Wonder what kind of food awaits you in the land of smiles? There lies one of the best local Thai food that can be found in the heart of Thailand, Bangkok. This is a great opportunity for food bloggers and foodie friends out there who wish to explore and feast on some of the hot local favourites ranging from pad thai, to even yummy and affordable street food delights like moo ping and mango sticky rice.
Finding food places in Bangkok is not an issue since many markets and street vendors are selling delicious Thai local food just about anywhere! However, finding the best places for Thai local food and the must-haves may not be an easy feat.
With that, here is a food guide that lists the top 10 best places to have Thai local food in Bangkok, especially if you are visiting here for the first time!
- Jeh O Chula – Best supper spot for tom yum MAMA noodles
- Raan Jay Fai – The only one-star Michelin hawker
- Wattana Panich – Half-century beef noodle soup
- Guay Tiew Kua Gai Suanmali – Hidden gem selling stir-fried chicken noodles
- Charoen Saeng Silom – Prime spot for delicious braised pork leg
- Thip Samai – Longest-running pad thai stall located in Chinatown
- Khao Gaeng Jake Puey – Street food bangkok-style curry
- Herehai restaurant – All things crabmeat
- On Lok Yun – Traditional old-school breakfast
- Doy Kuay Teow Reua – Famous traditional boat noodles
Jeh O Chula – Best supper spot for tom yum MAMA noodles
Head down to one of the best supper spots in Bangkok, located at Jeh O Chula. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers a wide variety of local cooked food dishes that is also known as Singapore’s equivalent, “tze-char”. Truth is, most people come here for their highly-raved Tom Yum Mama which is essentially instant noodles in tom yum soup. The Tom Yum Mama includes ingredients like instant noodles, shrimp, squid, ground pork, pork balls, crispy pork, and two eggs.
Though it sounds like a simple comfort dish that many can cook at home, the locals enjoy Tom Yum Mama noodles as it is one of the most instagrammable foods and this also helped to bring in popularity and long-waiting queues at the restaurant.
The famous Tom Yum Mama comes in three different choices: Pork ball version (3 USD), Seafood (4 USD), or All-In (6 USD). With its huge portion, this is good for sharing between 2-3 pax. To skip the long waiting queues, you can make your bookings over here.
Jeh O Chula is a must-go food place, especially for tom yum lovers. Don’t forget to take insta-worthy shots as well!
Location: Jeh O Chula, Banthat Thong Road, 113 Charat Muang Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 (National Stadium BTS)
Opening hours: 4:30 pm – 12 am (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: A guide to Bangkok’s nightlife after having supper at Jeh O Chula
Raan Jay Fai – The only one-star Michelin hawker
Raan Jay Fai is the only hawker that was awarded a one-star Michelin according to the Bangkok Michelin Guide. What’s interesting about this hawker is that the eatery is cooked by a 70-plus old lady and she often wears her iconic oversized goggles which look like a mole, therefore naming her restaurant as Jay Fai – known as Sister Mole in English.
At Jay Fai, their signature dishes include their crispy golden crab omelette (21 – 27 USD), drunken noodles (10 USD), dry rice congee (12-15 USD), tom yum goong (18 – 27 USD), and poo phad yellow curry (21 – 27 USD). Despite being a hawker, their prices are relatively high, therefore I would recommend ordering dishes to share instead of having them individually.
If you still have stomach space, there are many other delicious street foods and restaurants that you may want to check out as well. To complete your meal, you can have some shaved-ice desserts at SAISAI, yummy coconut smoothies at the famous pad thai restaurant Thip Samai, or even enjoy a refreshing pint of craft beer at Tai Soon Bar, located just opposite Jay Fai.
Location: Raan Jay Fai, 327 Mahachai Road (at the intersection with Samranrat Road) Bangkok, Thailand
Opening hours: 9 am – 8:30 pm (Wed-Sun), Closed on Mon & Tues
READ MORE: Did you know Jay Fai was featured on Netflix’s documentary series “Street Food”?
