Before this year, I have never travelled to Bangkok. Partly because everyone I knew who went to Bangkok, came back only telling me how much things they have bought from the shopping malls. But I wanted to learn more about the country instead. I wanted to explore more unique places and eat at yummy food places.

This year, I travelled to Bangkok twice. And I was really lucky to have met my tour guide, YC, for the 2 trips. He is actually a Singaporean who moved to Thailand more than 20 years ago. The previous trip to Thailand earlier this April, we travelled out of Bangkok and visited the most amazing places such as Don Kai Dee Benjarong Village, Amphawa Floating Market and many more. It left such a deep impression on me that I told myself I must go back again.

Just a month ago, I am back in Bangkok again. Yes part of my trip was to shop. But most importantly, my aim was to travel around the city and find good eating places. I have asked YC to bring me around for 2 days. And my only requirement was “Bring me to places where tourists won’t go!”

And he did it. We visited Or Tor Kor Market, Baan Silapin Artists’ House and tried some of the famous eating places in Bangkok. Every place we went, every dish we ate was good. To be frank, I have not finished blogging about my Thailand trip in April. But I have many friends who are heading to Bangkok soon, so I decided to prioritize and blog about my experiences during my current Bangkok trip.

This mega blog post didn’t come easy. I spent 6 intense hours consolidating it. They are the food places which we have been to. It may not be the best to some, but they are definitely well known among the Thai people. I am sorry if some of the addresses are unclear. Because for most places, we travelled by cab, and can only recognize some prominent buildings or the street name.

Anyway, here is my list of 10 Must Try Food Places in Bangkok (2012)

When was Pad Thai invented?

It was during the period when Field Marshal P.Pibulsongkram was Thailand’s prime minister. During World War II, he was campaigning for Thai people to “enjoy Thai food, use Thai products”. So Pad Thai was invented using local raw materials and eventually became a national Thai dish.

Thip Samai Pad Thai started in 1966 as a small shop selling Pad Thai at the pavement of Maha Chai Road, near Samranraj cross road, Bangkok. Because of the war crisis, the small stall has instantly became famous because of its quality and flavours. The regular diners called it “Pad Thai Pratu Phi” due to its location near Pratu-Phi Intersection.

According to our tour guide, this is one of the best Pad Thai in Bangkok. Superb Pad Thai (70 baht) is thai style vermicelli wrapped with fried egg and shrimps. It is not too wet and rather sweet.

They used charcoal fire to fry the Pad Thai.

There are two drinks you have to try here. One of them is Coconut Juice (20 baht) which is actually a recipe of King Rama 9’s mother. She gave the secret recipe to this shop, to pair it with their Pad Thai. The coconut juice is very very sweet and there is coconut meat in each drink.

Another drink is the freshly squeezed orange juice. OH MINE, It is very very very very sweet! No preservatives are added, just fresh oranges are used to make the juice.

The price of the orange juice changes 2-3 times a day depending on the oranges they used. On that day, our orange juice costs 150 baht.

Thip Samai Restaurant
Address: 313 Mahachai Rd., Samranrat, Phra Nakorn 10200 Thailand (if you are taking a cab, tell the driver “Pad Thai Pratu Phi”)
Tel: 02-2216280
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/eGRyc
GPS: 13.752749, 100.504852

Right outside Thai Samai Restaurant, along the streets of Samran Rat, you will see a street stall “Tee Yen-Ta-4” that sells very good yong tau foo and pork stew.

You know what is good food? Good food is when you are already very full, but when you taste it, it is still very delicious.

I was truly very full from a plate of Pad Thai and two drinks, that I had to share one bowl of pork stew with bee hoon (40 baht) with my boy. When the noodles came, it doesn’t look that appetizing and I nearly wanted to give it a pass.

Thank goodness I didn’t! This bowl of pork stew is really really really SUPERB! Once I start eating, I couldn’t stop. The soup was very rich with a thick garlic flavour. And we added some pork’s skin to the soup.

Its green chilli dip is very appetizing. This is my top favourite stall among the other stalls.

Tee Yen-Ta-4
Address: Bamrungmuamg rd. (Samran Rat), Wang Burapha Phirom

As recommended by many foodies, we had dinner at Somtam Nua after a shiok massage at Lek (Siam Square Soi 6). Somtam serves good isaan food, which is the northeastern region of Thailand. Isaan cuisine borrows heavily from Lao cuisine and is distinctly different from central Thai cooking.

The best-known Isaan dish is som tam (59 baht), a spicy salad prepared from unripe papayas. While Thais prepare this with dried shrimp, in Isaan the preferred style is with preserved crab (puu) or mudfish, an acquired taste.

Fried Chicken (98 baht) is very addictive, must try! Some fried garlic is sprinkled on top, and the meat is really fragrant and juicy. The skin was also very crispy and it is not oily at all. We ordered a second serving for this.

Grilled Pork Collar (98 baht) was tender with a milld sweet taste.

