Updated: 30 October, 2024
Here are the top street food restaurants in downtown Bangkok, recognized by the Michelin Guide with prices and must-try dishes.
Exploring Thailand means treating your taste buds to authentic Thai cuisine, renowned for its rich flavors, diverse array of fresh ingredients, and regional cooking styles.
What's even better is that you don't need to break the bank to enjoy delicious food in Thailand. The street stalls offer fantastic meals at reasonable prices, making dining experiences both enjoyable and budget-friendly.
And don't worry about the quality—I want to assure you that Thailand is one of the rare places where you can stumble upon a street food stall with a Michelin star, just like Jay Fai's in the photo below.
While the restaurants listed here may not boast Michelin stars, they've all earned a place in the Michelin Guide's in the category of Bib Gourmand. This is a rating for restaurants that offer excellent quality while keeping prices below 38 USD.
However, the street food restaurants in this article are much cheaper. Most of them offer dishes priced from 1.4 to 6.5 USD, with a few exceptions that don't exceed 12 USD. I've also included updated prices for 2024, so you have a reference.
Moreover, all of them are conveniently situated in downtown Bangkok, close to tourist areas, making them easily accessible during your visits.
So, here are the top 12 street food restaurants in Bangkok to satisfy your cravings without emptying your wallet. Check out the map below for their locations.
✅ Michelin Guide Street Food Tour of Bangkok by Tuk-Tuk
✅ Dinner Cruise along the Chao Phraya River at sunset
✅ Cooking class in Bangkok with market visit
Street Food Restaurants in Bangkok
1.- Ten Suns
In this small restaurant with only 5 tables, they're known for their flavorful stewed beef noodle soup.
Prices for their dishes start at 100 bahts (2.87 USD).
If noodles aren't your preference, you can opt for rice served with or without soup.
They also offer a variety of meat cuts, including shoulder, leg, tongue, and cheek.
Although their standout option is the Kobe beef.
- Opening Hours: Every day except Monday, from 9 am to 4 pm.
2.- Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu
This restaurant serves the best pad thai in Bangkok and one of the best in all of Thailand.
Their pad thai is served with a succulent roasted pork cooked to perfection in a wok, with a rich and creamy texture—it's my personal favorite.
Dishes start at 100 bahts (3 USD).
Their signature dish, however, is priced at 220 bahts (6.30 USD), a tad higher for a typical pad thai, but the quality and flavor justify the cost.
You'll also find options for various pork cuts, as well as chicken and shrimp.
While there are multiple restaurants in Bangkok with the same name, I recommend the one located on Dinso Street.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
👍 Friend's tip: If you're unsure about what to eat in Bangkok and concerned about overly exotic flavors, pad thai is an excellent introduction to Thai cuisine—it's hearty, flavorful, and typically not spicy. For more insights into Thai cuisine, check out this Comprehensive Guide to Thai Food where you can learn about pad thai and other dishes.
3.- K. Panich
This stall is famous for its mango sticky rice, a traditional Thai dessert that you absolutely must try.
It's a family-run establishment that has been dishing out this delicacy for a whopping 80 years.
They meticulously pick out mangoes for their ideal sweetness and texture, but the real secret lies in the cooking of the rice. Additionally, it's served with coconut sauce and toasted seeds.
In my 3 years living in Thailand, I've tried numerous sticky rice dishes, and I haven't found another place that makes one as good as this street stall.
The price is 125 bahts per serving (3.58 USD).
Furthermore, they offer additional choices including sticky rice with durian, various desserts, and they also sell mangoes.
- Opening Hours: 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday.
4.- Por. Pochaya
This street food joint is among the top dining spots in Bangkok, famous for its fusion of Thai and Chinese flavors.
Some of its star dishes are crab omelette, stir-fried beef with cumin leaves, and chili fish, among a varied menu.
Most dishes fall within the 100 to 120 baht range (2.87 to 3.44 USD), although they also have other options priced around 200 bahts (5.73 USD).
With over 30 years in business, this restaurant is highly popular among locals for its incredible quality.
Therefore, I recommend arriving early or making a reservation to avoid long waits (phone: +66 2 282 4363).
- Opening Hours: Exclusively Monday to Friday from 9 am to 2:30 pm, with the peak hours typically around noon, although it can get crowded as early as 11 am at times.
