyday Thai lunch dish. Minced pork stir-fried with holy basil, garlic, and chilies, served over rice with a crispy fried egg on top. Break the egg yolk over the rice. The holy basil gives it a distinctive peppery, almost clove-like flavor that sweet basil cannot replicate.

4. Soi Lalai Sap Market (ซอยละลายทรัพย์)

What to order: Everything — this is a full food alley
Price: 40-80B per dish
Location: Soi Lalai Sap (Silom Soi 5)
The deal: Named "the alley that destroys wealth" (a Thai joke about how you will spend money here), this soi is a lunch corridor with dozens of food stalls. Highlights include khao moo daeng (red pork on rice), kuay teaw (noodle soups), and fresh fruit.

5. Raan Kuay Teaw Poo (ร้านก๋วยเตี๋ยวปู)

What to order: Crab meat noodle soup
Price: 80-120B
Location: Sala Daeng Soi 1
The deal: Rich, savory noodle soup with generous chunks of real crab meat. A step up from the usual chicken or pork noodle soups. The broth is light but deeply flavored with crab fat.

Silom/Sathorn Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Khao Gaeng (lunch) | 50B | | Fried egg on rice extra | 10B | | Gai Yang quarter + sticky rice | 60B | | Fresh fruit shake | 35B | | Thai iced tea | 25B | | Total | 180B (~$5.20) |

Neighborhood 5: Bang Rak

Why go: Bang Rak is the "village of love" district (seriously, that is what the name means) and it is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Bangkok. This is heritage street food — vendors whose families have been cooking the same dishes for generations. It has a Michelin-starred street food scene without the tourist mob of Yaowarat.

How to get there: BTS Saphan Taksin, then walk. Or take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Si Phraya pier.

Best time: Morning to early afternoon (7am-2pm). Many Bang Rak food spots are breakfast and lunch operations.

Vibe: Old Bangkok charm, quiet side streets, zero pretension.

Top Stalls in Bang Rak

1. Raan Jay Fai (ร้านเจ๊ไฟ)

What to order: Crab Omelet (ไข่เจียวปู), Drunken Noodles (ผัดขี้เมา)
Price: 800-1,500B per dish (yes, this is expensive)
Location: 327 Maha Chai Road
The deal: Jay Fai is the most famous street food cook in Thailand. She wears ski goggles while cooking over twin charcoal woks. Her crab omelet won a Michelin star — the first (and still one of the only) Michelin-starred street food stalls in the world. The omelet is stuffed with an absurd amount of crab meat. Is it "street food prices"? No. Is it a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Absolutely.
Tip: Reservations are required. Queue system starts early morning. Budget 1,000-2,000B per person. This is a splurge meal.

2. Nai Mong Hoi Tod (นายหมง หอยทอด)

What to order: Hoi Tod (crispy mussel omelet)
Price: 80-120B
Location: Phlap Phla Chai Road, near Jay Fai
The deal: If Jay Fai's prices hurt, Nai Mong is the local alternative. The crispy mussel omelet here is excellent — crunchy edges, soft center, plenty of mussels. It has also earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

3. Sae Phun (แซ่พั้น)

What to order: Ba Mee Kiao Moo Daeng (egg noodles with wontons and red pork)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Thanon Dinso area
The deal: Thin, handmade egg noodles with plump pork wontons, sliced Chinese-style red pork (char siu), and a light broth. This shop has been open since the 1960s and the recipe has not changed. The noodles are made fresh daily.

4. Khao Moo Daeng Stalls (ข้าวหมูแดง)

What to order: Khao Moo Daeng (red barbecue pork on rice)
Price: 50-60B
Location: Along Charoen Krung Road
The deal: Sliced red-glazed roast pork over rice with a sweet gravy, crispy pork belly, Chinese sausage, and a hard-boiled egg. A Cantonese-Thai fusion dish that has become deeply Thai. The crispy pork belly (moo krob) is the star.

5. Patongo (ปาท่องโก๋) Morning Stalls

What to order: Pa Thong Ko with coffee
Price: 20B for sticks, 25-30B for coffee
Location: Early morning carts near the river
The deal: The classic Bang Rak breakfast. Hot fried dough with oliang (Thai-style iced coffee — dark, slightly medicinal, addictive). Stand at the cart, dip, and eat like the old-timers do.

