20 Best Thai Street Food: Dishes You Need to Try

Thailand is perhaps most popular for its unique culture and delicious cuisine. Within its borders, tourists can find a wide range of dishes in every shop and restaurant. Each dish usually has its own special ingredients, aroma, and taste.

One of my favorite things to do is dine on fantastic Thai food, especially when it’s tasty and costs only a dollar or less, and is usually served by very welcoming locals.

While dining at local restaurants and street food stalls is common in Thai culture, many travelers may be wary of trying unfamiliar dishes. But street food doesn’t have to remain a mystery. Many tasty offerings should not be missed when traveling through Thailand, and these popular local dishes are often easy to find.

This guide shares the best Thai street food dishes to help you navigate your culinary adventure. Be sure to check out these foods before your next trip to Thailand to ensure you don’t miss out on these delectable Thai dishes!

Where to Find the Best Thai Street Food Dishes

• Yaowarat: Chinatown of Bangkok
• Nang Loeng Market
• Bangrak District
• Ratchawat Market
• Asiatique The Riverfront

Best Thai Street Food: Dishes You Need to Try

1. Pad Thai

This list of best street food is not complete without including a very popular Thai dish: Pad Thai. It is a stir-fried noodle dish typically cooked with egg, carrots, green onion, bean sprouts, and peanuts. Then, a choice of protein between tofu, shrimp, and chicken is added to the dish. If you’d like a little extra kick, top your Pad Thai off with a bit of fresh lime juice!

This Thai street food can be found anywhere around the country, from street vendors to higher-end restaurants. However, you can’t beat the street food version where your meal is prepared hot and fresh off the wok!

If you decide to dine at a restaurant, don’t be afraid to ask for modifications, such as less sweetness or no chilies. However, many street vendors prepare Pad Thai in bulk, so you may not be able to request any changes. But don’t worry. Just move onto the next vendor. Keep this in mind if you have peanut allergies as well!

As you make your way around Thailand, you may find that not all of the street food tastes the same. Honestly, I can’t offer any explanation besides its influence in each region (sometimes even restaurant to restaurant).

In general, I found this type of Thai street food to be much sweeter in areas most visited by tourists, such as Bangkok, and a tad spicier up north.

2. Pad See Ew

Another popular go-to Thai street food is Pad See Ew! Although it’s a little similar to Pad Thai, this street food has a much more distinct flavor without the often-added sweetness. As a matter of fact, its name translates directly to “fried soy sauce” and is similar to other dishes eaten in Thailand’s neighboring country, Malaysia.

This Thai street food consists of flat noodles fried in a dark soy sauce with Chinese broccoli, chicken (or beef), and egg. Some street food vendors may add a few extra vegetables or garlic for flavor.

If I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about the spice in Pad See Ew. No matter where you get it from, this Thai street food is more of a savory dish rather than a typical spicy meal. Personally, this was my favorite meal to grab after a long night out!

Here’s another tip: if street stalls and even Thai restaurants are closed, head over to the nearest convenience store, and you may find some. Although its taste is not quite up to par with the Thai street stalls, it’s still delicious and just as affordable.

See Related: Best Bali Organic Food Options

3) Mango Sticky Rice

Khao Neeo Mamuang is a traditional Thai dessert dish that’s become increasingly popular in recent years.

When planning to visit Thailand, Khao Neeo Mamuang or mango sticky rice is, without a doubt, the first thing you should eat the moment you step foot off the plane (and once you try it, you’ll understand why).

This Thai dessert is exactly as it sounds: sweet mango slices perfectly complemented with sticky rice, sprinkled with yellow mung beans or sesame seeds, and drizzled with creamy coconut milk.

Tourists can find this sweet treat at markets across Thailand, but tourists particularly love the one from Kor Panich. It’s easy to find, and you’ll see it in the same spot every day.

Mango sticky rice is commonly served in restaurants (usually for a much higher price) but can also be found at Thai street food stalls for a much better deal. So whenever you’re out grabbing street food for dinner, be sure to save room for some mango sticky rice for dessert!

4. Roti

Roti is a Thai street food that comes in both sweet and savory versions. Depending on which version you get, it can be the perfect sweet street snack for any time of the day!

