There are also many fancy Thai restaurants that offer a selection of authentic foods, but I find that you are then paying double the price for a meal that could be cooked more authentically right on the streets like the locals have it. The language barrier makes ordering food a slight challenge but just pointing to things and hoping for the best often works! Here are the Thai names and descriptions to help you out a bit. Street food is the best!
Papaya Salad (somtam thai)
Papaya salad is possibly my favorite of all the street foods! It is crispy and fresh, with the main ingredients of unripened papaya, carrots, sprouts and peanuts. Added to the mix is flavors such as garlic, palm sugar and fresh chilli (be sure to ask for 'mai pet' if you're not into too much spice). It is great for a lunch time meal with sticky marinated chicken (gai yang) added to it. You will be able to spot a somtam stand by the big piles of shredded papaya in the glass window. Make sure to specifically ask for somtam 'Thai' if you're not a fan of tiny dehydrated baby shrimp being thrown into the mix (they're kind of off-putting).
Pork or chicken with soup and noodles (Goi teow)
I would say this is the most commonly eaten meal in all of Bangkok, and is seemingly a staple part of the Thai diet. The soup/broth is very wholesome and full of flavor. Along with the soup (which is made from chicken stock and various herbs and spices) you get a serving of meat which is usually pork or chicken, and your choice of noodle. You can get the thick yellow 'baa-mee' egg noodles, the wide and flat 'sen yai' noodles, or the medium sized noodles called 'sen lek'. There is also the option of 'woon sen' glass noodles. The choices are endless! When you sit at one of these soup stalls to eat, there are always condiments such as chilli flakes, fish sauce, sugar (yes, sugar) and ground nuts. Add small amounts and see which you prefer- it takes some experimenting.
Thai basil pork with rice and a fried egg on top (Pad Krapow Moo)
This dish is by far Trav's favorite- he orders it pretty much every time! Another meal packed with so much flavor and spices you dont even know where to begin. Pad Krapow consists of a large helping of rice, thai basil, ground pork and a whole lot of chillies, and a fried egg (kaai dao) to top it all off. If you're hungry and don't mind a bit of heat this is definitely a winner.
Fried Noodles with chicken or shrimp and egg (Pad Thai)
The most well-known and tourist friendly of the Thai dishes, Pad Thai is a delicious meal wherever you order it. You can choose to have it with tofu, chicken or shrimp (kung) and it comes with a handful of sprouts, some crushed peanuts and fried scrambled egg. I crave this meal so often, and its especially good for a greasy hangover cure.
Grilled pork with lime juice, mint and green beans (nam tok moo)
This dish may come from northern Thailand, but it is available in many Isaan street food stalls around Bangkok. You know you are at an Isaan restaurant when you are given a plate of green beans and cabbage covered in crushed ice along with your meal (I assume its because the food is so spicy haha). Namtok moo is a fantastic dish, and the lime juice makes the meat so damn tasty! It comes with a whole pile of garlic, shallots and mint leaves which add to the flavor. Pair it with sticky rice, which you roll into a ball and dip into the sauce of the dish, and you're aces.
These are just some of the street foods available in Bangkok, you will have to try the rest for yourself and see which dishes you enjoy more. Thai food really is a flavor explosion, and I prefer to eat out than cook at home on most days. The convenience and the short time it takes to prepare just adds to the appeal. I hope you all give these a try! x
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