The Best 10 Street Foods in Thailand

When it comes to incredible street food in Thailand, you will fall in love with a great diversity of street food here from the first bite, no matter where you come from and what kind of food you are interested in. There is a variety of dishes for you to choose in Thailand streets, which attract a lot of tourists coming back each year. Have a look at the list of 10 must-try Thai street food below and take your chance to taste every single dish when you are in this foodie paradise.

1. Som Tam

The number one dish in the list of must-try street food in Thailand is Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad), which has a perfect balance of sour, chilli, sweet, salty and based around the primary ingredient of green Papaya. Other ingredients of this delicious street food dish are spices, garlic, chilies, lime juice, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, string beans, and fish sauce. With only 50 THB, you can try Som Tam in almost street in Thailand.

Som Tam

Where to try

• Somtam, 392/14 Soi Siam Square 5, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
• Soi 19 on Udomsuk Road in Bangkok
• Somtum Der on Silom in Bangkok
• Cherng Doi in Chiang Mai

2. Pad Thai

Another one of Thailand’s mouth-watering street food is called Pad Thai (Thai-Style Fried Noodles). It is also known as the country’s national dish, made from shrimp or chicken, chilies, palm sugar, tamarind, lime juice, with egg noodles and some fried peanuts on top. Pad Thai has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy taste. You can choose either vegetarian with tofu or seafood Pad Thai which are reasonable (only 50 THB), filling and healthy. You can order the noodle with pineapple or orange juice.

Pad Thai

Where to try

• Thipsamai Pad Thai 313-315 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok (the first and the best stall in Bangkok)
• Pad Thai Goong Sod Nai Sa Nga in Surawong, next to Ruamkatanyu Foundation Trok Lung Wat Hua Lamphong

3. Khao Pad

Khao Pad (Fried Rice) is a commonly eaten dish among Asian countries like Vietnam, India, and China. But in Thailand, there is something special added, including herbs and spices which make this Thai street food delicious and well-known around the world. Other ingredients contain salt, sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, cooked rice, vegetables, and sometimes shrimp, egg. It likes a big meal and can provide nutritious value with a satisfying taste. This street food looks cool and is more delicious when the rice is put in the pineapple. Price is almost the same with Pad Thai.

Khao Pad

Where to try

• Any stall in Petchaburi Soi 5 and street food stalls along Ari Soi in Bangkok
• The stall between Platinum Shopping Mall and Central World, opening from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

4. Khao Neeo Mamuang

Khao Neeo Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice) is another authentic tasting dish made from rice. Then, they add fresh coconut milk, and a ripe mango to sticky rice. The sticky rice absorbs the coconut cream, creating a pleasantly soft texture and mild sweet taste. It is must-try dish especially if you are in Thailand during the peak mango season, which is from April to May. For some reason, mangoes during this season are incredibly sweet, tasty and fresh. This dessert costs around 80 THB.

Khao Neeo Mamuang

Where to try

• Boonsap Thai Desserts, Kor Panich on San Chao Pho Sua, and Bua Loy Nam King in Chinatown, all in Bangkok.

5. Banana Roti

Not only mango is widely used in ingredients to make delicious dishes in Thai streets; but other fruits like banana, rambutan, and durian are also popular. Banana is the main ingredient of Banana Roti (Banana Pancake), which is a crispy fried pancake with banana slices inside it served with a condensed milk dressing on top. Dough is stretched extremely thin and then fried expertly on a large hotplate by skillful vendors. It is then quickly folded around the fillings to create a square and chopped up into small pieces. The fried pancakes are crispy and crunchy. Surely, you will love it from the very first bite. It costs only 50 THB.

Banana Roti

Where to try

• Boonsap Thai Dessert Shop - 1478 Soi Charoen Krung 46, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand

6. Pia Sod

Pia Sod (Spring Rolls) is considered as the number one snack in Thailand, it can be easily found at almost every street food cart. Pia Sod is made with a variety of fillings, including meat, vegetables, glass noodle, shitake mushroom, tofu, and peanuts. These freshly rolled dishes are served with a dipping sauce. It must be the most budget street food in Thailand. The price of Pia Sod ranges from 20 THB to 35 THB for three rolls.

Pia Sod

Where to try

• Any stall in Petchaburi Soi 5 and the corner of Silom Road in Bangkok

7. Malang Tod

Are you looking for something adventurous and challenging in Thailand? Why do not you try Malang Tod, also called fried insects? This one of the weirdest street food in Thailand will surprise you because of its local delicacies. This nutritious dish consists of a variety of fried insects such as crickets, beetles, worms, and grasshoppers. The fried insects are traditionally served with a bit of pepper and soy sauce or fish sauce. Best time to enjoy this Thai street food is in the afternoon with a liquor or beer. A little bit nutty, a little bit salty and crunchy taste of this dish will make you feel good and ready for the night with lot of adventure after that! It is 20 THB for small snack, and 100 THB for a mixed bag full.

Malang Tod

Where to try

• Khaosan Road -Khwaeng Talad Yot, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200 Thailand

Note: You should not eat this kind of food if you are allergic with asthma, pregnant women, or you are at the risk of being obese, renal disease and bone problems.

8. Kai Jeow

If you like eggs, do not miss Kai Jeow, the Thai Omelette. This crunchy food features multiple soft inner layers and crispy edges. It is made from only eggs, fish sauce, chillies, and herb. However, the way Thai people cook the dish makes it unique. Try to fry it in enough hot oil so that the water turns instantly to steam and the omelette puffs up with all the steam. Then you fry off the water to brown and crisp up the omelette ready to serve. Normally, this is eaten with steamed jasmine rice and vegetables, because it is too much fat if you eat it only. Prices start around 30 THB.

Thai Crab Omelette

Where to try

• Raan Jay Fai on Maha Chai Road in Bangkok
• Find out other places to taste Crab Omelette in Thailand

9. Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum is probably the most famous of Thai soups not only in Thailand but also worldwide. It is a clear, sour soup flavored with fragrant lemon grass, fresh galangal root and kaffir lime leaf which makes the food outstanding. Five different flavors of Thai food are combined perfectly in this one delicious bowl. Tom Yum Goong, the spicy shrimp soup, is the most well-known variety of Tom Yum and the main ingredient of the dish is shrimp. Besides, you may also use firm flesh fish, chicken or mushrooms for a vegetarian option. Prices start around 50 THB.

Tom Yum Goong

Where to try

• Charoen Nakorn, Khlong San, Bangkok (Opening time: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm)
• 68/51 Soi Phetchburi 5, Phetchburi Road Near BTS Ratchathewi Station, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok

10. Kafae Yen and Cha Yen

The last dish of best street food in Thailand is Kafae Yen and Cha Yen, which are famous all around the world. It is awesome to have a hot coffee and tea in the cold winter but it is more fantastic if you have an ice-cold coffee or tea in the hot summer! This drink is not only ordinary black tea with coffee, but also distinct spices, flavors, and colors are added to the leaves. Sometimes, they add cream and condensed milk. Consequently, the drinks can be extremely sweet, that is the reason why they drink Iced Thai Coffee and Tea after a spicy green curry or Pad Thai. Prices start around 20 THB.

Cha Yen in Thailand

Where to try

• Tealicious on Soi Charoen Krung in Bangkok
• Most gas stations, standalone stalls, and street food markets in Bangkok

Above is 10 must-try Thai street food, were you able to choose your favorite? I am sure you will be able to find more when you are in Thailand, wandering around the city of Thailand. Plan a trip to Thailand and enjoy the street food here.

Jenny Tran

(Image source: Internet)