Thinly hand-rolled dough (wheat flour bread) is fried to a golden brown and then your choice of toppings can be added, including bananas, chocolate spread, strawberries, and sweetened condensed milk. Some Thai street food vendors also prepare more options to pick from.

Roti is just what you need to satisfy your craving for something sweet when you need a little pick-me-up. This street food is sold at many different night markets because it is a convenient, light snack that can be eaten on the go. Plus, you can’t beat a sweet, warm snack prepared right before you.

Unlike the previous dishes on the list, Roti is hardly ever found on any menu of Thai restaurants. Instead, it’s a staple in the street market community. Sometimes, Roti being sold on carts can even be found outside tourist spots or along the sidewalks of busy streets.

See Related: How to Plan a Trip to Thailand and Build an Itinerary

5. Som Tam

Are you looking for traditional Thai street foods besides noodle dishes? Som Tam is one of my personal favorites that I ate nearly every day for lunch when I lived in Thailand!

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative, this Thai street food is PERFECT. This dish is also called “green papaya salad,” which combines fresh vegetables in one plate with a hint of spice.

This flavorful dish often includes shredded green papaya, carrots, Chinese long beans, peanuts, tomatoes, brown sugar, fish sauce, and chilies, but you can usually customize it to your liking.

Though, you should be aware that it can be quite spicy in some places. Like most Thai street foods, if you’re in the city or a tourist hotspot (such as Bangkok or Phuket), you can anticipate Som Tam to be mildly toned down on the spice.

Before you make the trip, check out our top places to visit in Thailand to learn more about the country, its food, and what to expect as a visitor.

6. Poh Pia Tod

Poh Pia Tod or fried spring rolls, are often served hot, fresh, and crispy. They can be dipped in a savory peanut or sweet chili sauce! As Poh Pia Tod is another best Thai street food, it is offered at restaurants, and at literally every market you’ll visit around the country. This dish will undoubtedly leave your tastebuds satisfied!

These spring rolls are filled with cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles, and either pork or shrimp. Poh Pia Tod is a dish that can be eaten and keep you satisfied at any time of the day without fail. You can get these as an appetizer to share, a snack, or even a full meal for yourself!

This dish is another Thai street food that you won’t have to worry about when it comes to spice. After living in Thailand for nearly a year, I never had spicy Poh Pia Tod, no matter where I ordered it.

7. Pad Kra Pao

Here is another best Thai street food to add to our list. If you are looking for a meaty, savory, and aromatic dish, Pad Kra Pao is the one for you! 

Also known as “Kao Pad Gaprao Gai Kai Dao,” which translates to stir-fried chicken in holy basil and a fried egg, this tasty Thai street food dish can not only be enjoyed as a snack but also as a full meal.

The street stalls and food carts in Thailand usually partner this dish with rice, so it’s not only good but very filling. Aside from chicken, there are many more different versions that you can try. There are some restaurants that use minced pork or beef as their protein for this dish. 

With mixed flavors of sweet and spicy, this stir-fried dish is also known for having its strong flavor of holy basil, which has a peppery taste. If you are not a fan of indulging in spicy food, you might want to tell the vendor to adjust it a little to match your liking so you can still enjoy this flavorful meal. 

8. Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

This next Thai cuisine is something you might have already seen in many travel videos. This dish is not only popular in Thailand but also in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Chicken Satay is typically served on a skewer after being grilled for a few minutes and is enjoyed with a peanut sauce that is also quite tasty.

It is also usually marinated in different fragrant spices like cumin seeds, peppercorns, fresh turmeric, coconut milk, and many other ingredients. This Thai cuisine is indeed flavorful that can satisfy your taste buds!

When you go to Thailand and visit areas with a lot of food stalls, you shouldn’t miss eating the best Thai street food. As you walk down the streets of this country, where street food is very common, you will already smell the dishes rich with spices and flavors, and Thai Chicken Satay is likely one of them!

9. Thai Fried Rice

Prepare yourself for rice as a mainstay of your diet while in Asia. Typically, rice is served plain, for it’s usually partnered with savory meat, seafood or vegetables that balance out each other’s flavor when eaten together. But when you are in Thailand, you can order a bowl of flavorful rice that can be eaten by itself.