Isaan food is known even among Thais for being fiery hot! This is obvious in its North East Style Spicy Soup with Pork Bone (97 baht). It is sour and spicy, so spicy that we we have to order another ice tea (40 baht).

Another must try dish is the Hot and Spicy Crispy Fish (95 baht) where the tilapia was fried to perfection and accompanied with garlic chilli dip.

Simple but delicious Fried Thai rice flour noodles (97 baht). Fried with fish sauce and has a lovely wok hei. Topped with fried fish skin and pork floss, two plates also not enough!

Somtam Nua
Address:392/14 Soi Siam Square 5, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
Address: +66 (0) 22 51 4880

Along Sukhumvit Soi 38, there is this wanton noodle stall which has been around for 40 over years. They are owned by 2 brothers and they claim they are the first to sell wanton noodles along this night food street. A good supper spot!

Their noodles are homemade which is very Q and crunchy. What makes the soup tasty is because of the Thai Chai Poh (preserved turnip) and pork lard. You can order the dry or soup version (40 / 50 / 60 baht) and top it with crab meat. When the noodles arrived at your table, add sugar, vinegar, fish sauce and chilli powder.

This is our tour guide’s portion. With loads of pork lard!

Wanton Noodles
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 38 (alight at Thong Lo BTS, cross the road and you will see it)
Opening hours: 8pm – 2am

In the same street, just opposite the wanton noodle stall, there is a mango stall owned by two sisters.

Their mango sticky rice is super good and my tour guide was telling us that this is one of the best mango sticky rice he had in Bangkok. Indeed, the mangoes were really sweet! If you are lucky, they do have good quality durians too!

Mango Sticky Rice
Address: Sukhumvit Soi 38 (alight at Thong Lo BTS, cross the road and you will see it)
Opening hours: 8pm – 2am

If you are bored of the usual international breakfast in the hotel, head to a stall near City Hall which sells Fish Maw Soup for breakfast!

The stall name “Mit Pochana” means “where friends gather”. The chicken soup is boiled for long hours and here, you can also find CHICKEN BLOOD!

The fish maw soup (50 / 60 baht) is a hearty bowl!

Before we left, we saw this motorcycle delivering chillies to the shop. This is how much they used for a few days!

Mit Pochana
Address: Thanon Mahannop
Opening hours: 7am – 2pm

As you walked down the street, you will reach 12 Yong Sheng which sells handmade steamed buns.

Char Siew Bun

Custard Bun

Meat Bun. The 3 buns are really fluffy and they only cost 54 baht in total.

12 Yong Sheng
Address: Thanon Mahannop
Opening hours: 6.45am – 3pm

Right opposite City Hall, there is a row of shops that sell roast duck. But the famous one is called “Tian Song Paed Yang”. It has been here for 65 years!

Very old school interior, the largest roast duck stall in the area.

The Thai Satay (50 baht) is very dry unfortunately.

But their toast is very unique, the orange kaya is very smooth!

If you are dining, order their coffee and nothing else! Very thick and fragrant!

The specialty of this shop is obviously their roast duck. The roast duck was tender and not too fatty.

Here’s a cool young staff who is in charge of the roast meat.

Tian Song Paed Yang
Address: Thanon Dinsong (Opposite City Hall)

So if you visiting Baan Silapin Artist’s House, you will find a noodle shop which sells very yummy Thai Kway Chap.

This is very different from Singapore’s version of Kway Chap.Their noodles are different, and the pig’s innards are all mixed with the noodles, together with a herbal broth which is slightly pepperish. As I blog about it now, I am so craving for it.

Thai Kway Chap
Address: Thanon Ratchadamri (alight at Soi 3 on Charansanitwong Road)

Between Central World and Platinum Shopping Mall, there is a row of street stalls that sells cze char and famous for their Grilled Fish with Salt. We walked past this street for several days and decided to settle for this particular stall. You can recognise it by looking for this cute waiter with 2 straws on his head.

Dinner started with crab thai papaya salad (30 baht) with well balanced flavours.

We also had a bowl of really spicy tom yam soup.

The waiter also pointed to the menu which says “Stir fried Ipomoea Leaves” (60 baht) and gave me a thumbs up. I thought it was some unique vegetables but it was actually stir fried kang kong -_-!

The fish was served with the skin peeled unto the side. Its skin has a thick layer of salt grilled over charcoal fire. Don’t eat the skin, only eat the meat which is soft and sweet, with a light hint of smokiness. Pair it with its special chilli dip. Simply heavenly!

Salt Grilled Fish
Address: Between Central World and Platinum Shopping Mall
Only opened for dinner

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PHEW! There you have it, 10 Must Try Food Places in Bangkok! There are so much more food places to explore but I shall leave it to next time! Thanks for reading and I really hope this helps if you are travelling to Bangkok soon!

** If you are intending to visit Chiang Mai, here’s my TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CHIANG MAI. 

*UPDATE*

I know many of you have been asking for my tour guide’s contact. Sorry the requests are too many so I take some time to reply. But you can contact him directly: yc@siamkidtravel.com