A Bangkok food heaven where ancient recipes, bustling street markets, and world-class fine dining all coexist. From smoky wok-fried noodles to spicy soups, fresh seafood, famous desserts, and Michelin-star tasting menus – Bangkok offers unforgettable culinary experiences for every budget.

Whether this is your first trip or your tenth, this in-depth guide helps you discover what to eat in Bangkok, where to find the best street food stalls, and the top Michelin restaurants worth booking.

1. What to Eat in Bangkok, Thailand? (Must-Try Bangkok Restaurants & Iconic Local Dishes)

In Thailand, Bangkok’s best meals often come from humble street vendors who have perfected a single recipe over generations. Here are the top places every traveller must try.

1.1. Pad thai

Pad Thai is a stir fried rice noodle dish that is usually made with a scrambled egg, some tofu cubes, tamarind, fish sauce, and dried shrimp. They also add palm sugar and usually, tourists can help themselves by adding ground peanuts, lime, fresh mungbeans, and some other greenery. Sometimes it is served with chicken or fresh shrimp, other times instead of an egg scramble it is placed in a little egg-complete- nest-package. In the grand scheme of Thai cuisine and flavors, it is probably not the most exciting dish in the world but it’s a delicious food to try in Bangkok.

1.2. Thai Crab omelette

Kai Jeow Poo is a deceptively simple yet indulgent Thai omelette: fluffy eggs seasoned with fish sauce, dark soy sauce, and white pepper, folded around generous lumps of sweet crab meat. Fried in very hot oil, the omelette becomes golden, crispy at the edges, and wonderfully puffy. Served with jasmine rice and a drizzle of Thai Sriracha for extra heat, it’s a comforting dish with luxurious depth – rich, satisfying, and beloved by locals and visitors alike.

1.3. Thong Smith Boat Noodle

Thong Smith offers elevated boat noodles with a rich, silky broth that tastes deeper than the average street version. Premium cuts of beef add tenderness and flavor, while the restaurant’s warm, modern décor creates a comfortable setting to enjoy this enhanced version of a classic Thai staple. Ideal for those looking for a more upscale yet authentic experience.

1.4. Gai Tod Hat Yai – Hat Yai Style Fried Chicken

Hat Yai Fried Chicken is a little bit different from say American style fried chicken,  the chicken is marinated in some fish sauce and only a little bit of flour or cornstarch is added to give the chicken a little crispy shell when fried, no batter here. The resulting fried chicken is crunchy yet not soaking wet with oil, the fried chicken also comes out very juicy and tender.

You can order Hat Yai Fried Chicken by itself but many people eat this with sticky rice. The thing that makes this fried chicken all the more better is that a spoonful of crispy golden deepfried shallots are piled onto your fried chicken adding such a delicious aroma and an extra crunch.

1.5. Moo Ping – Grilled Pork Skewers

A beloved street food breakfast and all-day snack, Moo Ping features skewers of fatty pork marinated in a sweet-savory mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and aromatic spices. What makes Moo Ping so good is that the fat gets all charred from the charcoal grill creating this really nice smokey flavor, not to mention the pork meat is incredibly juicy and tender. You can find Moo Ping all over Bangkok, in random street food vendor carts on the side of the road to crowded street food night markets.

1.6. Khanom Krok – Crispy Coconut Milk Cakes 

Khanom Krok are traditional Thai coconut milk cakes cooked in a cast-iron pan with small circular molds, similar to a Takoyaki griddle in Japan. A batter of rice flour and coconut milk sizzles into a crispy exterior while the center stays soft, creamy, and custard-like. Some toppings like green onion, corn, or taro are added on top of the Khanom Kroks. These are the traditional toppings, but you can find innovative vendors adding all sorts of different sweet toppings. Khanom Krok is just so good, with a crispy and crunchy outer shell, with a rich and creamy coconut custard in the middle. My favorite topping is corn which adds a nice little sweetness.