Like any other Asian country, rice is a staple food in Thailand, making this fried rice possible to find anywhere. Whether you’re eating at a food truck or a five-star restaurant, you can always count on finding this rice dish.

Unlike Chinese recipes, which call for long-grain white rice, the Thai version of fried rice relies on fragrant jasmine rice.

One other differentiating factor is the use of soy sauce. Authentic Thai fried rice does not include soy sauce because it is a Chinese condiment. Traditional Thai cuisine derives its flavor solely from the addition of other sauces, such as fish sauce and oyster sauce.

Meat (often chicken, shrimp, or crab), beaten or fried eggs, onions, garlic, and sometimes tomatoes are typical ingredients of this popular Thai dish. The ingredients are stir-fried with the seasonings, ranging from fish sauce to soy sauce, sugar, and salt to chili sauce.

10. Moo Ping

Can’t get enough of the Thai Chicken Satay but want to try more grilled goodness? Found primarily on the streets of night markets in Bangkok, Moo Ping is very famous for its tenderness and pack of flavors.

Moo Ping, which is basically Thai-style grilled pork skewers, is inclined to be the best Thai street food for picky eaters. This street food dish is not only easy to find when you’re a tourist in Thailand trying new cuisines, but it’s also a safe bet if you’re trying to develop a refined sense of taste.

Seasoned and marinated with almost the same ingredients as Chicken Satay, this is one of the most savory dishes that’s very easy to find anywhere on the streets. The only difference for this one is the protein used for this is pork.

To achieve a more flavorful and tender result, the fantastic vendors at night markets marinate the pork in a mixture of coconut milk, lemongrass, and fish sauce for a considerable amount of time. This is also great when paired with rice and ensures that you have a full meal.

See Related: Best Side Dishes For a Summer Barbecue

11. Thai Coconut Ice Cream

“There’s always room for dessert.” You have heard this saying over and over again, and yes, there always is!

After eating a lot of savory food, and presumably, most of them were spicy when you are traveling around Thailand, you can wash your palate with some fantastic desserts. This brings us to our next best Thai street food on the list: Thai coconut ice cream.

Forget about the frequent go-to flavor you have with ice cream. When you are on a journey all around the world, one of the best experiences is to check out the culture-specific foods that you can only try in certain places.

Known for its rich and creamy coconut taste, it’s one of the good desserts you can devour when you’re all done with salty foods and just want to end your meal with a light flavor. Restaurants and creameries from around the world offering Thai food might have these on their menu, but it’s more fun when it’s traditionally made.

Also, don’t be shocked when you find street vendors offering bread rolls to eat this coconut ice cream with. It is common in Thailand to eat ice cream with bread, just like ice cream sandwiches.

12. Kai Jeow

Growing up, you have apparently watched an episode of Dexter’s Laboratory where he was just saying “Omelette du Fromage” repeatedly, which means “Cheese Omelette” in English. Mouth-watering, isn’t it?

Well, why not make it better?

A popular dish in Thailand, Kai Jeow literally translates to “Thai omelet.” It goes without saying that cheese is delicious; however, what is better than cheese when combined with eggs? Meat!

Uniquely made with flavors of fish sauce and sugar to extract its flavors, some local restaurants put this Thai food in their specials. With its puffy texture and minced pork inside, this is definitely a dish you could indulge in with a cup of rice.

Other vendors also make their own versions of the dish. You can also customize Thai omelets by adding herbs or meat, such as fresh oysters, ground pork, crab meat, etc.

13. Sai Ua

Down at Ton Payom Market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, stands an excellent place to find Sai Ua.

This market is a popular place to buy food to take home with you or to give to friends or relatives who want to sample Thai cuisine. The area is also well-known for a variety of vendors selling Sai Ua.

Sai Ua is sometimes weighed when bought; you can buy them in boxes and just eat straight out of them. Once you open its box, you can already smell the aroma of a Northern Thai sausage which entices to be eaten right away.

