9 Dishes you Must try in Bangkok

Visiting Bangkok is a whirlwind to your senses, from the towering skyscrapers, and motorbikes whizzing around you to the sizzling smell of food with the street vendors along nearly every street.

No trip to Bangkok is complete without diving deep into the flavors of Thai food. Each dish tells a story of tradition, innovation, and the city's unending love affair with food.

In this guide - you will find the top foods you MUST try during your visit - AND locations to save for your visit to Bangkok!

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Top 9 Dishes you MUST try

1. Pad Thai

   Pad Thai is the quintessential dish of Thailand that you have probable tried tons of times - BUT eating Pad Thai in Thailand is … chef’s kiss.

   Honestly, you can order this dish anywhere and can’t go wrong.

   Pro tip: Order this from a street vendor AND in a restaurant. See if you can taste a difference!

   Street vendor cost: $4 USD

2. Mango Sticky Rice

This is hands down one of my FAVORITE desserts and a MUST try dish.

This popular dessert consists of a bed of sticky rice, topped with a ripe yellow mango, a drizzle of coconut milk and sprinkled with sesame seeds creating the perfect combination of sweet and neutral.

Eat this AS much as you can! Because it is hard to find the perfect recipe in the U.S.

3. Pad Krapow (Stir-Fried Basil)

Pad Krapow is a spicy-stir fry dish that consists of minced meat (typically pork or chicken), basil, chili and garlic served on a bed of rice and topped of with a fried egg.

The first time I ate this dish was in Bangkok and I scoured the internet to make this dish back home.

4. Tom Yum Soup

Tom Yum soup is a perfect blend of spicy, sour, and savory. The acerbic broth is mixed with a combination of shrimp, chicken, lemongrass, lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, crushed chili peppers, and plenty of mushrooms.

Pro tip: For the best Tom Yum soup, check out Chatuchak Market.

5. Satay skewers

Satay are grilled skewers of marinated meat (usually chicken or pork) served with peanut sauce. These are easy grab and go snacks that can be found at nearly every street vendor or night market.

Pro tip: For the BEST skewers, go to Night Market Ratchada.

To check out an overview of Night Market Ratchade, check out my post here.

6. Roti Gluay (Banana Pancakes)

Roti Gluay is another snack that you can find with local street vendors or night markets. This popular dessert is created with thin dough, filled with banana slices, fried until crispy brown and caramelized, topped with sweet condensed milk.

7. Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)

I typically do not prefer spicy dishes - but this spicy salad is worth trying at least once! Som Tum consists of thinly sliced green papaya, cherry tomatoes, fresh cilantro, sliced red chili, and green onions. It is often served as a light/ refreshing dish during the scorching summers - but I must warn the spice of this dish may not cause much relief.

8. Pad See Ew (Stir-Fried Noodle)

Another one of my favorite noodle dishes is Pad See Ew, which is a stir-fried wide noodle dish. These flat wide noodles are cooked on high heat creating a smoky flavor throughout and mixed with chicken or pork and Chinese broccoli and egg.

9. Khai Jiaow (Thai Omelette)

Khai Jiaoq is a perfect dish for breakfast that is often served on a bed of rice, making it a filling serving. Typically khai jiaoq is cooked on high heat to create the perfect combination of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

One of the best ways to experience ALL of the Thai staples is by going on a food tour!

For the best markets to eat all the amazing food listed here, check out:

Day market: Chatuchak Market.

Night Market: One Ratchada

For more insight on these markets, check out my blog here.

Traveling to Bangkok is an adventure - getting to experience the unique blends of flavors and spices is suc an unforgettable experience.

My advice - jump in!

Open yourself up to a new culture, new blend of textures, new foods, and street food is a staple to TRULY engulfing yourself in Southeast Asian life.

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