5.- Sae Phun
This is a restaurant in Bangkok that's been around for over 80 years, now run by the third generation.
Their specialty? Stewed chicken with rice, famous for its tender chicken and flavorful sauce, all priced at just 95 bahts (2.72 USD).
Additionally, they offer chicken options served with either regular or crispy noodles.
This restaurant is perfect for breakfast in Bangkok, especially if you're keen on enjoying a morning meal like the locals, who often eat the same types of dishes for breakfast as they do for lunch or dinner.
- Opening Hours: From 8 am to 2 pm, daily except Wednesdays.
6.- Bunloet
The owner of this street food stall in Bangkok is of Chinese descent and has been crafting his delightful egg noodles with charcoal-grilled pork or crispy pork for 45 years.
The dish has rich flavors and comes at a bargain, priced between 60 and 80 bahts (1.72 and 2.29 USD) depending on whether you opt for the medium or large serving.
You can order it with or without soup, and there's also the option to have it with rice.
Although most of their dishes are with pork or pork wontons, there are a some options with crab as well.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10 am to 7:30 pm.
7.- Weng (Woeng Nakhon Kasem)
It is one of the most famous street food stalls in Chinatown, the reason is its dishes made with crab infused with a smoky flavor, with fried rice or noodles.
They also offer fish dishes as an alternative.
Prices start at 100 bahts (2.81 USD), including the signature crab dish.
Although the portions may appear small and the prices slightly high, crab isn't a cheap ingredient, and they're quite generous with their servings.
This restaurant a fantastic spot for dinner in Bangkok, especially when the food carts roll out and the street comes alive.
- Opening Hours: From 6:30 pm to midnight, Tuesday through Sunday. It's advisable to arrive early; between 9 and 10 pm tends to be peak hours, and wait times can be up to 1 hour.
8.- Ann Guay Tiew Khua Gai
At this small restaurant, they specialize in fried noodles, with the standout options being the crispy ones with fried egg or the soft ones with runny egg.
The price is quite affordable, with dishes starting at 50 bahts (1.38 USD).
They also offer another treat: crispy chicken skin. And don't worry if noodles aren't your thing; they have a diverse menu including pad thai, ham dishes, and squid.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 2 pm to 11 pm.
9.- Nai Mong Hoi Thod
This is another of the most famous stalls in China Town, serving its special dish of fried oysters, which is the meaning of "Hoi Thod," for over 30 years.
The most outstanding dish is their exquisite fried or crispy oyster omelette with a fantastic aroma and perfect texture without being overly oily.
This dish costs 100, 200, or 300 bahts depending on the size (2.87, 5.73, or 8.60 USD).
I suggest opting for at least the medium size, as the small portion may not be sufficient unless you order something else.
They also have options with mussels.
- Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm, and since it's so popular, it's normal to have to wait quite a while, but it's worth it.
10.- Lim Lao Ngow (China Town)
This stall is famous for its fish balls with noodles, which come with the option of adding fish wontons and soup.
The fish balls are akin to meatballs but with denser meat.
What sets this place apart from most eateries is that they make their fish balls from scratch using fresh fish, resulting in a distinct flavor.
The portion might be a tad small for big appetites, but it's just right given its amazing price, at only 40 bahts (1.15 USD).
- Opening Hours: Daily from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
11.- Tung Sui Heng Pochana
This street food establishment is a family-owned business that has been serving its famous stewed duck in clay pots for over 50 years, along with some offal like blood jelly, feet, and intestines.
They also have various duck dishes that you can pair with different types of noodles or rice, and they even have goose meat.
Prices for the dishes start at 60 bahts (1.72 USD).
However, those served in the clay pot range from 200 to 420 bahts (5.73 to 12.03 USD) depending on the portion size and ingredients.
These are the dishes I suggest ordering because cooking them in the clay pot enhances their flavor significantly. Plus, you can choose from different parts of the duck like wings, thigh, sliced, or assorted.
- Opening Hours: This restaurant in Bangkok is open every day from 11 am to 7:30 pm.
12.- Elvis Suki (Soi Yotse)
This small restaurant offers a wide menu with various meats, with or without broth, and salads.
It's a budget-friendly spot to dine in Bangkok, with dishes starting at 70 bahts (2.01 USD).