The usual ingredients for this are ground pork, dried chili, curry paste, lemongrass, and other herbs and spices packed with flavor.

This tasty snack is not typically found in restaurants and is more common in markets where you can buy and eat them on the spot. Considering that it is already made when you purchase it, you might want to consider asking the vendors first for the level of spiciness of their Thai sausage, or buying a small one first to sample.

See Related: Potato Soup Recipe

14. Kao Moo Dang

Imagine a pork belly so tender that it melts in your mouth, and there is a red sauce on top of the rice to complement the meat perfectly – Kao Moo Daeng, translated as “red-pork rice,” is just that!

It is available in a wide variety of Thai restaurants, and for a good reason: the meat is incredibly tender, and the flavor is out of this world.

This could be a good option if you’re hungry after a long journey but don’t feel like trying out a bunch of new, unfamiliar food. The taste may be similar to char siu pork – a Chinese dish that is also a barbecue pork dish from Asia.

This dish is assembled by having a layer of steamed rice with red pork, kun chiang, half-boiled duck eggs, and crispy fried pork, then topped with sweet bean sauce and served with cucumber slices and green onions.

15. Khao Kha Moo

Khao Kha Moo is a slowly-braised pork leg that provides tender and fatty goodness once you get a taste of it. This one is usually served with rice and can also be found in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Its not-so-overpowering sweetness is so rich in flavor that you might get a second plate. Pork legs are usually fatty, so make sure that you ask the vendor not to put the fatty parts on your plate if you are not a fan of it.

We know it’s kind of strange eating pork legs in some parts of the world, but what’s traveling without trying the local dishes, right? It’s time to indulge yourself with the culture and try new things.

So, get on that trip and order some Khao Kha Moo for yourself!

16. Guay Teow

Guay Teow (also spelled as Kway Teow) is a highly popular local cuisine, so you might not have any trouble locating it on restaurant menus. This stir-fried noodle dish is a staple in Thai cuisine and is commonly served with chicken and vegetables.

This is quite similar to the popular Chinese meal called Char Kway Teow, which is usually made with shrimp instead of chicken.

Around the streets of Thailand, different restaurants from left and right offer different types of noodle dishes with different flavors. Some are spicy, some are sweet, and some are just really bursting with lots of flavors. It’s great not to miss out on these kinds of food, especially when you can only get the authentic flavors in specific places.

This dish tastes best when finished with a variety of condiments, such as sugar, lime juice, dried chili peppers, and fish sauce.

See Related: 5 Mother Sauces: How Well Do You Know Them?

17. Khao Man Gai

The Thai variation of Hainanese chicken rice, Khao Man Gai is a light dish that’s good when you are not into some dishes with intense flavors. This traditional cuisine sold on Thailand’s streets is also considered the best Thai street food. It consists of both soft and tender chicken, served with rice with the most flavor you’ve ever experienced.

The boiled chicken might look straightforward and bland because it’s just chicken and water. Still, it’s actually quite delicious and can be flavorful. The skin may look rubbery, but trust me, it is very tender and one of the best parts! Even while the chicken is delicious on its own, the rice tops it all.

As you wander the streets, it’s impossible not to see a cart that offers Khao Man Gai. It is full of taste but not too overpowering; this also could be a full meal, as it is usually served over rice.

18. Thai Noodles

What’s terrific about the streets of Thailand is that most dishes are cooked fresh in front of you. You can usually have your dishes arranged based on your liking so you won’t have an unsatisfying experience.

You will come across different foods in every corner of any city, such as Bangkok, Phuket, and more, and most of them are made with noodles. Noodles can be served in tasty soup or with lots of meat and vegetables. Here are some of its variations:

Rice Noodles

Rice noodles as usually used for stir-fried dishes like Pad Thai and Pad See Ew and can vary in thickness. It has a glass-like appearance, and it is easy for flavors to cling to, making it ideal for serving savory dishes.

Egg Noodles

Most dishes served with egg noodles are light and hearty warm soups. Two of the most popular noodle soups are Guay Tiew Ruea and Tom Yum noodles.

Tom Yum is a delicious sour and spicy Thai soup typically topped with seafood, sometimes mixed with coconut milk. Guay Tiew Ruea, in contrast to Tom Yum, uses only pork or beef broths, yet it is still light and flavorful.

