16 must-try authentic local food in Bangkok you will never find out if you don’t have Thai friends!

Written by Patt Wattanasupt

Bangkok has become a heaven for food lovers around the world. Sampling local Thai food is a MUST on your list when you visit Thailand.

When you visit Bangkok, you might be overwhelmed by numbers of restaurants in just one block, or the many food stalls and street food vendors stretching along the streets of Bangkok. Not to mention, there are also thousands of delicious Thai dishes from different regions all over the country.

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There’s simply too many to try, and not enough time!

We hear you, and that’s why we’ve made this list of 10 must-try local Thai food (with 16 different spots) that locals love – and we’re certain that you will too.

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1. This is where you’ll find unforgettable crab dishes – Nhong Rim Klong (ร้าน หน่องริมคลอง)

Nhong Rim Klong may be small but it’s packed with big punches. What makes Nhong Rim Klong stand out is the quality of ingredients, the seafood is always fresh and the size of it is unbelievable.

Most of the must-try dishes here are all crab-based. The Drunken Crab might be a plain looking dish of huge white chunks of crab meat, but it’s so, so unbelievably good.

Another really popular dish, is the Crab Omelette (Kai Kon Pu) with huge chunks of crab meat cooked in a creamy omelette and piled on top of anything from plain rice, fried rice, and pan-fried noodle.

There’s also our editor’s personal favourite, crab chunks fried with cabbage and fish sauce! These crab dishes truly are something you probably can’t find anywhere else.

If you don’t fancy crab, no worries, Nhong Rim Klong is considered an all-rounded food stall with a large variety of dishes available – and you can customise your order however you like. Nhong, the owner and the cook will make it happen for you.

Tip: This eatery is really popular, be prepared to queue for a table or wait for your food especially during the busy lunchtime. It could be as long as 2 hours, but it’s totally worth it.

Must-try: Kalam Plee Pad Nam Pla Kai Kon Pu (Crab Omelette over Cabbages fried with fish sauce), and Drunken Crab

TripCanvas Tip: If possibly, do call ahead and place an order before you visit in order to avoid the 1-2 hour wait. We took photos of the menu – while it’s in Thai, the menu thankfully provides English translations to ease communication! (We received a tip from our reader that the prices at Nhong Rim Khlong have increased quite significantly due to the rise of their popularity. Please double check the prices before you confirm your order!)

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2. Enjoy the best, fresh fish soup in Bangkok – Khao Tom Pla Kimpo (ข้าวต้มปลา กิมโป้)

Look out for big fish hanging in front of a food stall in Charoen Krung area at night, and you’ll know that you’re at the right place. The fish are the catches of the day, and what you see is what will go into the soup. It’s guaranteed to be fresh!

This place has been serving good quality seafood of generous portions for a good three generations – and the menu is surprisingly simple. Choose your seafood and pick a style of preparation: Rice Soup, Spicy Salad, or Clear Soup (no rice).

The soup here is to die for. Made from fish bones, this bright, fragrant, peppery, and sweet sustenance will make you want more and more.

No doubt, this is the best Fish Soup in Bangkok.

Must-try: Fish Soup or Seafood Medley Salad

This isn’t the Tom Yum you know… it’s waaay better

Don’t get confused with the popular Tom Yum Soup that you might be familiar with.

Instead, try Tom Yum Pork Noodles, a pork-based soup with a good balance of spicy, sweet, salty and zesty lime flavours.

It includes noodles of your choice, and your favorite toppings (usually seasoned ground pork, meatball, and innards) – then lightly dusted with crushed peanuts that gives it an extra crunch.

It’s incredible and here are two places the locals usually flock to!

3. Bangkok’s famous Tom Yum Pork Noodles! – Roong Rueng (ร้าน รุ่งเรืองก๋วยเตี๋ยวหมู)

For the past 50 years, this food stall has been a lunch staple for office workers in Sukhumvit. (You can tell by the big crowd of well-dressed people queuing for a table during weekday lunch hour.)

Roong Rueng only serves Tom Yum Pork Noodles, but don’t worry, the combination of what you can order is beyond limit.