Bang Rak Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Pa Thong Ko + coffee (breakfast) | 50B | | Ba Mee Kiao (noodles) | 60B | | Khao Moo Daeng (lunch) | 55B | | Hoi Tod (afternoon snack) | 90B | | Water bottle | 10B | | Total | 265B (~$7.60) |

(Jay Fai not included — that is a separate splurge budget.)

Neighborhood 6: Khao San Road Area

Why go: Yes, Khao San Road is touristy. Yes, the prices are higher than elsewhere. But the backpacker strip has a late-night food scene that is hard to beat, and the surrounding sois (especially Soi Rambuttri and the streets behind Khao San) have genuinely good food at lower prices.

How to get there: Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Phra Arthit pier and walk 5 minutes. Or taxi/tuk-tuk from anywhere.

Best time: 9pm to 2am for the full experience. The night scene is what makes Khao San special.

Vibe: Loud, chaotic, backpacker party energy. This is where you eat pad thai at midnight after three Changs.

Top Stalls in the Khao San Area

1. Pad Thai Stalls on Khao San Road

What to order: Pad Thai with shrimp
Price: 60-80B (tourist-inflated but still cheap)
Location: Multiple carts along Khao San Road
The deal: Are these the best pad thai in Bangkok? No. Are they perfectly fine, hot, and available at 1am when you are stumbling back to your hostel? Absolutely. The vendors cook in massive woks under bright lights while thumping music plays behind them. It is the quintessential backpacker street food experience.
Tip: Negotiate if they try to charge more than 80B. Walk to the next cart.

2. Soi Rambuttri Food Stalls

What to order: Mango sticky rice, grilled skewers, spring rolls
Price: 30-80B per item
Location: Soi Rambuttri (parallel street behind Khao San)
The deal: Rambuttri is the quieter, more local alternative. The mango sticky rice vendors here are reliable. The grilled pork and chicken skewers are cheap and tasty. Less chaos, same proximity to Khao San.

3. Deep-Fried Scorpion and Insect Cart

What to order: Fried grasshoppers (ตั๊กแตนทอด), fried silkworms, or fried scorpion if you dare
Price: 20-100B depending on the creature
Location: Along Khao San Road
The deal: This is the Instagram stall. Trays of fried bugs — grasshoppers, silkworms, water beetles, scorpions, and tarantulas — all salted and fried. Grasshoppers are the entry-level option: crunchy, salty, and genuinely tasty. Scorpions are mostly for photos.
Tip: Grasshoppers and silkworms are the ones locals actually eat. Everything else is tourist performance art.

4. Soi Rambuttri Khao Soi Cart

What to order: Khao Soi (Northern Thai curry noodle soup)
Price: 60-80B
Location: Soi Rambuttri
The deal: A rare find this far south — Khao Soi is a Chiang Mai specialty. Coconut curry broth with egg noodles, topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled greens, and red onion. The version here is solid and saves you a trip north.

5. Thai Crepe Cart (โรตี)

What to order: Roti with banana and chocolate, or roti with egg and condensed milk
Price: 40-60B
Location: Multiple carts on and around Khao San
The deal: Watch the vendor stretch the dough paper-thin, slap it on a hot griddle, add banana and Nutella (or egg and sugar), fold it up, chop it, and drizzle condensed milk on top. This is late-night Bangkok dessert perfection.

6. Fresh Fruit Stall (ผลไม้สด)

What to order: Sliced mango, pineapple, watermelon, or dragon fruit
Price: 20-40B per bag
Location: Throughout Khao San area
The deal: Bags of fresh, chilled, sliced tropical fruit. The perfect hangover cure or midday refresher. The pineapple in Thailand is absurdly sweet.

Khao San Area Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Pad Thai (late night) | 70B | | Mango sticky rice | 80B | | 3x moo ping skewers | 40B | | Roti with banana | 50B | | Fresh fruit bag | 30B | | Chang beer (from 7-11) | 45B | | Total | 315B (~$9) |

Neighborhood 7: Sukhumvit

Why go: Sukhumvit is Bangkok's longest road and it passes through dozens of micro-neighborhoods. The food ranges from authentic Thai street stalls to Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Indian, and everything in between. The soi numbering system (even numbers on one side, odd on the other) makes navigation logical.

How to get there: BTS runs along Sukhumvit. Key stations: Nana (Soi 4), Asok (Soi 21), Phrom Phong (Soi 33-39), Thong Lo (Soi 55), Ekkamai (Soi 63).

Best time: Depends on the soi. Lunch rush is 11am-1pm. Evening food scene picks up 5pm-10pm.

