17 Best Street Food In Thailand [Ultimate Guide + Pictures]
If you want to know about the best street food in Thailand, you’ve come to the right place.
Ger and I have traveled all over Thailand and tried food from all sorts of restaurants, street vendors, markets, and even home-cooked meals!
Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world and it’s easy to see why.
The range of dishes from curries to noodles to seasoned meats is incredible. I’m getting hungry even talking about it!
Everyone knows about Thailand’s famous Pad Thai, but check out this list to see 16 other incredible dishes you can find in Thailand!
17 Best Street Food In Thailand:
1. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
2. Pad Thai (Fried Noodles)
3. Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry)
4. Gaeng Keow Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)
5. Massaman Gai (Massaman Curry)
6. Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
7. Pad Krapow Moo Saap (Fried Basil and Pork)
8. Yam Nua (Spicy Beef Salad)
9. Kai Med Ma Muang (Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
10. Kao Niew Ma Muang (Sweet Mango and Sticky Rice)
11. Moo ping (grilled pork)
12. Jok (rice porridge)
13. Khao man gai (chicken and rice)
14. Pad see ew (wide rice noodles)
15. Kuay tiao reua (boat noodles)
16. Khao Phat (Thai Fried Rice)
17. Poh Pia Tod (Thai Spring Rolls)
Honorable Mentions:
- Thai Iced Tea
- Banana Roti (Banana Pancake)
- Khanom Buang (Thai Crispy Pancakes)
- Thapthim Krop (Thai Red Ruby Dessert)
- Kluay Tod (Deep-Fried Bananas)
- Ma Laeng Tod (Fried Insects)
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Photo Credit: @thunthunchannel
17 Best Street Food In Thailand:
1. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
What Is It: Tom Yum Goong is a hot, sour, and spicy shrimp soup that is very popular in Thailand.
Where To Find It: You can find a great Tom Yum Goong at Mit Ko Yuan in Bangkok.
Price: It only cost 80 baht ($2.25).
2. Pad Thai (Fried Noodles)
What Is It: Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish with a sweet and sour sauce topped with crushed peanuts.
Where To Find It: One of the most famous places to get Pad Thai is at Thipsamai in Bangkok.
Price: It will cost about 100 baht ($2.80) here but you can find Pad Thai for as cheap as 35 baht ($1) in some places!
Photo Credit: @avneets.eats
3. Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry)
What Is It: Thai Red Curry is a famous dish made up of red chili peppers, other herbs, and spices with coconut milk. It is a spicy creamy dish, often cooked with chicken.
Where To Find It: Jok Pochana is a great place to get a Thai Red Curry in Bangkok.
Price: You can get a curry for between 50 ($1.40) and 100 baht ($2.80).
Photo Credit: @flavours_and_colours
4. Gaeng Keow Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)
What Is It: Green Curry is very similar to Red Curry, the main difference being the use of green chilies instead of red ones.
Where To Find It: Mae On’s Curry Over Rice is the best place to get Green Chicken Curry in Bangkok.
Price: Thai Green Curry will cost about 80 baht ($2.25) and you would add rice for 20 baht ($0.60).
Photo Credit: @holclarkson
5. Massaman Gai (Massaman Curry)
What Is It: Massaman Curry is a mildly spiced curry with tender meat and potatoes.
Where To Find It: You can find a great Massaman Curry at Terminal 21 in Bangkok.
Price: Massaman Curry costs between 50 ($1.40) and 80 baht($2.25).
Photo Credit: @screaming_carrots
6. Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)
What Is It: Spicy Green Papaya Salad is an unusual dish for Westerners but it is very tasty. It’s made up of shredded green papaya, chilies, some other vegetables, and spices.
Where To Find It: You can also find a great Papaya Salad at Terminal 21 in Bangkok.
Price: You can get Papaya Salad for about 50 baht ($1.40).
