Bangkok Food

Thai food - spicy, aromatic, healthy and delicious. Well known as one of the top forms of cuisine in the world, Thai food will form an important part of you trip to Bangkok.

Food is an integral part of Thailands' culture, and something they are very proud of. Thai food, like many world cuisines, becomes 'Westernised' back home... which is a shame. So, whilst you are in Bangkok, you should make the most of the real thing.

street Thai cuisine contains a huge range of dishes, from standard chicken and rice, through to deep fried chicken feet or soup with pork intestines. Every ingredient used in Thai food is fresh and often locally sourced, and nothing gets wasted. Commonly used herbs and spices can include garlic, ginger, lemongrass, holy basil and of course, chili. Restaurants and food stalls serving locals will make their dishes too spicy for most tourists, but in tourist areas, they 'tone down' the use of chili. But, if like us, you love your dishes spicy enough to blow your mind, just ask for it to be "ped ped", which means spicy.

(Please see our Thai Food Guide for a description of some of the best dishes we think Thailand has to offer. It would be a crime to not experience Thai cuisine to its full and we hope you agree with our choices. The guide also contains useful Thai phrases to help order food)

Street food in Bangkok can be found on almost every road. You never have to walk far to fill up. First timers to street food can feel out of place, as it is rather daunting. But have no fear, this all adds to the joy of Bangkok. Understanding what types of food stalls are available will help you considerably. Most stalls will have a clear display cabinet showing what they sell. Check out our guide for more info: Street Food Help

Thai Restaurants are plentiful throughout Bangkok. Most hotels offer a varied and enjoyable Thai menu. Outside of the hotel, you will encounter numerous local restaurants. Many of these will be simple and cater mainly for locals. In tourist areas, every pub, bar or even some late night clubs will serve a nice Thai meal. During the day, and early evening, a great place to eat Thai food is actually in the food halls of any shopping mall. The food hall will often consist of numerous restauarnts, or a large, open seating area, surrounded by a variety of food counters. To purchase food you need to buy a voucher card at the voucher desks usually near the entrance. Then just walk around every counter ntil you see something that you like the look of. You can find a huge variety of food in these places, and the food is usually top notch, and cheap. Menu boards are in Thai and English.

Western Food chains and restaurants are common place in Bangkok. Should the local cuisine be a bit much for you, or if you simply miss some home comforts, you can easily find something from home. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks are just a handful of the Western chains on offer.

International cuisine can be found in Bangkok. As mentioned above, there is a host of Western fast food chains available, as well as high quality Indian, Chinese, Italian, Scandinavian, British and American restaurants (plus many more)