The most popular dishes in Bangkok
Bangkok street food is one of the things that keeps travellers coming back to Bangkok. The abundance of heavenly aromas and colourful street food stalls will make choosing just one snack to complete your meal a seemingly impossible task!
The profusion of exotic flavours and fragrances makes Bangkok's gastronomic cuisine famously irresistible. Below are just some of the best and most popular dishes to try once you have settled in Bangkok.
Pad Thai
An outstanding default dish of Thailand, Pad Thai is a steamy fried noodle topped with anything of your choice and added with a spoon or two of sugar, chilli flakes, and vinegar - an option by way of condiments. It is mostly available on every street corner in Bangkok.
One of the best Pad Thai in Bangkok is located near BTS Ekkamai. For 250 baht (which is quite pricey compared to the usual 50 baht pad thai), you may enjoy this hearty dish with seafood including squid, king prawns and mussels.
Tom Yung Goong
Tom Yung Goong is a versatile dish with a distinctive smell and exotic aroma combined in one iconic bowl. It is created with quintessential Thai ingredients that include lemongrass, chilli, lime leaves, lime juice, shallots and plenty of fish sauce. It is an all-in-one dish that combines sour, salty, sweet, and spicy.
Pee Aor's Tom Yum Goong (located behind Phaya Thai BTS Station) is the city's most famous as you will drool once it is served. Packed with giant rock lobster, squids, mussels and prawns, this creamy soup has rightfully been dubbed the king of flavors.
Som Tum
It is a mix of everything. Mostly with shredded raw papaya intensely pounded in mortar and pestle to make the flavours blend. The variations mainly include nuts, tomatoes, dried shrimp, lime, palm sugar and salted egg. It's the most popular salad in Thailand.
These are available on most street food stalls along the alleys of Bangkok, as well as in malls and restaurants. You may try the popular Somtum Der located in the busy streets of Silom.
Kuay Teaw Neua Toon
These are noodles with intense flavours cooked for long periods. Most locals prefer to eat this dish with rice noodles (flat, small, or vermicelli, you choose).
The best location to visit for this dish would be Ekkamai. Wattana Pannich's Beef Stew will definitely hit the mark. The soup used has been there for around 60 years as they are using a master stock method. They save the soup left at the end of every night and pour it back into the pot the next day with the newly cooked stew. It is rare to find master stock these days as it is an ancient style of cooking.
Jok (rice porridge)
It is the most popular choice for breakfast for Thais. It is also known as the congee of Thailand as it is not far from the original. It consists of rice soup mixed with pork broth and topped with either a raw or a century egg and garnished with tiny bit slices of ginger, and spring onions.
The most popular place to eat jok is Jo Prince near BTS Saphan Taksin, in front of Robinson Bangrak. For 45 baht, your congee cravings will be satisfied with this simple bowl of comfort food.
Kao Niew Moo Ping
In every aisle of Thailand comes the aroma of grilled pork. The perfect duo of sticky rice or popularly called khao neow and pork skewers or moo ping will definitely fill the hungry tummy on the go. The great satisfaction it brings never gets old and boring. It is available everywhere in Bangkok so it shouldn't be missed.
Pad Kra Pao
Pad Kra Pao is one of the most popular and beloved dishes for Thai as well as with farangs. Mostly it is cooked and served by small street vendors with large woks in the streets. The strong aroma and taste of basil make it spectacular. It consists of jasmine rice, egg, and meat of your choice stir-fried together with the basil and chillies.
Ratcha Bar and restaurant located in Ratchadaphisek Soi 32 will cater for your Pad Kra Pao madness as it specializes in pad Kra Pao.
Larb Gai
This dish is highly favoured, especially in the Northern and Northeastern parts of Thailand. Even though it is simple and easy to make, it is also highly nutritious with the herbs and protein it contains. Larb Gai is perfectly paired with sticky rice. Your tastebuds will definitely love the freshness of mint, sourness of lime and spice of chilli.
Locals and foreigners have Taksura in Ekkamai on their list of the best Larb Gai. The combination of a light and crispy meal will definitely wow you for only 100 baht.
There you go! These are just some of the flavoursome dishes Thailand could offer. It may be overwhelming at first, but you eventually will get used to it. The world of incredibly delicious cuisine while travelling in Thailand offers a wide variety of choices that will hit your taste buds like a whirlwind. It may take you years to fully try and explore the delectable and authentic dishes of Bangkok as the supply never ends.
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