1.7. Tom Yum

This lighter style of Tom Yum still packs the signature trio of sour, spicy, and aromatic flavors. Many small shops serve it loaded with minced pork, fish balls, peanuts, and fragrant herbs. Despite its clearer broth, the taste remains bold, refreshing, and unmistakably Thai – a comfort soup with an invigorating kick.

1.8. Thai Papaya Salad (Som Tam)

Som Tam is one of Thailand’s most iconic street foods thanks to its electric combination of crunchy green papaya, bright lime juice, chilis, palm sugar, and fish sauce. The result is a dish that’s spicy, sweet, tart, and savory all at once. Bangkok offers countless variations, from salted egg and crispy pork to more intense versions with fermented crab. Each bite bursts with flavor and texture, that’s why a lot of tourists love this dish. Don’t miss it when visiting Thailand.

1.9. Khao Soi

Originally from northern Thailand, Khao Soi has become a beloved favorite in Bangkok. This coconut curry noodle soup features soft egg noodles in a rich, fragrant curry broth, usually topped with chicken or beef. A handful of crispy noodles adds the perfect crunch, while pickled mustard greens, lime, and chili paste allow you to adjust the flavor to your preference. Creamy, aromatic, and deeply comforting.

1.10. Mango Sticky Rice

Perhaps Thailand’s most famous dessert around the world, Mango Sticky Rice pairs perfectly ripe, fragrant mango with warm sticky rice drenched in sweetened coconut milk. The contrast of textures – soft fruit, chewy rice, creamy sauce, making it unforgettable. It’s best enjoyed freshly prepared at night markets or specialty stalls like the renowned Mae Varee.

How Much Is Street Food in Bangkok?

Bangkok street food is known for being delicious, affordable, and widely available. Prices can vary based on the type of dish, the location, and whether you’re buying from a local neighborhood stall or a popular tourist market: 

• Most street-food dishes are inexpensive, usually costing 30–100 THB ($1–$3 USD), making it easy to enjoy a full meal without spending much.
• Snacks like grilled skewers or small bites are very budget-friendly, often around 10-30 THB ($0.30–$1 USD).
• Popular dishes such as noodles, soups, and rice meals typically fall within a low to moderate range, about 40–80 THB ($1.20–$2.50 USD), staying affordable even for travelers on a budget.
• Tourist-heavy areas may charge slightly more, while local neighborhoods usually offer the best value and the most authentic pricing.

 

2. Top Street Food Stalls in Bangkok

These iconic spots are where you’ll find the best Bangkok street food. Whether you want bold street-side noodles, famous seafood pots, or old-town classics, this guide covers the city’s best local eats.

2.1. Yaowarat (Chinatown, Bangkok)

• Location: Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: Most stalls open 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
• Phone: N/A (street district)

Yaowarat is the street-food capital of Bangkok. When the neon lights turn on, the entire road transforms into a night market full of sizzling woks, grilling seafood, bubbling soups, and sweet Chinese-Thai desserts. This stall has everything from giant grilled river prawns, fried crab claws, dim sum, noodles, bird’s nest soup, to fresh fruit smoothies. That;s why it’s crowded and delicious.It’s perfect for adventurous travelers who want to taste Bangkok’s true night-life flavors.

2.2. Larb Bpet Yasothon (ลาบเป็ดยโสธร)

• Address: 1093 31 Sukhumvit 101/1, Bang Chak, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Phone: +66 89 156 9624

This stall is a true gem for Isaan food lovers traveling Bangkok. Their specialty, larb duck, is packed with fiery chilies, roasted rice powder, and aromatic herbs. The flavor is bold, spicy, and slightly gamey, being exactly the way real Isaan food should taste. Besides the larb, tourists can try their grilled chicken, papaya salad, and sticky rice. It’s a must-visit for travelers wanting to explore Thailand’s northeastern cuisine.

2.3. Doy Kuay Teow Reua (ต้อยก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ)

• Address: Victory Monument area, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Phone: +66 2 246 9933

These legendary “boat noodles” are served in small bowls, traditionally eaten in sets of 3–5 because each bowl is only a few mouthfuls. The broth is rich, dark, and aromatic, which is made with herbs, meat, spices, and sometimes pig’s blood for depth (optional). You can watch locals and tourists compete to stack as many empty bowls as possible. This stall is affordable, fast, and full of flavor, for sure to have an essential Bangkok experience.

