Bushels of warm sunshine, breathtaking beaches and enticing food makes Pattaya one of the most adored destinations in Thailand. The food in the region carries the flavours of the sea and the forest, infused with a plethora of spices and herbs. A foodie experience is something you shouldn’t miss out on your Pattaya trip. In this brief guide, we talk about the best street food you should try on your gastronomic journey in Pattaya.

This Pattaya-style grilled pork could be a starter for a fancy meal at one of the best restaurants in Pattaya or a scrumptious bite on the go. Whether you get your Moo Ping as part of a buffet at a resort such as Avani Pattaya Resort or grab a few on the go from a roadside stall, you’ll get to experience unique flavours from the special chef’s sauce. You’ll get your Mon Ping served alongside some sticky rice and of course lip-smacking sauce.

Arguably, one of Thailand’s well-loved snacks, Satay is slow grilled meat oozing with flavour served on oversized toothpicks. You can find succulent chicken, crispy pork, fish and even sausage and beef satay at street food stalls all over Pattaya. Typically, you can get chicken and pork on Satay for about 10 baht. You can find beef steak and pork chop on Satay for around 20 baht. You are most likely to find beef and pork chop on Satay at Beach Road, Soi 13.

Originating from Northeastern Thailand, Som Tam is a refreshing, taste bud-tingling dish of flakes of unripe papaya mixed with lemon zest and juice, spices, and some sugar. Some people amp up the delectableness of the dish with sprinkles of dried shrimp, salt carb or even peanuts. Along with sauce and chilli, Som Tam is delicious, crispy, and addictive.

Salted fish from Pattaya street food stalls taste better with a can of light beer. The salted, smoked fish from beach street vendors in Pattaya peels away easily from the bones of the fish. Your tongue will thank you for the smoky flavour and sea-tasting bites. Salted fish is a great snack in between meals or an appetizer to go with your pre-dinner drinks.

No doubt you’ve had many Pad Thai, even at home. But there is something quintessentially different about tucking into a bowl of Pad Thai by a beach in Pattaya. The wok-fried rice noodles mixed in a riot of flavours with bean sprouts, peanuts, shrimp, tofu, and scrambled eggs make for a veritable comfort meal. You’ll relish the hints of sour tamarind, salty fish and oyster sauce and brown sugar. The lime wedges, bird’s eye chilli in fish sauce and more bean sprouts for sprinkling on your Pad Thai will augment your dining experience.

Your trip to Thailand will be somewhat incomplete without you trying bug snacks at least once. Lightly stir-fried in oil, these creepy crawlies often taste like nuts and oysters. When you approach the street vendor, get a paper plate or a bag and pile it up with at least 3 different types of lightly fried bugs. Get yourself some grasshoppers and beetles. The grasshoppers are quite good, but cockroaches don’t elicit the same response from diners.

Lastly, we recommend that you absolutely try a full meal at one of the food carts with full-fledged menus. Food cart vendors are life-timers who have been cooking all their lives and mastered the art of culinary genius. You can be confident that whatever you order from your friendly food cart vendor, will be scrumptious. They concoct the dishes right in front of you with their flare for customizing each dish. Even though most vendors won’t be conversant in English that should not deter either of you. Savour a feast of a lifetime for just 40 to 50 baht.