From different types of noodles (thin, flat, vermicelli, egg noodles, and wonton), to different soups (clear, spicy soup, or without soup) – there are also different add-ons, like poached pork, seasoned ground pork, fish ball, pig liver, pig small intestine. The noodles here are so good, you won’t be able to stop at 1 bowl.

They also have our personal favorite, crispy fish skin. If you haven’t tried it, you should!

Must-try: Sen Lek Hang Tom Yum (Thin Noodle Tom Yum without soup)

Tip: If you want some dessert to wash down the spiciness, order Kanom Bueng (sweet crispy pancake) from the cart vendor in front of the restaurant!

4. Soft Boiled Egg in Tom Yum Noodle – Ko Boo Rod Zing Noodle (ร้านโกบู้รสซิ่ง)

Up for something unconventional?  We suggest you try Ko Boo Rod Zing where your Tom Yum noodles will come with 2 perfectly soft boiled eggs.

After you break the eggs, the creamy yolk will literally ooze out into the soup, or coat the noodles (if you order no soup). This elevates the flavour to the next level.

You can order different types of noodles, toppings, and the level of spiciness as you wish. For those who love a good bowl of spicy noodles, order the “Zing Kam Koh” (direct translation: “Super Hot that Makes You Jump”). Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Ko Boo Rod Zing now has 5 branches throughout Bangkok, but the one we recommend is the original. It will get crowded after 6pm, and you might have to wait in queue but it’s totally worth it.

Must-try: Bah Mee Tom Yum Kai Yang Ma Toom ( Egg Noodle Tom Yum with Soft Boiled Egg)

5. Dig into super tender braised pork trotters – Khao Kha Moo, Charoen Saeng Silom (ข้าวขาหมูเจริญแสงสีลม เลิดสิน)

This legendary food stall has served hungry locals for over 50 years. What makes people keep coming back to Charoen Saeng Silom, is the size of pork trotters and a very unique sweet taste of the meat and broth.

Each pork trotter weighs about 2kg and is braised in the combination of Chinese herbs and spices for over 4 hours daily. So every bite that you take, the meat practically melts in your mouth.

Apart from the trotter, you can also order the pig knuckle (Kha-Ki) which has more crunchiness. It’s considered a delicacy and usually runs out in the first hour. You can also order pig’s small intestines, tendons, heart and tongue.

Don’t forget a bowl of rice to accompany the delicious dishes!

Still hungry? You might be happy to know that you can even order the entire pork leg to share for the whole table – but you MUST get there early before it runs out.

Tip: To eat like locals, try the dipping sauce. It’s a mixture of vinegar, garlic, and chili. You can easily spot it in a big glass jar that usually gets passed around from table to table.

Crispy Pork Belly (Moo Grob)

To be called a perfect Moo Grob, it must not be greasy, the meat has to be tender, and most importantly the skin must be crunchy.

Where to find the perfect Moo Grob? Here are 2 food stalls that proudly serve a perfect Moo Grob dish in two different styles!

6. Super crispy and crunchy pork belly – Thanee Restaurant (ร้านข้าวหมูแดงหมูกรอบ ธานี)

Voted the best Moo Grob (crispy pork belly) for many years for its famous super crispy skin, the Moo Grob here is so crispy that every time you take a bite, you can hear that shattering crisp sound in your ears.

Conveniently located next to Ari BTS Station, it’s hard to miss because you’ll notice a row of delicious-looking crispy pork belly hanging in front of the restaurant.

The popular dish is Kho Moo Grob which serves crispy pork belly over rice, douched with sweet gravy sauce and the sides of a half soft boiled egg and Chinese sausages.

Must-try: A plate of Moo Grob and Khao Moo Grob (Crispy Pork Belly Over Rice)

7. A soup that bursts with intense flavour, paired with Crispy Pork Belly – Kuayjup Mr. JO (ร้านก๋วยจั๊บ มิสเตอร์โจ)

Two popular dishes that everyone will order are Moo Grob and Kuayjub (Curly Rice Noodle in Clear Soup).