Vibe: International, varied, spread out. Each soi has its own personality.

Top Stalls Along Sukhumvit

1. Sukhumvit Soi 38 (Former Night Market)

What to order: Whatever is operating — the stalls rotate
Price: 40-80B
Location: Soi 38 (between Thong Lo BTS and the soi entrance)
The deal: Soi 38 was once Bangkok's most famous street food soi. Gentrification has reduced it, but some vendors remain and new ones pop up. Check what is open — noodle soups, pad thai, and grilled meats are common.

2. Soi 11 Food Stalls

What to order: Pad See Ew (thick soy-sauce noodles), Khao Pad (fried rice)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Along Soi 11 (near Nana BTS)
The deal: This soi caters to the international crowd but the Thai food stalls are legitimate. The pad see ew — fat rice noodles charred in dark soy sauce with egg and Chinese broccoli — is a comfort food classic.

3. Terminal 21 Food Court (Floor 5)

What to order: Any of the 30+ stalls — all excellent
Price: 35-80B per dish
Location: Terminal 21 mall, BTS Asok
The deal: This is "cheating" because it is indoors, but Terminal 21's food court is the best in Bangkok. You buy a prepaid card and use it at stalls. The prices are subsidized (they want you shopping, not eating out). You can get a full pad kra pao for 35B here. The som tam stall and the boat noodle stall are standouts.
Tip: Return any unused credit on your card before leaving — they refund it at the counter.

4. Nana Food Stalls (Soi 4 area)

What to order: Khao Pad Krapow Moo (holy basil pork fried rice)
Price: 50-60B
Location: Along Sukhumvit near Soi 4
The deal: The Nana area has late-night food stalls that cater to the nightlife crowd. The krapow stalls operate until 2-3am. After a night out, a plate of krapow over rice with a fried egg is Bangkok's answer to a kebab.

5. Thong Lor / Ekkamai Vendors

What to order: Upscale street food — truffle toast, specialty crepes, artisan ice cream
Price: 60-150B
Location: Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thong Lo) and Soi 63 (Ekkamai)
The deal: This is Bangkok's trendy neighborhood. The street food here is more "Instagram-worthy" than traditional — think wagyu skewers and matcha soft-serve. Still delicious, but a different vibe than Yaowarat.

Sukhumvit Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Terminal 21 food court lunch | 45B | | Pad See Ew from soi stall | 60B | | Grilled meat skewers (2x) | 40B | | Fresh fruit shake | 40B | | Late-night Krapow | 55B | | Total | 240B (~$6.90) |

Neighborhood 8: Pratunam

Why go: Pratunam is Bangkok's garment district, which means it is full of workers who need cheap, filling food. The street food here is honest, no-frills, and some of the cheapest in central Bangkok. It is also home to one of the city's most famous chicken rice shops.

How to get there: BTS Ratchathewi, then walk 10 minutes. Or take the Airport Rail Link to Ratchaprarop.

Best time: 10am to 10pm. The area is busy all day because of the garment trade.

Vibe: Bustling, wholesale market energy, zero tourist infrastructure.

Top Stalls in Pratunam

1. Go-Ang Kaomunkai Pratunam (โกอ่าง ข้าวมันไก่ ประตูน้ำ)

What to order: Khao Man Gai (chicken rice)
Price: 40-50B
Location: In the Kuay Teaw Petchburi alley (Petchburi Soi 30 area)
The deal: Widely considered the best Khao Man Gai in Bangkok. The chicken is impossibly tender, the rice is fragrant with chicken fat, and the dipping sauce (dark soy bean with ginger and chili) is perfectly balanced. There is always a queue. It is always worth it. They are open from about 5:30am to 2pm, then again from 5pm to midnight.
Tip: The shop has green signs. Go during off-peak hours (before 11am or after 1:30pm) to avoid the worst of the queue.

2. Pad Thai Pratunam

What to order: Pad Thai Special (with extra shrimp and egg)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Near the Pratunam intersection
The deal: A straightforward, well-executed pad thai. Nothing revolutionary — just consistently good noodles, proper wok hei (smoky char), and cheap prices.

3. Khao Moo Grob Stalls (ข้าวหมูกรอบ)

What to order: Khao Moo Grob (crispy pork belly on rice)
Price: 50-60B
Location: Along Petchburi Road
The deal: Thick slabs of pork belly with shatteringly crispy skin, served over rice with a sweet dark sauce and Chinese greens. The contrast between the crackling skin and the soft, fatty meat is magnificent.