Wattana Panich – Half-century beef noodle soup
Interestingly speaking, would you dare try a bowl of beef noodle soup that was simmered for more than 40 years? Apparently, this is the oldest beef soup that has been passed down for three generations. The beef broth is stewed in a giant pot that includes a bag of secret ingredients and fresh coriander roots.
Wattana Panich is famous for its Thai Beef Noodles, also known as Kuay Teow Neua (3 USD) where you can choose the type of noodles “sen yai”, “sen mee” or “sen lek” to go with the slow-braised beef cubes. They also serve Braised Goat Noodles, also known as Kuay Teow Pae Sen Lek (6 USD). As goat meat is not commonly found in Thai restaurants apart from Yusup Pochana, be sure to have a taste of it as well!
If you are a fan of beef noodles, Wattana Panich is a restaurant that you shouldn’t miss out on your trip to Bangkok!
Location: Wattana Panich Beef Broth, 336 338 Ekkamai Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Opening hours: 9:30 am – 7:30 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Check out these 5 best cafes if you are around Bangkok’s hippest area, Ekkamai!
Guay Tiew Kua Gai Suanmali – Hidden gem selling stir-fried chicken noodles
Guay Tiew Kua Gai Suanmali is a hidden food gem selling roasted chicken noodles (1 USD) along the alleys of Bangkok Chinatown. Although it sounds like a simple dish of eggs, chicken, and noodles, it is not easy to master the dish with the right amount of heat and time. Another dish on their menu includes the Gao Lao Jua Gai (2 USD), which is basically just meat and omelette cooked with pork lard without the noodles.
A fun fact about this fried chicken noodles stall is that they cook their dishes in a half-barrier shield – a street food antique that’s caked in a layer of grease and smoke.
You won’t want to miss this heavenly taste of delicious fried chicken noodles at Guay Tiew Kua Gai Suanmali.
Location: Guay Tiew Kua Gai Suanmali, 266/1 Soi Thewi Worayat, Luang Road, Wat Dhebsirin, Bangkok, 10100, Thailand (Khlang Hospital Intersection)
Opening hours: 4 pm – 10.30 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Food you shouldn’t miss when you are at Bangkok, Chinatown.
Charoen Saeng Silom – Prime spot for delicious braised pork leg
Charoen Saeng Silom is one of the best restaurants to get the ultimate Thai Chinese braised pork leg (Khao Kha Moo) which is a hot favourite street food dish. You will never find out about this Michelin restaurant unless you walk down the side alley behind the corner of Silom and Charoen Krung Road in Bangrak as it is hidden away from the outside roads.
At Charoen Saeng Silom, you must order their speciality, khao kha moo (7 USD) which was cooked from a giant metal pot. The meat is cooked with Chinese herbs and spices, making the meat really tender and flavourful. Other alternative side dishes include pig’s feet and intestines.
Make sure to give Charoen Saeng Silom a visit during breakfast or early lunch hours to avoid the huge crowds!
Location: Charoen Saeng Silom, 492/6 Soi Charoen Krung 49, Si Lom Road, Suriyawong, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand
Opening hours: 8 am – 2 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Here’s a Michelin food guide for those who enjoy street-style and hawker food
Thip Samai – Longest-running pad thai stall located in Chinatown
As mentioned in the Michelin food guide, Thip Samai has one of the best pad thai in Bangkok. For those who want to visit the famed Michelin bib gourmand flagship store, it’s at 313 Mahachai Road. What’s so special about this restaurant is that they created “Padthai Sen-Chan” by cooking it with shrimp oil, deep-sea prawns and then wrapping the noodles around with egg.
The prices range from 2 USD onwards and it is a convenient location, especially for foodies since it is located in Chinatown, Bangkok. You can check out the Chinatown Bangkok Guide for more information on other yummy food places!
Check out the famous pad thai restaurant, Thip Samai, which is a must-visit for every tourist!
Location: Thip Samai, 313 315 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Opening hours: 10 am – 12 am (Wed-Sun), Closed on Mon
READ MORE: Find out more about Thip Samai’s legendary history.