Photo Credit: @tinalatakaka
7. Pad Krapow Moo Saap (Fried Basil and Pork)
What Is It: Fried Basil and Pork is exactly that, a super tasty fried mixture of basil and pork along with some spices. It is usually served with rice.
Where To Find It: You can find a great Fried Basil and Pork dish in Pantaree Restaurant in Bangkok.
Price: It will cost about 50 baht ($1.40) for a portion and you can add rice for 20 baht ($0.60).
Photo Credit: @afg_chatt
8. Yam Nua (Spicy Beef Salad)
What Is It: Yam Nua is a delicious spicy beef salad made with tender strips of beef mixed with salad and spices.
Where To Find It: You can find a really nice Yam Nua at Chang Puak North Gate Market in Chiang Mai.
Price: You can get Spicy Beef Salad for around 100 baht ($2.80).
9. Kai Med Ma Muang (Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
What Is It: This is a sweet and spicy dish with stir-fried chicken, cashew nuts, and vegetables. I think this might be my favorite Thai dish!
Where To Find It: You can find this in most parts of Thailand but our favorite was Mamas (Mama Tam) in Koh Tao.
Price: This dish only cost 80 baht ($2.25).
Photo Credit: @makanteruss
10. Kao Niew Ma Muang (Sweet Mango and Sticky Rice)
What Is It: Mango Sticky Rice is a famous Thai dessert made up of sweet mango, sticky rice, and coconut milk.
Where To Find It: The most famous place to get this in Bangkok is Kor Panich.
Price: Mango Sticky Rice costs 125 baht ($3.55) here but you can find it for as cheap as 70 baht ($2) in some places.
Photo Credit: @socialdelicious
11. Moo Ping (Grilled Pork)
What Is It: Moo Ping is simply grilled pork on skewers. It is very common to see grilled meat on skewers sold at street stalls and restaurants.
Where To Find It: You can find Moo Ping at any street market. One of the best ones is on Pai Walking Street.
Price: You can get Moo Ping for 10 baht ($0.28) per stick.
Photo Credit: @donalskehan
12. Jok (Rice Porridge)
What Is It: Jok is a savory rice porridge or congee with seasonings like fried garlic or shallots. You can add pork meatballs or eggs as well. It is a common breakfast in Thailand.
Where To Find It: You can find Jok at Joke Samyan in Bangkok.
Price: This dish usually costs around 50 baht ($1.40).
Photo Credit: @lao_eats_and_such
13. Khao Man Gai (Chicken And Rice)
What Is It: This is simply tender sliced chicken placed on a portion of rice. You also get a bowl of broth on the side and it’s topped with a delicious sauce made of chilies, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and soybean paste.
Where To Find It: You can find delicious Khao Man Gai at Son Daeng Nguyap Chicken Rice in Koh Samui.
Price: It costs about 70 baht ($2) for a portion.
Photo Credit: @insta.noodls
14. Pad See Ew (Wide Rice Noodles)
What Is It: Pad See Ew is another popular fried noodle dish. It is a stir-fried dish with wide rice noodles, meat, Chinese broccoli, and garlic.
Where To Find It: You can find it at many night markets. The Ao Nang Night Market is one of our favorites!
Price: It costs around 90 baht ($2.55) for a portion of Pad See Ew.
Photo Credit: @eatsabel
15. Kuay Tiao Reua (Boat Noodles)
What Is It: This is a traditional dish from the canals of Bangkok. It is a noodle bowl with your choice of thin or wide noodles, meat, vegetables, and spices.
Where To Find It: You can find this traditional dish at Boat Noodles – Toy Kuay Teow Ruea in Bangkok.
Price: Each bowl only costs about 15 baht ($0.40)!
Photo Credit: @cookerru
16. Khao Phat (Thai Fried Rice)
What Is It: Thai Fried Rice is typically made with jasmine rice, shrimp, eggs, garlic, chilies, and other seasoning. It is a simple and delicious dish.