4. Kuay Teaw Reua (Boat Noodles)

What to order: Beef or pork boat noodles — get both
Price: 15-20B per bowl
Location: Side streets off Ratchaprarop Road
The deal: Tiny, intense bowls of dark, aromatic noodle soup. The Pratunam boat noodle stalls are excellent and even cheaper than the famous ones elsewhere. Stack your bowls.

5. Roti Mataba Stalls

What to order: Mataba (stuffed roti with minced chicken or beef curry)
Price: 30-50B
Location: Near the Baiyoke Tower area
The deal: These Muslim-influenced savory stuffed rotis are common in the Pratunam area. The dough is stretched thin, filled with spiced minced meat, folded, and fried on a griddle. Served with cucumber sauce. A hearty snack.

Pratunam Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Khao Man Gai (Go-Ang) | 50B | | 5x boat noodle bowls | 90B | | Moo Grob rice | 55B | | Mataba | 40B | | Iced coffee | 25B | | Total | 260B (~$7.50) |

Neighborhood 9: Victory Monument (อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ)

Why go: Victory Monument is a major transport hub (BTS, buses, minivans) and the surrounding streets are packed with food stalls catering to students and commuters. Bangkok University is nearby, so the food is cheap and portions are generous — designed for hungry students, not delicate tourist appetites.

How to get there: BTS Victory Monument. Food is all around the monument in every direction.

Best time: 7am-10pm. Morning has great breakfast options. Lunch is the busiest. Evening has a lively street scene.

Vibe: Student energy, transit hub chaos, honest cheap food.

Top Stalls at Victory Monument

1. Boat Noodle Alley (ซอยก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ)

What to order: Boat noodles — beef or pork, dry or soup
Price: 13-18B per bowl
Location: The soi behind the monument (Rang Nam Road area)
The deal: This is the most famous boat noodle location in Bangkok. Multiple stalls line the alley, each serving tiny bowls of rich, dark, intensely flavored noodle soup. The tradition is to eat many bowls and stack them up. 8-10 bowls is a proper meal. Even at 10 bowls, you are spending about 150B.
Tip: Try both the soup (nam) and dry (haeng) versions. The dry version is tossed in a thick, sweet-savory sauce.

2. Khao Moo Daeng + Moo Grob Combo

What to order: Khao Moo Daeng Moo Grob (red pork and crispy pork on rice)
Price: 50-60B
Location: Near the monument's south side
The deal: Both types of pork — the sweet red barbecue and the crispy-skinned belly — on one plate of rice with sweet gravy. Double the pork, double the joy.

3. Kuay Teaw Tom Yum Moo (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำหมู)

What to order: Tom Yum pork noodle soup
Price: 40-60B
Location: Multiple carts around the monument
The deal: Fiery, sour, porky noodle soup. The broth hits you with lime, chili, and lemongrass all at once. Perfect for those who like heat.

4. Pa Thong Ko + Soy Milk Carts

What to order: Fried dough sticks with warm sweet soy milk
Price: 25-35B for the set
Location: Morning carts near BTS exits
The deal: The morning commuter breakfast. Hot, fluffy dough sticks with sweet warm soy milk (nam tao hoo). Some carts offer a pandan-flavored custard dip.

5. Grilled Pork Neck (คอหมูย่าง)

What to order: Kor Moo Yang (grilled pork neck) with jaew dipping sauce
Price: 60-80B for a portion
Location: Evening stalls around Rang Nam Road
The deal: Pork neck is marinated, grilled over charcoal, sliced, and served with jaew — an Isaan dipping sauce made from roasted rice powder, chili flakes, fish sauce, and lime. Pair with sticky rice. This is drinking food — order a Singha and settle in.

Victory Monument Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Pa Thong Ko + soy milk (breakfast) | 30B | | 8x boat noodle bowls (lunch) | 130B | | Fresh fruit | 25B | | Kor Moo Yang + sticky rice (dinner) | 80B | | Iced lemon tea | 20B | | Total | 285B (~$8.20) |

Neighborhood 10: Old Town / Rattanakosin

Why go: The historic heart of Bangkok — home to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and the original royal district. The food here reflects Old Bangkok: traditional recipes, family-run shops that have been open for generations, and a slower pace than the rest of the city.

How to get there: Chao Phraya Express Boat to Tha Chang pier (for Grand Palace area) or Tha Tien pier (for Wat Pho). Or take a taxi to Sanam Luang.