Khao Gaeng Jake Puey – Street food bangkok-style curry
This is much better than your average Thai curry stall as they used high-quality ingredients to cook out a wonderful dish! Located along the streets of Yaowarat, this street food stall sells Khao Geng, which is rice and curry. Do try out their famous dish, Kaeng Kari Moo, a yellow creamy coconut curry with fried pork. Another dish that is worth the try is pad boo with kai paloe (stir-fried crab with stewed egg). They helped to de-shell the crab and it is cooked with chili, soy sauce, and a bit of fungus that will be topped on top of a piping hot plate of rice.
The dishes at Khao Gaeng Jake Puey are about 2 USD per plate. Here’s a short clip to guide you on how to get there as many people said the location was hard to find.
Location: Khao Gaeng Jake Puay, 25 Mangkon Rd, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Opening hours: 3 pm – 8 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Fun things to do and explore at Yaowarat Chinatown
Herehai restaurant – All things crabmeat
Known for their insane crab fried rice, Herehai restaurant serves all things crabmeat and it is highly recommended for those who enjoy fresh seafood. The restaurant could be slightly difficult to get by since it is located on the second floor, right above the old-school fishball noodle stall which looks like your typical street food kiosk.
With only 6-8 tables, please make reservations beforehand as it may get crowded especially during peak hours. Their famous dish to order would be the insane crab fried rice (9 USD) as they are very generous with the de-shelled chunks of crab meat which will be topped on the fried rice.
Other dishes to try would be their stir-fried cabbage with fish sauce and lard (2 USD). Though it sounds simple, the cabbage is stir-fried with a special fish sauce which gives a strong “wok-hei” taste to the dish. Mantis shrimps are also hardly found in cooked dishes and therefore, do give this stir-fried mantis shrimp with garlic and pepper (9 USD) a try as well.
Be sure to bookmark Herehai Restaurant and come down to try the Insane Crab Fried Rice when you make your visit to Bangkok!
Location: Herehai Restaurant, 112/3 Ekkamai Rd (Near Ekkamai Soi 12)
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm (Tue-Sun), Closed on Mon
READ MORE: Find out how you can make reservations at Herehai Restaurant
On Lok Yun – Traditional old-school breakfast
On Lok Yun is an old-school traditional coffee shop that sells hearty breakfast and they have been around for close to 80 years since its opening. It is similar to Singapore’s traditional coffee shop, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery which brings a nostalgic route back to the 1980s.
The must-haves at On Lok Yun are the all-day breakfast (2 USD) which includes eggs, ham, sausage, and Chinese sausage, bread with butter and sugar (1 USD), egg custard bread with kaya (1.50 USD), and the french toast (2 USD).
A simple yet hearty breakfast is a must to start the day right, especially for tourists since there’s so much more to eat and explore!
Location: On Lok Yun, 72 Charoen Krung Road, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Opening hours: 5 am – 4 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Here’s an inspiration for a 12-hour Bangkok itinerary
Doy Kuay Teow Reua – Famous traditional boat noodles
You cannot miss out on Thailand’s speciality, their boat noodles! With Bangkok being a huge city with many eateries and countless places to eat boat noodles, remember to stop by Doy Kuay Teow Reua for their high-quality and better-tasting boat noodles.
Each table comes with free toppings that include fried pork skin and crispy wonton wrappers and they can be added to your bowl of boat noodles (1 USD). As the servings are small, a good 2-3 bowls will be enough to make your tummy perfectly satisfied. Apart from the boat noodles, make sure to order their moo satay as soon as possible since it is always sold out pretty quickly.
If you really want to savor the best boat noodles, make a stop at Doy Kuay Teow Reua for the perfect combination of pork satay and boat noodles.
Location: Doy Kuay Teow Reua, Ratchawithi Soi 18 (Wat Makok), Thanon Ratchawithi, Bangkok 10400
Opening hours: 8 am – 5 pm (Mon-Sun)
READ MORE: Check out these shopping malls when you visit Bangkok
Although Thailand has many mouth-watering restaurants and delicious food, be sure to follow this food guide that brings you to the top 10 best places to have Thai local food in Bangkok.
