Josh Brendon
What should be part of a tour of the Thai capital, Bangkok offers a veritable smorgasbord of dining delights from exotic street food to gourmet cuisine to tempt any palate.
The streets of Bangkok are like one big dining hotspot with vendors and street side eateries and stalls providing all manner of Thai snacks and cuisine. As you explore the streets the aromas of these popular dishes fill the air and your taste buds are bound to be enticed by the eclectic fare on offer. Pad Thai Kung which is a kind of shrimp filled noodles, Gai / Moo Bing which is grilled chicken / pork, Pla Pao a sort of barbecued fish and Khao Mun Gai a dish with rice and steamed chicken are amongst the favourite street food dishes worth trying out. Street food here is relatively inexpensive and when you couple that with the cheap flights to Bangkok offered by companies such as Findmyfare, you are looking at quite an affordable foodie tour.
A locale that is very much characteristic of the food on offer, Chinatown is a hub for street food. The area which is also known as Yaowarat, is where one can find many small dining venues and restaurants serving up a mix of Chinese as well as typical Thai cuisine. For a taste of local delicacies look to try some Pad Thai, fried rice, a wide range of soups, crispy duck and barbecued meats that have their own characteristic flavours and aromas. Ideally look to try a bit of all and see what takes your fancy.
When it comes to gourmet dining, one place you can try is La Table de Tee in Bangkok. Patrons can browse the set menu each evening with a choice between main dishes, starters and desserts (two of each). In addition to this there are two other dishes served as well for a true gourmet treat at night.
A staple amongst Thai cuisine, noodle soup is a popular choice amongst foodies visiting the city as well as with locals. One of the best spots to enjoy such dishes is Bamee Sawang. Featuring indoor seating as well as an area outdoors, this eatery features a unique egg noodle soup dish made from a recipe of the Hgaojuei Sae-Shuri family. Utilising wood rather than gas, the dishes which feature hand-made egg noodles as well as such meats as BBQ pork and crab, have a truly special flavour worth savouring.
Papaya salad or Som Tam is a characteristic Thai dish that is a 'must try' when in the city. One of the best spots to sample this is at Somtum Der Restaurant which features several versions of this popular salad on its menu. For example you can try the Tum Thai which is a papaya salad that also includes tomato, peanuts, palm sugar and chilli, while the Tum Kor Moo comes with grilled pork. There are both spicy and non-spicy versions on offer, though consider trying the spicy one for a more authentic Thai cuisine experience!
