Bangkok is famous for many things from shopping and entertainment to allures such as floating markets. But one of the most-sought attractions in Bangkok is street food. While Thai food is famous the world over, there is nothing quite like the mouth-watering selection on offer at the roadside kiosks of Bangkok. The variety is so huge that you need a guide to know what to eat and where for the best experience. Here are some tips on how to eat like a local in Bangkok.

Phat_Thai | Img by Takeaway via wikipedia commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Tom Yum – The Famous Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Soup

A traditional meal that is rooted in the Thai-Laos heritage tom yam is sold everywhere and is indeed a very popular option. The flavours are a fresh burst of taste in your mouth and ideal to feel refreshed as it is made with lemongrass, galangal, lime leaves, fish sauce, chilli, and a choice of seafood or other meat. The eateries around Khao San Road are quite popular for the dish and is an easy touristy area to reach from your boutique hotel in Bangkok, which too would be a popular option for trying out famous Thai snacks with coffee because those like Maitria Rama 9 Hotel cater to varied needs.

Head over to Chinatown for a smorgasbord of treats. The colourful alleys and shophouses that makeup Bangkok’s Chinatown will certainly appeal to the culture buff in you while the colours and the food promise to treat your senses. Crispy duck is a popular dish that you should not miss trying when exploring the precinct and may well be a pretty good reason for visiting Chinatown in the first place. A fusion of Thai and Chinese culinary techniques, Peking duck, which is also known as Crispy duck, is served in a variety of styles from being added to fresh salads to laid-over steaming hot noodles with golden sauces.

Head over to Ram Buttri Road, an easy-to-reach spot from your Bangkok hotel and check out the line-up of restaurants there; the dish is a lovely fusion of noodles, peanuts onions, and seafood well combined with herbs and spices. Yum Woon Sen is pretty spicy as it is refreshing but if your heat tolerance is low, approach the dish with caution, although doing so, most people end up as lifetime fans of the salad.

Yes, you may have eaten your fill of pad Thai back home, but there is nothing quite like trying the dish in its home nation. Pad Thai in Bangkok can be eaten at just about any roadside stall, restaurant, or café close to your hotel in Bangkok. Don’t be afraid to experiment and you will find that flavours differ from stall to stall. Still, it is one of the best treats to enjoy a steaming hot plate of noodles piled high with juicy prawns or meat of your choice hiding inside.

Here’s another reason to keep going back to Chinatown. Crispy pork is just another one of those dishes you will regret not trying once you get back home. Although served at many other locations, Chinatown is one of the best places for trying out the dish. True to its name, the pork is crackly and crispy, cooked in a lovely blend of spices and sauces, the meat is served often on a bed of rice with a side of greens.