Food · Bangkok · Thailand
What to eat in Bangkok
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Bangkok, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Pad thai, Tom yum goong and Som tam. Walk Yaowarat Road from about 6pm, grazing on grilled seafood, rolled noodles and Chinese desserts from the stalls with the longest local queues. Thai meals are shared: order several dishes for the table and eat with a spoon in the right hand, using the fork to push food onto it.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Pad thai
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 2
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave small change…
- Food experiences
- 4
12 foods to try
Street food
1.Pad thai
Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts and garlic chives, finished at the table with lime, chilli flakes, sugar and crushed peanuts.
Where: Street carts and specialist shops across the city, especially in the old town around the Golden Mount.
Dish
2.Tom yum goong
A hot and sour soup of river prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli, served clear (nam sai) or creamy with evaporated milk (nam khon).
Where: Restaurants and riverside eateries across the city.
Dish
3.Som tam
Shredded green papaya pounded in a mortar with chilli, lime, fish sauce, tomatoes and peanuts; from Isan in the north-east and usually eaten with sticky rice and grilled chicken (gai yang).
Where: Isan street stalls and restaurants everywhere; say 'mai phet' if you want it mild.
Dish
4.Khao man gai
Hainanese-style poached chicken over rice cooked in chicken fat, served with a clear broth and a ginger, garlic and fermented-soybean sauce.
Where: Specialist stalls busiest at breakfast and lunch; Pratunam is known for them.
Street food
5.Boat noodles (Kuay teow reua)
Small bowls of dark, rich noodle soup with pork or beef, deeply spiced and once sold from boats on the canals; diners stack up their empty bowls.
Where: Boat-noodle shops along the canal by Victory Monument.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Mango sticky rice (Khao niao mamuang)
Sweet sticky rice soaked in coconut cream, served with ripe mango and crunchy toasted mung beans; at its best during the mango harvest from about March to June.
Where: Dessert stalls, markets and restaurants, especially in the hot season.
Dish
7.Pad kra pao
Minced pork or chicken stir-fried with holy basil, garlic and chillies over rice and topped with a crisp fried egg (khai dao); Bangkok's default quick lunch.
Where: Made-to-order street stalls and shophouse restaurants everywhere.
Dish
8.Green curry (Gaeng keow wan)
Coconut-milk curry made with green chilli paste, pea aubergines and Thai basil, usually with chicken or fish balls and eaten with jasmine rice.
Where: Curry-and-rice stalls (khao gaeng) and restaurants across the city.
Breakfast
9.Moo ping
Skewers of sweet, marinated pork grilled over charcoal and sold with little bags of sticky rice, a breakfast staple for commuters.
Where: Morning street stalls near BTS and MRT stations and markets.
Dish
10.Kuay jap
Rolled rice noodles in a peppery pork broth with crispy pork belly and offal, one of Chinatown's signature evening dishes.
Where: Stalls on Yaowarat Road in the evening.
Drink · Vegetarian
11.Thai iced tea (Cha yen)
Strong black tea brewed with spices, sweetened with condensed milk and poured over crushed ice; bright orange and very sweet.
Where: Drink stalls and cafés everywhere, often in a plastic bag with a straw.
Dish
12.Massaman curry
A mild, rich curry with Persian and Indian influences, made with potatoes, peanuts, cinnamon and cardamom and usually beef or chicken.
Where: Restaurants and curry-and-rice stalls; often milder than other Thai curries.
Food experiences
Chinatown after dark
Walk Yaowarat Road from about 6pm, grazing on grilled seafood, rolled noodles and Chinese desserts from the stalls with the longest local queues.
Or Tor Kor Market
A spotless covered fresh market beside Chatuchak, near MRT Kamphaeng Phet, known for top-quality fruit, curry pastes and ready-made dishes to eat in its food court.
Thai cooking class
Many cooking schools start with a market tour, then teach curry pastes, soups and stir-fries; book a day or two ahead.
Mall food courts
Food courts in malls such as Siam Paragon, Terminal 21 and MBK serve street-food dishes in air-conditioned comfort at low prices, paid with a top-up card.
Quick bites and street food
- Pad thai — Street carts and specialist shops across the city, especially in the old town around the Golden Mount.
- Boat noodles — Boat-noodle shops along the canal by Victory Monument.
- Moo ping — Morning street stalls near BTS and MRT stations and markets.
Vegetarian options
Of the 12 foods in this guide, 2 are usually vegetarian: Mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Thai meals are shared: order several dishes for the table and eat with a spoon in the right hand, using the fork to push food onto it.
- Say 'mai phet' if you want food less spicy; condiment racks of chilli, sugar, fish sauce and vinegar let you adjust noodle soups yourself.
- Choose busy stalls with high turnover and food cooked to order.
- Drink bottled or filtered water; ice in restaurants generally comes from commercial factories (the cylindrical cubes with a hole).
- Upmarket restaurants add a 10% service charge and 7% VAT, shown on menus as '++'.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave small change at casual restaurants and tip massage therapists. Upmarket restaurants usually add a service charge already.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sawasdee khrap / kha | Hello (men say khrap, women kha) |
| Khop khun khrap / kha | Thank you |
| Mai pen rai | Never mind / no problem |
| Tao rai? | How much? |
| Mai phet | Not spicy |
| Aroi | Delicious |
| Check bin | The bill, please |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Bangkok famous for?
Pad thai, Tom yum goong, Som tam and Khao man gai. Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts and garlic chives, finished at the table with lime, chilli flakes, sugar and crushed peanuts.
+Is Bangkok good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Bangkok?
Tipping is not traditional but is appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave small change at casual restaurants and tip massage therapists. Upmarket restaurants usually add a service charge already.