Thai regulars usually order a plate of crispy Moo Grob as an appetiser, which comes with dark sweet soy sauce for dipping while waiting for the noodles.

This is by far, one of the crispiest pork belly you will find in Bangkok.

Looking for something to tantalise your taste buds? You’ll love the intense peppery flavour of the soup at Mr. JO. It’s served with curly rice noodles as well as pork innards that you can choose.

And of course it’ll come with slices of crispy pork belly. Surprisingly, the skin stays crispy even after it’s soaked in the soup!

Must-try: A plate of Moo Grob and Kuayjub

Isan Food

It’s not your usual hot and spicy, it’s at least 2 levels higher!

Isan is a region in northeastern part of Thailand, next to Laos. Traditional Isan dishes are HOT and SPICY – perfect for those with a hankering for extreme tastes.

Luckily you don’t have to travel all the way to northeast Thailand, we’ve found 2 incredible and authentic Isan food stalls right in the heart of Bangkok.

8. Exotic duck beak with tongue, the ultimate Isan street food – Som Tam Silom Soi 9 aka Som Tam Su Saan (ส้มตำ สีลม ซอย 9)

This delicious and popular Isan food stall is right in the heart of Bangkok at Silom District. If you mention its official name, locals here might never have heard of it .

But if you mention its nickname “Som Tam Su Saan”, they would definitely know and give you two thumbs up. The nickname comes from the location which is across from the old Chinese graveyard.

Scared? No need to be, because you’ll feel like you’re in (spicy) heaven after you taste the food.

The menu choices are massive – ranging from varieties of Som Tam (Spicy Salad), Larb (Spicy Meat Salad), Spicy Soup, grilled meat, or even a grilled whole fish.

The cooking stations and tables are lined up on the sidewalk, and on busy nights, the seating could overflow onto the street. Now, that’s what we call an authentic street food experience.

Tip: The default level of spiciness is certainly above average. If you can’t handle the heat, make sure you tell them beforehand.

Must-try: Pak Phet Tod (Deep Fried Duck Beak) – very crunchy with well-seasoned tongue meat that will make you order more.

9. Yum yum, it’s scrumptious grilled chicken wings! – Som Tam Jay So (ส้มตำเจ้โส)

In Silom, Jae So (or Madam So) is the owner and cook of this very popular lunch joint among office workers. She is very friendly and might even show you her signature pestle twirl move if you ask!

The star of Som Tam Jae So is the Grilled Chicken Wing. It has very crispy skin on the outside and is very juicy on the inside. It only costs 17 Baht (USD $0.50) per stick – so eat up!

Jae So also has different varieties of spicy salad on the menu. From traditional Som Tam Thai (green papaya salad with roasted peanuts), to Som Tam Poo (green papaya salad with crabs) – or Tam Pa which is pretty much a green papaya salad with everything you can think of.

Jae So will cook everything FIERY HOT, so don’t forget to tell them if you need to tone the spice level down.

Tip: The menu is only in Thai. If you have no idea what to order, look around to see what other people have on their table, and ask them to mark the dish for you on the order list. The service here is self-service. Jae So will call your name to pick up the food from her. It can be hectic around noon time, so try to get there before and after to avoid the queue.
Must-try:  Peek Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken Wing)

Southern Thai Cuisine

Get your fill of signature Thai curries

Southern Thai cuisine was hugely influenced by Thailand’s southern neighbouring country, Malaysia. The cuisine adapted a lot of curry recipes and boasts spicy tastes as well.

Here are 2 restaurants in Bangkok where you can get a taste of authentic Southern Thai cuisine!

10. Yellow curry, Thai stink beans and more for the adventurous souls – Janhom Restaurant (ครัวปักษ์ใต้ ร้านจันทร์หอม)

Janhom has been serving native Southern Thais who relocated to Bangkok, and still crave the authentic flavor of Southern Thai cuisine for a good decade!

Offering classic Southern Thai cuisine and staying true to the hot, spicy, sour, and salty flavours – there are over 100 classic Southern Thai dishes in the menu listed in both Thai and English.