2.4. Khao Gaeng Ruttana (ข้าวแกงรัตนา)

• Address: 77/6 Ari Samphan 4 Alley, Phaya Thai, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Phone: +66 81 553 7812

“Khao gaeng” means curry rice, and this shop serves over 20 dishes daily that tourists can try various favors. Locals love this place because the flavors are strong, the portions are generous, and the prices are low. It’s the perfect spot for travelers wanting to try a wide range of Thai dishes on a single plate.

2.5. Ratchawat Market / Sriyan Market

• Ratchawat Market: Nakhon Chaisi Rd, Dusit, Bangkok
• Sriyan Market: Si Yan Rd, Dusit, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM (varies by stall)

These old-school markets preserve the charm of traditional Bangkok. Stalls here are famous for roast duck, BBQ pork, boat noodles, Thai curries, fried bananas, and unique snacks that you won’t find in tourist areas. The atmosphere is calmer than Chinatown and ideal for first-time visitors who want authentic flavors without the crowds.

2.6. Bang Khun Non (บางขุนนนท์)

• Location: Bang Khun Non Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: Mostly 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (varies)

This area is a hidden gem for food lovers and largely unknown to tourists. It’s famous for Thai desserts, especially coconut milk puddings, banana in coconut cream, and pandan sweets. You’ll also find some of the city’s best duck noodles, braised pork dishes, and family-run shops serving recipes passed down through generations.

2.7. Somsak Boo Op (สมศักดิ์ ปูอบ)

•  Address: 315 Somdet Chao Phraya Rd, Khlong San, Bangkok
•  Opening Hours: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
•  Phone: +66 81 400 0540

This is Bangkok’s most famous baked seafood stall. Their signature dish, Boo Ob Woon Sen (baked crab with glass noodles), is wonderfully smoky, savory, and fragrant with soy sauce, garlic, and pepper. The crab is fresh, the noodles are silky, and every bite is infused with flavor from the clay pot. You will see many long queues because a lot of locals and tourists line up hours before opening.

2.8. Khao Kluk Kapi Niyngow (ข้าวคลุกกะปินายหง่าว)

• Address: 1339 Rama VI Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Phone: +66 89 187 7133

This stall is dedicated to shrimp paste fried rice, a uniquely Thai dish mixed with sweet pork, green mango, chili, shallots, and fresh herbs. The balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy makes it a favorite among locals. Everything is prepared fresh, and the flavors are clean and aromatic.

2.9. Tom Yum Goong Banglamphu (ร้านต้มยำกุ้งบางลำพู)

• Address: 41 Phra Sumen Rd, Chana Songkhram, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
•  Phone: +66 81 445 6588

This is one of Bangkok’s best Tom Yum soup stalls. The broth is bold and aromatic with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh herbs. They’re known for using big, fresh shrimp and serving a version that’s perfectly balanced, not too sweet, not overly spicy. This Tom Yum is full of toppings with shrimp, mushroom, meat or seafood.  If tourists want the real taste of Bangkok Tom Yum, this place is for you.

2.10. Kuay Jab Uan Pochana (ก๋วยจั๊บ อ้วนโภชนา)

•  Address: 408 Yaowarat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
•  Opening Hours: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM
•  Phone: +66 81 889 5430

Their signature dish is Kuay Jab, rolled rice noodles served in a peppery broth with crispy pork belly, offal, and garlic. The soup is comforting, aromatic, and slightly spicy from the pepper. Kuay Jab in this stall is so good that’s why it’s always busy, proof of how beloved their crispy pork is.

2.11. Wattana Panich (Nang Loeng Noodle / Ekkamai Beef Soup)

•  Address: 336 -338 Ekkamai Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Bangkok
•  Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
•  Phone: +66 2 381 8185

This shop’s beef broth has been simmering continuously for over 40 years. The broth is rich, dark, and deeply aromatic. It is served with tender beef, tripe, and noodles, it’s one of Bangkok’s most iconic dishes. They also serve goat stew, another signature so travelers will try a lot of great food in this stall.