Best time: 8am to 4pm. This is a daytime food neighborhood. Many shops close in the afternoon.

Vibe: Peaceful, historic, photogenic. Eat between temple visits.

Top Stalls in Rattanakosin

1. Mont Nomsod (มนต์นมสด)

What to order: Toast with butter and condensed milk, plus hot pink milk (nom yen)
Price: 30-50B
Location: Thanon Dinso, near Democracy Monument
The deal: A Bangkok institution since the 1960s. The toast is white bread, grilled in a charcoal press, slathered with butter and sweetened condensed milk. The pink milk (nom yen) is sweet, cold, and addictive. It sounds simple because it is. It is also perfect.

2. Thip Samai (ทิพย์สมัย)

What to order: Pad Thai Sod (fresh pad thai wrapped in egg)
Price: 60-100B
Location: Maha Chai Road (near the Giant Swing)
The deal: Thip Samai is arguably the most famous pad thai restaurant in Bangkok. The "Superb" version comes wrapped in a thin omelet and is cooked over charcoal in a traditional wok. The queue can stretch down the block. Is it the best pad thai in Bangkok? That is debatable, but it is certainly one of the most iconic. Open evenings only (approximately 5pm to midnight, closed Wednesdays).
Tip: Go on a weekday and arrive by 5pm. The queue on weekends can be 45 minutes or more.

3. Khao Soi Mae Sai

What to order: Khao Soi Gai (chicken khao soi)
Price: 60-80B
Location: Near Ratchadamnoen Road
The deal: A northern specialty found in Old Town. Creamy coconut curry broth, egg noodles, crispy fried noodle topping, tender chicken, with pickled greens and shallots on the side.

4. Coconut Pancake Stall (ขนมครก)

What to order: Khanom Krok (coconut milk pancakes)
Price: 20-30B for a set
Location: Near Sanam Luang (the big field by the Grand Palace)
The deal: Small, half-sphere coconut pancakes cooked in a cast-iron mold. Crispy on the outside, soft and custardy inside. The base batter is rice flour and coconut milk. Toppings include corn, taro, green onion, or pumpkin. The perfect snack between temples.

5. Yen Ta Fo Stall (เย็นตาโฟ)

What to order: Yen Ta Fo (pink noodle soup)
Price: 50-70B
Location: Streets behind Wat Pho
The deal: That bright pink soup that makes every tourist do a double-take. The color comes from fermented red bean curd. The soup contains fish balls, morning glory, tofu puffs, and squid. The flavor is sweet-sour and tangy. It is gentler than it looks.

Rattanakosin Budget

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Mont Nomsod toast + pink milk (breakfast) | 45B | | Khanom Krok (snack) | 25B | | Yen Ta Fo (lunch) | 60B | | Thip Samai Pad Thai (dinner) | 80B | | Water bottle | 10B | | Total | 220B (~$6.30) |

Night Markets: The Evening Food Crawl

Bangkok's night markets are more than shopping — they are food festivals that happen every single night. Here are the three you should not miss.

Jodd Fairs (จ๊อดด์ แฟร์)

Location: Rama 9 area (near MRT Phra Ram 9) Hours: 4pm to midnight, daily Entry: Free

Jodd Fairs is the current king of Bangkok night markets. It replaced the original Rod Fai Train Market as the city's hottest food market.

Must-eat stalls:

| Stall | Dish | Price | |-------|------|-------| | Teh-wa Fire Noodles | Flaming noodles (cooked with a literal fire show) | 89-159B | | Coconut ice cream stall | Coconut shell ice cream with toppings | 59B | | Wagyu skewer stalls | Grilled wagyu beef on a stick | 99-179B | | Crab fried rice stalls | Fried rice with crab meat in the shell | 199-299B | | Mango sticky rice | Classic dessert | 79B | | Grilled cheese toast | Thai-style grilled cheese sandwiches | 59-89B |

Tips:

Go on a weekday — weekends are packed
Arrive by 5pm for the best stall selection
Bring cash but many stalls now accept PromptPay QR
The back section has the best food; the front is mostly shopping

Rod Fai Market Srinakarin (ตลาดรถไฟศรีนครินทร์)

Location: Srinakarin Road (take BTS to Udom Suk, then taxi) Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 5pm to 1am

The OG train market. It has a more local, less polished feel than Jodd Fairs.