Easy to order, they also serve seafood that’s delivered directly from Surat Thani, the southern province of Thailand.

Janhom’s signature dish is the classic Gaeng Leung (Yellow Curry).  It’s bright yellow in colour, with a pungent smell of turmeric and thick curry – and usually comes with young bamboo shoots and fish. It’s salty, sour and HOT.

Want to explore more of the Southern Thailand taste?  Try “Sa Tor Pad Goong“(Stink Bean and Shrimp Stir Fry). Sa Tor (Stinky Beans) are grown only in the southern provinces, and has a very distinctive flavour that only adventurous souls would dare to try.

Must-try: Yellow Curry Sea Bass (Kang Leung Pla Kra Pong) and Stink Bean with Prawn Stir Fry (Sa Tor Pad Goong)

11. Smorgasbord of Southern Thai Cuisine – Pak Tai Ruam Tai Restaurant (ร้านอาหาร รวมใต้)

Situated in Wang Lang area (near Siriraj Hospital) , Southern Thai natives who came to Bangkok congregated and made themselves feel at home in the area. Now it’s well-known for a place to go for good and affordable Southern dishes.

Pak Tai Ruam Tai has been serving the neighbourhood for over 30 years with over 50 menu options daily with some non-Southern dishes included.

There are many kinds of curry, but be warned, it’s SPICY. Apart from the must-eat Yellow Curry and Stink Beans with Prawn Stir Fry, Kau Kling Moo (Pan Roasted Ground Pork with Dry Curry) is great too.

The ground pork is mixed and cooked in dry curry and kaffir lime leaves that provides an excellent taste and aroma.

Tip: You don’t need to know how to read Thai to order. This restaurant serves cafeteria style. You can see what the food looks like up front, and point at whatever looks good!

Must-try: Kua Kling Moo (Pan Roasted Ground Pork with Dry Curry)

Khao Man Gai / Chicken Rice

There ain’t no Chicken Rice like a Thai Chicken Rice!

Introduced by Chinese immigrants and adopted by Thais. Chicken Rice has become a well-loved Thai dish that’s sold throughout the country.

The search for the best Chicken Rice will never end, but we’ve found two pretty legendary stalls for you to check out.

12.  The legendary late night Chicken Rice – Go Ang Kaomunkai Pratunam (ไก่ตอนประตูนำ้ / โกอ่าง)

What if you want Thai food at midnight?

There’s nothing much to say about this legendary Chicken Rice, except that it’s been serving locals – and especially late night diners since 1960 with the original recipe from China.

It’s actually one of the first Chicken Rice stalls that opened in the Pratunam district, and marked Pratunam as one of the go-to places for Chicken Rice!

Go Ang gives you thick slices of chicken to sink your teeth in. The chicken meat is firm but juicy and moist, and it also comes with very aromatic light and clear chicken broth, and sweet dipping soy sauce.

If you’re having trouble finding the place, just look out for a place where the staff are wearing pink shirts and aprons, and you’re at the right place.

A post shared by Eat Food BKK Bangkok, Thailand (@starvingtime) on Nov 11, 2016 at 9:32pm PST

Tip: Interestingly, you can order a plate of chicken with or without skins if you are watching your diet.

Must-try:  Khao Man Gai (Chicken Rice)

13. It’s a century old Hainanese Chicken Rice recipe – Thai Heng Restaurant (ร้านไท้เฮง)

Talking about carrying on the legacy, Thai Heng restaurant has been opened since 1920 with 3 generations making Hainan-style food in Chinatown. “Ancient Recipe” is what locals dub it and highly praise for its consistently delicious food.

Hainan chicken is known for its big juicy slices of chicken meat. In Hainanese style, the oily rice has a bit more color than others from cooking with chicken broth, but is still fluffy and not too oily.

Also, instead of using sweet soy sauce as dipping sauce, Thai Heng uses soy bean paste mixed with chili to provide a little more kick to the dish.