2.12. Pad Thai Mae Am

• Address: 2879 Rama IV Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Phone: +66 64 773 9242

Considered one of the best Pad Thai spots by locals, not tourists. Their noodles are chewy, the sauce is perfectly balanced, and the shrimp is fresh. At Pad Thai Mae Am, you’ll find truly authentic flavors.

2.13. Thip Samai Pad Thai

• Address: 313 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM
• Phone: +66 2 226 6666

Often crowned the best Pad Thai in Bangkok, Thip Samai uses charcoal cooking to give their noodles a smoky aroma you won’t find anywhere else. Their orange-hued sauce is made from tamarind, palm sugar, shrimp paste, and dried shrimp simmered for hours. The “Superb Pad Thai” wrapped in egg is a must-try in this stall.

2.14. Nhong Rim Klong (ร้าน หน่องริมคลอง)

• Address: 203 Soi Ekkamai 21, Bangkok
• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Phone: +66 81 880 0060

This canal-side stall became famous online for its giant portions of crab omelet, crab fried rice, and seafood curry. The flavors are bold, the ingredients are generous, and the prices are reasonable for the portion size. Lunchtime is extremely busy – many locals order via motorbike delivery.

 

3. Bangkok’s Best Michelin-Starred Restaurants (2025 Edition)

 

Where is the best street food in Bangkok? While the city is celebrated for its world-class fine dining, its vibrant street-food scene offers an equally remarkable blend of tradition and creativity in beautiful restaurants. 

3.1. Potong restaurant

POTONG Restaurant is located in the heart of Yaowaraj, Bangkok. A classic Thai-Chinese eatery now transformed into a top-notch fine dining destination, preserving the essence of Thai-Chinese cuisine in the heart of the city, harmoniously combined with unique architecture through a tasting menu of over 20 dishes.

3.2. Sorn restaurant

The two-Michelin-starred restaurant celebrates the richness of Southern Thai cuisine. Located at 56 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, the restaurant is delicately crafted by chef-owner Supaksorn Jongsiri. Combining tradition with modernity, sophistication with innovation, his impeccably designed menu offers a tantalizing array of flavors, all perfectly blended.

3.3. Haoma restaurant Bangkok

Haoma is a Michelin-starred neo-Indian restaurant on  231/3 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Khlong Toei Nuea, Vadhana in Bangkok. It’s known for its sustainable, zero-waste philosophy and its own on-site urban farm. Most ingredients are hyper-local, including vegetables grown on the property. The menu reimagines Indian cuisine with modern techniques and Thai produce.

3.4. Baan Tepa Culinary Space

Located on 561 Ramkhamhaeng Road, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi in Bangkok, Baan Tepa is a  farm-to-table fine dining experience focused on Thai culture. The restaurant emphasizes sustainability and local sourcing: herbs and produce may come from their own garden and local producers.

3.5. Raan Jay Fai

World-famous Michelin-star street restaurant known for massive crab omelets, drunken noodles, and fiery wok cooking by Jay Fai herself. This restaurant is located on27 Maha Chai Road, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon with many  dishes from main dishes, noodle dishes, rice dishes to snacks and drinks.

3.6. Wana Yook restaurant

Wana Yook is housed in a beautifully restored 100-year-old colonial home at 5/15 Phaya Thai Road, giving the restaurant a charming, historic setting. Its tasting menu is built around the idea of reinterpreting Thai cuisine through a seasonal, modern lens. Classic dishes such as fried gourami fish with traditional Thai dipping sauce or the northern favorite khao soy are transformed with creative techniques and refined presentation.

In conclusion, Bangkok’s food scene is a feast for all senses. From humble street stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants, every meal is an adventure. Whether wandering through Chinatown, savoring trendy noodle bowls, or enjoying an exquisite tasting menu, Bangkok guarantees flavors that linger long after the last bite.