Where To Find It: You can get Thai Fried Rice anywhere in Thailand. My favorite was in Lemongrass Thai Cuisine in Chiang Mai.
Price: It costs about 50 baht ($1.40) for a portion of Fried Rice.
Photo Credit: @hungry_thaifood
17. Poh Pia Tod (Thai Spring Rolls)
What Is It: Thai Spring Rolls are another delicious snack or starter! Thai Spring Rolls are fried rolls that are filled with vegetables, pork, and rice noodles and are often accompanied by a sweet chili sauce.
Where To Find It: You can find these at any Thai restaurant or street market. I would recommend finding some at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok.
Price: It can cost as little as 5 baht ($0.14) per spring roll!
Honorable Mentions:
- Thai Iced Tea
Thai Iced Tea is made of strong black coffee mixed with ingredients like cardamom, tamarind, and star anise.
- Banana Roti (Banana Pancake)
Banana Roti can be found at any street market. They are banana pancakes that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is often topped with condensed milk.
- Khanom Buang (Thai Crispy Pancakes)
This is a crunchy crepe or pancake with a soft filling on the inside made of sugar and egg yolks.
- Thapthim Krop (Thai Red Ruby Dessert)
This is a classic Thai dessert made with water chestnuts, coconut syrup and ice.
- Kluay Tod (Deep-Fried Bananas)
Deep-fried bananas are popular all over South East Asia. They are simply bananas that are fried, giving them a crispy outer layer and a soft center.
- Ma Laeng Tod (Fried Insects)
Another thing you will see at many street markets is Fried Insects. They are fried and seasoned with salt, pepper, and chilies.
Apparently, worms, grasshoppers, and scorpions taste nice but I usually stick to chicken or beef!
Is Street Food Safe To Eat In Thailand?
It can be perfectly safe in most cases but you need to be conscious of where you get your food. You should take note of the cleanliness of the stall and cooking area. You should also stick to places with more customers (especially locals) as this is usually a good sign of food safety and deliciousness!
Where Can You Find Street Food In Thailand?
You can find street food everywhere in Thailand. The cities and towns have countless street food markets. Even if there isn’t a market there are stalls and street vendors dotted around every town and village. Street food is a huge part of the food scene in Thailand so it won’t be hard to find.
FAQs On Best Street Food In Thailand:
What Is The Most Popular Street Food In Thailand?
Guay teow, or noodle soup, is the most popular street dish in Thailand. You can find vendors serving this dish at street food markets all over the country. This dish with broth, noodles, and meat is especially popular with locals. Pad Thai is a very popular street food for tourists in Thailand.
What Is The Biggest Street Food Market In Bangkok?
Khlong Toei is the biggest street food market in Bangkok. This is a massive market with fresh fruit, vegetables, and cooked meals. You can get a real sense of Thai life from this sprawling market. Another large market is the Chatuchak Weekend Market which serves all types of food, clothing, accessories, and much more!
How To Avoid Food Poisoning In Thailand?
If you want to avoid food poisoning in Thailand you should stick to reputable vendors. Choose stalls with high customer turnover and good hygiene practices. Look for clean preparation areas and staff using proper handwashing techniques. If you’re not sure about a vendor or restaurant, it’s safer to move on to somewhere else.
Is Thailand Cheap For Food And Drink?
The cost of food per day is very cheap in Thailand. You can find cheap food and drink everywhere in Thailand. Some tourist areas have higher prices but generally, if you eat like the locals, food and drink will be very cheap. Foreign food and upscale restaurants will be more expensive than local restaurants.
Now you know what to eat when you go to Thailand, or even what to order when you visit a Thai restaurant at home!
With this guide, you will be able to find the best street food for you on your trip around Thailand. With food tours, cooking classes, and countless night markets to choose from you will be spoilt for choice on your travels.
I can’t wait to head back to Thailand for more delicious food!
If you want to find out more about Thailand or South East Asia in general then check out these articles.
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