Joanna James
Visiting Bangkok without tasting its street food truly misses a unique Thai experience. Whether you use a luxury hotel in Bangkok or a different accommodation, street food vendors can be found in plenty. The aromas are heavenly, the food is yummy, and the expense is lighter on your wallet while you gain rich insights into the local culture.
This quintessential Thai dish is relished from the streets of Bangkok to fine dining restaurants like Savio at Chatruim Grand Bangkok in the heart of the city. Widely known as the nation's national dish, it’s a simple stir-fried noodle with prawns, chicken or pork. However, what sets it apart as a star dish is the delicious sauce made with palm sugar, fish sauce, chilli flakes, crunchy peanuts, lime and tamarind that gives the noodles a fine balance of spicy, salty, sweet, and sour flavours.
This soup with prawns or shrimp combines a delightful mix of flavours. A mouthful of the broth provides the umami goodness with the fragrance of lemongrass, a slight kick with galangal with lime leaves and juice blending in beautifully compromised by a dash of sweetness. Creamy coconut milk enhances the taste creating a dish that makes a complete meal with steamed rice or noodles.
Khao Niao Mamuang is popularly known as Mango Sticky Rice, a sweet dish full of delicious flavours of tropical mangoes found in plenty in Thailand. This snack or dessert is made with glutinous rice, ripened mango and creamy coconut milk. Street markets excel in this preparation, which is sold like hotcakes. Let your tongue explore the expressions of its rich flavours.
Moo Ping is a popular snack in Bangkok made with chunky pieces of pork grilled on skewers. The meat is marinated in sweetened fish sauce mixed with spices and thereafter grilled on charcoal resulting in warm, tender and juicy pork bites with the richness of a smokey flavour. These skewers are relished for breakfast with a portion of sticky rice.
These are crispy banana fritters, it is easy to find these stalls due to their enticing aroma, the golden-brown fritters are sprinkled with grated coconut and a dollop of condensed milk. Ripe bananas are used for this preparation which are coated in a mix of glutinous rice flour, wheat flour and sesame seeds resulting in a crunchy and warm bite with a moist and sweet banana within with a lingering taste of coconut and condensed milk. There are variations to these fritters such as those using sweet potato or taro.
Gai Tod Hat Yai is a classical street food item popular in Bangkok among locals and visitors due to its unique preparation. The special recipe originated in Hat Yai in southern Thailand and has a bold and lingering flavour that entices street food lovers. This unique flavour is a combination of local herbs like coriander, garlic, and cumin with dashes of pepper and salt, The well-marinated chicken is deep-fried to perfection and served with crispy fried shallots. While some love it as a convenient finger food on the go, others may enjoy it as a main meal accompanied by steamed sticky rice.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
