How to Eat Like a Local in Bangkok - Find the best places to eat!
The food scene in Bangkok is a smorgasbord of sights and sounds, and it may get overwhelming at first. This will be especially true for first timers who visit the city. To get the best taste of Bangkok, be smart and do what the locals do. You can get the best deals without compromising on flavour and satisfaction.
Photo: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, 2016 Bangkok, Dystrykt Samphanthawong, Ulica Yaowarat, Uliczne jedzenie (01), CC BY-SA 4.0
The street food!
As a city with perhaps the best street food scene in the world, it’s hard to miss out on the street food fare while in Bangkok. The vendors sell their goods on mobile carts, which contain all the ingredients and utensils. With the number of choices that you are bound to encounter, it is good to be mindful of certain aspects like how they prepare the food, whether locals patronise the joint and the surroundings where the food is prepared.
Local markets
Bangkok has plenty of markets, some during weekends and others centered around the local neighbourhoods. These markets, also known as wet markets, are arranged according to produce; vegetables, fruits, and then fish and meat. Vendors selling food can be found within the vicinity of the markets around Bangkok. Market vendors will usually sell one type of food. Khlong Toei Market is about 800 metres away from Khlong Toei MRT station and has some of the best sticky rice sellers around Bangkok. Another favourite is the Sathorn local market.
Cafeterias
Another way to eat great local food is to visit a university or head to where the office workers go to have their daily meals. Large parking spaces get transformed into lunch halls during mealtimes. A good place to visit is near Silom Complex, close to the Sala Daeng BTS Station. The cafeteria at the Bangkok Thammasat University nearby the Grand Palace is another great choice. Also, you can find cafeterias near the Goethe Institute, and on Witthayu Road close to the US Embassy. Best to go there early, preferably before noon, or you will be left with the remainder, which won’t be a lot! However, if you prefer to go there when there are fewer crowds, after 1 pm would be the best time, as most would have departed by that time.
Authentic restaurants
With street food being so abundant, cheap and delicious, it might seem visiting a restaurant is not worth it. However, don’t knock this option down. Bangkok has some amazing restaurants, and some specialise only in one type of dish, so they will be amazing without a doubt. Furthermore, the city is hot and humid all year round, and sweating and eating spicy food at the same time can make some people uncomfortable. But, at a nice restaurant, the air-conditioning will keep you cool and comfortable so you can enjoy yourself more. So, treat yourself and others to a delicious meal in a soothing ambience. Even hotels to stay in Bangkok can be a good choice to find some tasty Thai food.
Shop House restaurants
These are built into the homes of people, and you will find a room on the ground floor open to visitors. The kitchen will be a food cart or a makeshift one at the back of the same room. Most of these restaurants will have their speciality dish and will provide you with the most authentic dining experiences in Bangkok. These restaurants are cheap and clean for the most part. However, do avoid those with very long menus as they mostly include only western dishes and no specials. When eating in Shop Houses, street vendors carry a decent amount of cash, with change. They are unlikely to have access to any cards. Try the likes of Avani Atrium Bangkok when looking out for accommodation.