But the real star here is the dry beef sukiyaki (broth-free) served with Elvis's secret egg-based sauce, a recipe perfected over 30 years, priced between 90 and 100 bahts (2.58 and 2.87 USD).
The meat is cooked to perfection, offering a delightful texture and a hint of smoky flavor.
For the seafood dishes expect slightly higher prices.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm.
Keep in mind that these restaurants, being so popular, can get busy, so you might have to wait depending on the time you arrive. But as they say,"Good things come to those who wait.".» 😋
Gastronomic Experiences in Bangkok
If you are a food lover, here are some of the top gastronomic experiences in Bangkok that I highly recommend:
Map of Restaurants in Bangkok
* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Absolutely. Thai people take cleanliness seriously, and you'll notice that street stalls maintain good hygiene in their surroundings.
Of course, there can be exceptions, and that's when your judgment comes into play. If a place feels off, it's best to avoid it.
Thai street food, gets its name because it's prepared on mobile carts, although they have a regular spot where they set up every day.
These carts usually have a seating area, sometimes under a awning or even in a space with amenities like a regular restaurant.
But don't expect any fancy setups; often the seats are plastic, and in most cases, there's no air conditioning, just a fan, and sometimes not even that.
No, typically you'll need to pay in cash, just like with all the restaurants in Bangkok listed here.
Final Thoughts
These are the top restaurants in Bangkok for enjoying delicious meals on a budget. If you're passionate about food, you'll adore these street food stalls.
In this guide to Thailand you can keep reading the main articles I’ve written about this beautiful country.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I will help you in any way I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Bon appetit!😘
More about Bangkok and Thailand
- 8 Affordable Rooftop Bars & Restaurants in Bangkok
- Visit to the Railway Market and Floating Market
- Comprehensive Guide to Thai Food
- 6 Best Hotels in Bangkok and at a good price
- What to see in Bangkok: 21 must-sees
- 7 Best Floating Markets in Bangkok
- Bangkok Airport to the City: cheap, fast and convenient
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.
Very timely post, thank you!
I was wondering if, regarding the issue of some food making you sick to your stomach, do you know of any easy-to-find remedies there, as a Preventative, such as active charcoal that I have heard about or similar. My previous trip there I remember that I went without anything to prevent, and I fell ill twice (the second with some fever and everything!)... I remember that the first of the two times was a spicy papaya salad which was explosive for me 🤣
Hello Ivan!
If you can, go to one of these restaurants because you are going to love them.
Well, as a precaution, I don't know anything because Thai food doesn't bother me, but I don't eat spicy food because I quickly learned that the level of Thai spiciness is not the same as Spanish.
In a family restaurant in Chiang Mai, one of those where the good dishes are not on any menu, but instead you arrive and lift the lids of the pot to see what they cooked that day, they told me that what I wanted to eat was "a little spicy." ».
Well, I almost died right there with just one spoonful. I started coughing badly, watering, sniffling and red as a tomato, but it didn't go beyond that. 😅
You can definitely buy active charcoal easily because Thailand is a producer and exporter, as I found out they sell it in pharmacies and 7-11s. At 7-11 they usually have them on the shelves next to the cash register.
You can also ask at a pharmacy if they have anything else because in Thailand they have everything and generally much cheaper than in Spain.
Although knowing that it makes you feel bad, perhaps it is best to be prepared.
buff my goodness with the measuring stick how spicy there is 😅
Well yes, it's fine if they have them in the 7-11, but as you say, for the first couple of days it's better to bring something from Spain (although here, it's going to cost me a fortune with the crazy price increases that we're experiencing this time). such a disastrous year).
I was surprised by so much difference in "a little spicy" but as a result of that I discovered that it goes beyond something personal or habit of eating spicy.
It turns out that hot peppers are a whole world and there is a scale to measure their hotness, it is called Scoville. According to what I had looked at, Padrón peppers are between 5 and 8 thousand, while the Thai one is between 50 and 100 thousand.
But if you look at the scale, Thai is among those with medium heat, in India, the United States and other countries they have peppers that reach several million on that scale.
Well, I don't know what the price of activated charcoal will be in Thailand but when I was living there the few medications I bought were much cheaper than in Spain.
To give you an idea, Biodramina (for motion sickness) 4 tablets in Spain cost just under 4 euros, in Thailand in March 2022 I bought 1 blister with 10 tablets for 50 baht (1.38 euros).