Must-eat stalls:

| Stall | Dish | Price | |-------|------|-------| | Isaan corner stalls | Som tam, gai yang, sticky rice | 40-80B | | Seafood BBQ tables | Grilled prawns, squid, fish | 100-300B | | Roti stalls | Banana roti with chocolate | 40-60B | | Noodle soup vendors | Kuay teaw in various styles | 50-70B | | Cocktail stalls | Thai-inspired cocktails | 100-150B |

Train Night Market Ratchada (Closed/Moved — Check Status)

The famous Train Night Market Ratchada (known for the colorful tent photo from above) closed in recent years due to the MRT construction. Check current status before visiting — some vendors have relocated to Jodd Fairs or other markets.

"Best Of" Bangkok Street Food Categories

After eating our way through Bangkok for years, here are our definitive picks for the best of each category.

Best Pad Thai

| Rank | Stall | Location | Price | Why | |------|-------|----------|-------|-----| | 1 | Thip Samai | Maha Chai Road (Old Town) | 60-100B | Charcoal wok, egg wrap, iconic | | 2 | Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu | Dinso Road | 50-80B | Intense wok hei, local favorite | | 3 | Pad Thai stalls at Chatuchak | Section 8 | 50-60B | Consistent, fresh, cheap |

Best Boat Noodles

| Rank | Stall | Location | Price | Why | |------|-------|----------|-------|-----| | 1 | Victory Monument Boat Noodle Alley | Rang Nam Road | 13-18B/bowl | The original, most intense broth | | 2 | Boat Noodle stalls at Chatuchak | Section 23 | 15-25B/bowl | Weekend convenience | | 3 | Pratunam boat noodle alley | Off Ratchaprarop | 15-20B/bowl | Less famous, equally good |

Best Mango Sticky Rice

| Rank | Stall | Location | Price | Why | |------|-------|----------|-------|-----| | 1 | Mae Varee | Thong Lo BTS exit | 80-120B | Premium mangoes, perfect coconut cream | | 2 | Yaowarat mango carts | Across from T&K | 80-100B | Fresh, generous portions | | 3 | Soi Rambuttri stalls | Behind Khao San | 60-80B | Reliable, late night |

Pro tip: Mango season in Thailand runs from March to June. During peak season (April-May), the mangoes are at their sweetest and cheapest. Off-season mango sticky rice is still good, but season mangoes are transcendent.

Best Grilled Meats

| Rank | Stall | Dish | Location | Price | |------|-------|------|----------|-------| | 1 | Victory Monument vendors | Kor Moo Yang (pork neck) | Rang Nam area | 60-80B | | 2 | Chatuchak moo ping stalls | Moo Ping (pork skewers) | Near gates | 10-15B/stick | | 3 | Silom Soi 20 | Gai Yang (grilled chicken) | Silom Soi 20 | 60-100B |

Best Seafood

| Rank | Stall | Dish | Location | Price | |------|-------|------|----------|-------| | 1 | T&K Seafood | Tom Yum Goong, garlic shrimp | Yaowarat | 150-400B | | 2 | Jay Fai | Crab omelet | Bang Rak | 800-1,500B | | 3 | Rod Fai Market BBQ | Grilled prawns | Srinakarin | 100-300B |

Best Desserts

| Rank | Dish | Where | Price | |------|------|-------|-------| | 1 | Mango sticky rice | Mae Varee (Thong Lo) | 80-120B | | 2 | Khanom Krok (coconut pancakes) | Old Town stalls | 20-30B | | 3 | Roti with banana | Khao San Road carts | 40-60B | | 4 | Coconut ice cream | Chatuchak / Jodd Fairs | 50-80B | | 5 | Bua Loi (glutinous rice balls in warm coconut milk) | Night market stalls | 30-40B | | 6 | Khanom Buang (Thai crispy crepes) | Old Town, Yaowarat | 10-20B each | | 7 | Itim Mamuang (mango sorbet) | Fresh fruit stalls | 30-50B |

Full-Day Bangkok Food Crawl: Under 500B

Here is a realistic full-day eating itinerary that hits multiple neighborhoods and keeps you under 500 Baht total.