Another signature dish is Thai Sukiyaki. You can order with soup or pan-fried style. Whichever style you choose, it comes with Hainanese-style Sukiyaki Sauce. It’s made from pink fermented tofu paste, which is different and not easy to find at any other Sukiyaki restaurant.

Also, instead of using sweet soy sauce as dipping sauce, Thai Heng uses soy bean paste mixed with chili to provide a little more kick to the dish.

Must-try:  Khao Mun Gai (Chicken Rice) and Thai Sukiyaki

Khao Moo Daeng (Red Barbecued Pork Over Rice)

Thai-style barbecued pork that’s so good you can’t stop at one!

Since World War II, Thais have made their own version of Char Siu, the Chinese Barbecued Pork.

They’ve added Chinese sausages, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers and drench it with an extremely delicious red gravy. The dish has become very common and you’ll definitely be able to find a stall selling this at every corner in Thailand.

14. Barbecued pork with a recipe passed through generations – SeeMorakot (ร้านข้าวหมูแดง สีมรกต)

What sets Seemorakot apart and keeps locals coming back year after years, is how they use charcoal to barbecue the pork. The cooking process takes hours which requires tremendous patience and care.

Seemorakot has managed to retain the years old cooking process, and passed it on through different generations for over 70 years now.

Not only is the pork tender and moist, but it also has that woody/smoky aroma which is hard to find at other Khao Moo Dang places these days.

In addition to BBQ pork, they also cook crispy pork belly, and Chinese sausages the same way – and you can order them all in one plate.

How about the gravy? Their red gravy is thick and tasty but not too sweet. They’ll give you plenty that will almost overflow from the plate. But don’t worry, the rice will soak in the sauce which makes it even yummier. We’re sure that you will finish every last grain of rice.

Tip: A perfectly cooked soft boiled egg will cost extra (10 Baht). No need to be concern about the reddish color on the egg. They soak the cooked egg in the red gravy for a burst of extra flavour!

Must-try: Khao Moo Daeng (Red Barbecued Pork over Rice)

15. Try their winning thick and sweet red gravy – Sunee Khao Moo Dang (สุณีข้าวหมูแดง)

Don’t let the size of this food stall fool you. Though it’s small, for over 50 years, it has never failed to entice locals to come and queue for a table.

Sunee Khao Moo Dang uses a sirloin cut which provides lot of meat and with less fat. They also serve crispy pork belly and Chinese sausages. Unlike many other Khao Moo Dang stalls, Sunee Khao Moo Dang doesn’t come with a boiled egg.

Instead, what sets them apart is their winning red gravy. For those who prefer sweet flavours, you will love this very thick and sweet red gravy at Sunee.

The stall is right next to the railroad track, which might provide some extra excitement whenever the train passes, or great photo ops!

Must-try: Khao Moo Dang

16. Put on a crown and prepare for some royal Thai cuisine – Thonkrueng Restaurant (ต้นเครื่อง)

Does Thai food that’s fit for the King sound good to you? Then you must head over to Thonkrueng Restaurant in Sukhumvit.

Using recipes inherited from an ancestor who was in the Royal kitchen in the King’s Palace – Thonkrueng gives us common folk the chance to enjoy exquisite tastes of royal cuisine for over 30 years.

You can’t go wrong with any choice with over 200 items on the menu.

The top selling dish is Hor Mok Khanom Krok – a well balanced fish curry pudding baked and served in a ceramic Khanom Krok pan.

Have more room for dessert? Try “Ice Cream Kah Thi Khao Neeo Mamuang”. It’s the coconut ice cream served with everyone’s favourite Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango. It’s refreshing and will put you in coconut heaven.

All ingredients are super fresh and of superior quality, especially the seafood. Everything tastes homemade, but exudes an elevated taste to satisfy even the most demanding of foodie royalty.

Must-try: Hor Mok Khanom Krok (Thai Fish Curry Custard in Khanom Krok Pan) and Ice Cream Kah Thi Khao Neeo Mamuang  (Coconut Ice Cream served with Sweet Sticky Rice and Mango)

Are we making you hungry yet? Whichever your next meal is, let’s go and have some good Thai food!

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PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us

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