Wide Rice Noodles

Wide rice noodles have a glass-like appearance and a soft and chewy texture and can be enjoyed with various flavors. This rice noodle variation is commonly used for stir-fried dishes. These noodles are also used in Pad Thai and can be found in Asian markets worldwide.

19. Insect Dishes

Have you ever tried eating bugs?

The edible insects in Thailand have been featured in hundreds of documentaries and vlogs worldwide, and since you’re already in the country, this is your chance to try them!

Even though eating fried insects isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, Thai restaurants take great care to ensure that their bug dishes are safe for human consumption. These dishes are also known for their richness in protein and other nutritional content. Here are some examples of the best ones:

Rot Duan

Rot Duan (bamboo worms) is the most typical snack that you might want to try. These worms are caught in bamboo tubes commonly found in the north of Thailand and are frequently served fried. The texture of these worms is very crunchy and slightly salty, similar to eating crackers.

Nhon Mhai

Once you bite on the crispy skin of these silkworms, you’ll discover that the inside has a creamy flavor. This pairs well with soy sauce and pepper or chili flakes. These worms are typically from the families of various butterflies and are also raised on farms.

Tak Ka Tan

Eating fried insects, such as Tak Ka Tan, can feel like eating shrimp without the shell if you enjoy shrimp. Grasshoppers are a good source of protein and calcium, but before eating them, you should clip off their legs to prevent them from scratching your mouth.

Jing Reed

This cricket dish, like grasshoppers, is a crunchy snack, typically fried, and its flavor has been likened to that of popcorn and nuts. When these fried insects are cooked and served, some still have wings, while others do not.

See Related: Weird Food Combinations That Are Strangely Good

20. Curry

Last but certainly not least – curry! No trip to Thailand is complete without sampling all of its mouth-watering (and sometimes tear-producing) curries. But out of them all, which ones are worth trying?

Allow me to elaborate on three of my favorite curry dishes from Thailand. With any luck, this will help you narrow down your options and settle on a few (if not all) to test out.

Khao Soi

Native to Chiang Mai, Khao Soi is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes and is a spicy coconut curry noodle soup often cooked with chicken. The curry is made with dried chili, turmeric, cumin, coriander root, ginger, shallot, and cardamom. This is definitely a curry you’ll HAVE to try out!

Massaman Curry

Originating on the border of Thailand and Malaysia, Massaman curry is mild, savory, and thicker in texture; perfect for those who don’t want too much spice. Several seasonings are used to give the curry its distinctive flavor, including sugar, cinnamon, bay leaves, tamarind sauce, and roasted peanuts.

Panang Curry

One of Thailand’s most popular dishes, Panang Curry, is a thicker curry with complementing sweet and salty flavors. While it’s sweeter than most other red curries, it’s VERY spicy! This Thai dish is typically cooked with a variety of vegetables and chicken. Regardless, what sets this one apart is the fact that it is made by blending together curry paste, sweetened coconut cream, and roasted peanuts.

FAQ

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Have I got your tastebuds watering? Mine sure are! 

One more note before you embark on your eatery journey across Thailand!

Be sure to have a good variety of baht on you. Street markets don’t accept credit cards or large bills. Try to stay close to the exact price because many vendors don’t carry much change.

For instance, if your meal costs 30 baht, don’t hand them 1000 baht. They’ll either refuse it, or have to ask other vendors to borrow change (which will take a while). In this case, if all you have is 100 baht, that’s perfectly fine – I wouldn’t exceed that amount.

For more tips and pointers as a visitor, check out these 15 mistakes to avoid on your first trip to Thailand (ps – they’re common and easy to avoid!).

Thailand will certainly leave your bellies satisfied with their mix of savory, sweet, and altogether flavorful cuisine.

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About the writer: Kylie Nathan

Hi! I’m Kylie, a travel enthusiast who said YES to pursuing wanderlust after feeling “stuck and stagnant” for years. My hope is to empower other young adults to do the same and explore new perspectives through travel! Follow me around the world on Instagram and my travel blog!

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