The Route

8:00am — Breakfast at Ari

BTS to Ari station
Jok Prince: Jok with pork and egg — 60B
Walk around Soi Ari, enjoy the calm morning

10:30am — Mid-morning snack at Rattanakosin

BTS to National Stadium, then taxi or boat to Old Town
Khanom Krok near Grand Palace — 25B
Visit Wat Pho or the Grand Palace

12:30pm — Lunch at Silom

BTS to Sala Daeng
Terminal 21 food court (at Asok, one stop on BTS): Pad Kra Pao — 40B
OR Soi Convent curry rice — 50B

3:00pm — Afternoon snack at Pratunam

Walk or taxi to Pratunam
Go-Ang Pratunam Khao Man Gai — 50B

5:30pm — Early dinner at Chatuchak (weekends) or Victory Monument (weekdays)

Weekend: BTS to Mo Chit → 6x boat noodles at Chatuchak — 100B
Weekday: BTS to Victory Monument → 6x boat noodles — 100B
Plus: Moo Ping skewers — 30B

8:00pm — Night crawl at Yaowarat

MRT to Wat Mangkon
Hoi Tod (mussel omelet) — 80B
Mango sticky rice — 80B

Total Budget

| Meal | Cost | |------|------| | Breakfast (Jok) | 60B | | Snack (Khanom Krok) | 25B | | Lunch (Pad Kra Pao) | 40B | | Snack (Khao Man Gai) | 50B | | Dinner 1 (Boat noodles + skewers) | 130B | | Dinner 2 (Hoi Tod) | 80B | | Dessert (Mango sticky rice) | 80B | | TOTAL | 465B (~$13.30) |

Seven different dishes across five neighborhoods for under 500 Baht. That is Bangkok.

Practical Tips for Bangkok Street Food

Peak Hours and Queues

Breakfast stalls: 6:30am-9am (most close by 10am)
Lunch stalls: 11am-1:30pm (this is the busiest time — arrive at 11am)
Dinner stalls: 5pm-9pm
Night market stalls: 6pm-midnight
Late-night stalls: 10pm-2am (Khao San, Sukhumvit)

Famous stalls like Thip Samai, Go-Ang Pratunam, and Jay Fai have queues. Go during off-peak hours or on weekdays.

Hygiene and Safety

Bangkok street food is overwhelmingly safe. Millions of people eat it every day without incident. That said, here are smart practices:

Look for high turnover — busy stalls mean fresh ingredients
Watch for cooked-to-order — food made fresh in front of you is safest
Check the ice — tube ice (hollow cylinders) is factory-made and safe. Crushed ice from blocks is also generally fine in Bangkok
Eat what the locals eat — if a stall has a queue of Thai people, the food is good and safe
Avoid pre-made food sitting in the sun — if something looks like it has been out all day, skip it
Carry hand sanitizer — not all stalls have handwashing facilities

Read our full guide: Street Food Ordering Guide for detailed hygiene advice and what to do if you get sick.

Ordering in Thai

You do not need to speak Thai to eat street food — pointing works perfectly. But a few phrases help enormously:

| English | Thai | Pronunciation | |---------|------|---------------| | One plate/bowl please | เอาจานนึง / ชามนึง | Ao jaan neung / chaam neung | | Not spicy | ไม่เผ็ด | Mai pet | | A little spicy | เผ็ดนิดหน่อย | Pet nit noi | | Very spicy | เผ็ดมาก | Pet maak | | No fish sauce | ไม่ใส่น้ำปลา | Mai sai nam pla | | No MSG | ไม่ใส่ผงชูรส | Mai sai pong choo rot | | Delicious! | อร่อย! | Aroy! | | How much? | เท่าไหร่ | Tao rai? | | Take away | ใส่ถุง | Sai tung | | Eat here | ทานที่นี่ | Taan tee nee | | Check please | เช็คบิล | Check bill | | Thank you | ขอบคุณ | Khob khun |

For the complete ordering guide: How to Order Street Food in Thailand

Cash vs Mobile Payment

Cash is king at 90% of street stalls. Carry small bills (20B, 50B, 100B). Many vendors cannot break a 1,000B note.
PromptPay QR codes are increasingly common at established stalls and night markets. Look for the blue QR code sign.
Credit cards are not accepted at street stalls. Period.
Grab Pay works at some night market stalls, but do not count on it.

Pro tip: Hit an ATM or exchange booth first. Keep 500-1,000B in small bills specifically for street food.

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

Thai street food is challenging for people with severe allergies because:

Fish sauce (nam pla) is in almost everything
Peanuts appear in many dishes (pad thai, som tam, satay sauce)
Shellfish is common and cross-contamination is likely at shared wok stations
Soy is used in sauces and marinades
Gluten is present in soy sauce, noodle dishes, and fried items

If you have severe allergies, carry a translated allergy card in Thai. Our Thai Food Allergen Guide has printable allergy cards.

Getting Between Food Neighborhoods

Bangkok's transit system makes food crawling easy:

| From → To | Best Route | Time | Cost | |-----------|------------|------|------| | Ari → Chatuchak | BTS (1 stop north) | 5 min | 16B | | Chatuchak → Victory Monument | BTS (2 stops south) | 8 min | 23B | | Victory Monument → Silom | BTS (5 stops south) | 15 min | 32B | | Silom → Yaowarat | MRT (Silom → Wat Mangkon) | 12 min | 23B | | Yaowarat → Rattanakosin | Walk or tuk-tuk | 10-15 min | Free or 50-80B | | Rattanakosin → Khao San | Walk | 10 min | Free | | Sukhumvit → Yaowarat | MRT (Sukhumvit → Wat Mangkon) | 15 min | 28B | | Pratunam → Ari | BTS (Ratchathewi → Ari, 3 stops) | 10 min | 23B |

Tip: Buy a Rabbit card (BTS) or MRT stored-value card to avoid buying individual tickets each time. The Rabbit card saves time in queues and works at BTS, some buses, and a few shops.

Seasonal Considerations

Hot Season (March-June)

Mango season = best mango sticky rice of the year
Durian season starts in April (if you dare)
Hydrate constantly — carry water and order fruit shakes
Night markets are more comfortable than daytime food crawls
Lychee and rambutan are abundant and cheap

Rainy Season (July-October)

Some outdoor stalls close during heavy rain (5pm-7pm thunderstorms are common)
Night markets still operate — look for covered areas
Fewer tourists = shorter queues at famous stalls
October: Jay Festival (Vegetarian Festival) — entire neighborhoods go vegetarian for 10 days

Cool Season (November-February)

The most comfortable time for food crawls
Evening temperatures drop to 22-25°C — pleasant for walking
Holiday season means night markets are festive and busy
Chinese New Year (January/February) makes Yaowarat absolutely spectacular

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Eating at the first stall you see near tourist attractions — Walk one block away from the Grand Palace, Khao San Road, or major temples and prices drop 30-50%
Only eating pad thai — It is Thailand's most famous dish but barely cracks the top 10. Branch out to pad kra pao, khao man gai, som tam, and boat noodles
Being afraid of street food — You are statistically more likely to get food poisoning at a buffet than a street cart. High turnover means fresh food
Going to Yaowarat before 6pm — Half the stalls will not be open. Time it right
Ordering "Western spicy" at a Thai stall — "Spicy" in Thai food means something very different. Start with "not spicy" (mai pet) and add heat yourself from the condiment station
Ignoring the condiment station — Every noodle stall has a condiment caddy with sugar, dried chili, fish sauce, and chili vinegar. Customize your food. This is expected.
Tipping at street stalls — Tipping is not expected or customary at street food stalls in Thailand. Just pay the price listed.
Spending money on water — Buy water at 7-Eleven (7B for a bottle) instead of from vendors near tourist sites (20-30B for the same bottle)

What Else to Read

If you found this guide useful, check out our other food and Bangkok guides:

Thai Street Food Guide — Our comprehensive overview of Thai street food culture, dish-by-dish breakdowns, and safety tips
Street Food Ordering Guide — How to order like a local, essential Thai phrases, and what to do when there is no English menu
Thai Food Allergen Guide — Printable allergy cards, common allergens in Thai food, and how to communicate dietary needs
Thai Food Guide for Beginners — 30 essential dishes ranked from mild to adventurous
Best Thai Dishes by Region — Northern, Southern, Central, and Isaan cuisines explained
Vegetarian & Vegan Thailand — Plant-based eating across the country
Bangkok Backpacker Guide — Everything you need for Bangkok beyond food

Final Thought

Bangkok's street food scene is not a tourist attraction. It is the actual way that 10 million people feed themselves every day. When you eat at a street stall, you are not doing something exotic — you are doing what everyone else in the city does. The vendor has been perfecting that one dish for years. The family next to you eats here every Tuesday. The office worker is on her lunch break.

That is what makes Bangkok street food special. It is real, it is delicious, and at 40-80 Baht per dish, it might be the best food deal on the planet.

Now go eat.

Prices listed are accurate as of early 2026 and are given in Thai Baht (B). At the time of writing, 1 USD equals approximately 35 THB. Prices may vary slightly by season and inflation. All stall recommendations are based on our research and visits — stalls can move, close, or change ownership. When in doubt, follow the queues.