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Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world if you are a foodie and love street food. Trying some of its Chinatown street food is a must-do while you are in town.
I love Bangkok’s Chinatown because it is a hectic place that is full of interesting sights and sounds.
During our one-month stay, we visited Chinatown multiple times and always loved the experience. We sampled many different foods and this blog post is a list of some of our favorites to try 🥡🥢🥟
This list is not in order of best to worst as food is always subjective. But rather it is a variety of foods I think you should try (or may want to avoid)!
Tip: You can reach Bangkok’s Chinatown easily by metro. Get off at Wat Mangkorn MRT station (blue line) and walk 5 minutes to Yaowarat Road, the heart of Chinatown’s street food markets.
When should I visit Bangkok’s Chinatown?
Your experience in Chinatown will vary dramatically if you visit in the day or night. During the day, there are many more street markets, and locals buy ingredients for cooking, clothing, etc.
There is some street food during the day. But nowhere as much as there is at night.
I liked visiting during the day to explore all the hectic alleyways with all types of interesting products for sale.
But for street food, the best time to visit is after 5 pm. That’s when a huge food street market is set up along the main road in Chinatown and lanes of traffic are closed so that street vendors can set up their stalls.
Huge numbers of tourists turn up to sample all the street food. There is a nice atmosphere when the street is lit up at night and I think it is the best time to visit Bangkok’s Chinatown.
However, I still think that you should visit Chinatown during the day and night because both are very different and interesting experiences.
Tip: A Chef’s Tour runs top-rated 4-hour food tours through Chinatown daily with a max of 8 people. You’ll sample 15+ different street foods and learn a lot about Chinatown on the way.
1. Fish Maw Soup
If you are not an adventurous eater then number one on my list will not be for you and you may want to avoid it.
Fish Maw soup is a traditional Chinese dish that is particularly popular in the Chinatown Bangkok street food scene.
Your first question may be what is fish maw? That was the same question I asked myself and to be honest, after finding out I was not sure whether I wanted to try it.
Fish maw is the air bladder of fish that it uses to help with buoyancy in water. Sounds yum right!?
If you visit Chinatown during the day you will see fish maw for sale everywhere. It looks like dry pieces of foam.
It is highly valued in traditional Chinese Medicine because it is purported to have many different health benefits. Such as healthy skin, better gut health, etc.
When I read about this I thought it sounded like it could not be true. But fish maw is very high in collagen so it will definitely be good for your skin and gut.
When you order a bowl of fish maw the first thing you might notice is the texture of the soup. The soup is super thick and has a super gooey consistency.
This is because tapioca or potato starch has been added to the gravy to make it thicker.
It is a very odd texture but I quite liked it after a few slurps. But it is something that I am sure some people will never grow a liking to.
I was also expecting the fish maw to have a very fishy flavor. But it has almost no flavor at all. The spongy texture of the fish maw soaks up all the flavor of the gravy so it just tastes like the gravy it is cooked in.
I was totally expecting to hate my first bowl of fish maw soup. But it was surprisingly good! So if you are looking to try some unique Chinatown Bangkok street food then you have to try fish maw soup.
There are many places to try fish maw soup in Chinatown but I tried it at this stall.
2. Jek Pui Curry
If Fish Maw soup is too adventurous for you then Jek Pui Curry (location) may be more up your alley.
This is a local curry restaurant that became very famous after appearing on Netflix. I found it because I was looking on Google for a good curry in Chinatown.
I love Thai curries but I was surprised that it could be hard to find them in Bangkok.
Jek Pui Curry is great if you are not an adventurous eater because it is just a simple Thai curry. You can choose between a green curry with chicken or pork or a red curry with beef.
The curry only costs 45 Baht (1.30 USD) and is a decent-sized portion considering the money.
When you arrive someone will ask what curry you want. Then you sit down on one of the many red plastic stools scattered around and you should have your food super quick. There are no tables!
I think we sat down and had it in our hands in under a minute!
The curry is good but is nothing out of this world. Just come to Jek Pui to get a solid curry that is super cheap and will arrive very quickly.
One of the things I liked about Jek Pui is that it is located outside of the hustle and bustle of Chinatown down a more quiet alleyway.
So if you want an escape from the noise and chaos of Chinatown Jek Pui is a great option. I’m surprised it hasn’t made it into the Michelin Star Street Food Guide of Bangkok yet.
Tip: You can try all of Bangkok’s Chinatown street food that got featured in the Michelin guidebook by joining this Michelin Guide Street Food Tour ⭐️
3. Kway Chap
Kway Chap is a peppery pork soup that is a very popular street food in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
This soup is popular in parts of China and other parts of the world where there are large numbers of Chinese immigrants.
The dish consists of a pork broth and unique rolled noodles that are like mini scrolls.
But what makes the Kway Chap in Bangkok unique is the intense peppery flavor. It may be too intense for some people but I liked it a lot.
The soup can come with a range of different toppings including pork, offal, liver, tofu and quail eggs.
If you are not an adventurous eater this is a dish you should be careful with because it often comes with intestine and liver. I love eating liver because it’s super healthy but if you don’t like it just ask for no liver or intestine.
Kway Chap is often served with crispy pork and I really enjoyed the crunchy texture of the pork in the soup.
I first tried Kway Chap at this food cart during the day. I really enjoyed the Kway Chap here but this cart is only open till about 4 pm.
If you visit Chinatown in the evening then I recommend going to Nai Ek Roll Noodle. This is the most famous place to get Kway Chap in Chinatown and is very crowded in the evenings.
4. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is the stock standard Thai dish that everyone around the world knows about.
Until recently I thought Pad Thai was one of those dishes that was created for foreigners. But I recently found out I was wrong!
Pad Thai rose to prominence in the 1930s when there was a national campaign to promote Nationalism in Thailand.
It was chosen as the national dish and ever since has been one of the first dishes people associate with Thai cuisine. The sweet and tangy flavor of Pad Thai makes it a dish that a wide range of people like.
I usually stay away from Pad Thai because I like a lot of spice in my food. But I did find a Pad Thai stall in Chinatown that I enjoyed a lot.
This stall stood out to me because the stir-fried Pad Thai noodles and vegetables are served inside an egg omelet. You then slice open the egg and the noodles are inside.
Not only was the Pad Thai presented in an interesting way but it also tasted very good too.
So if you are looking for a Pad Thai in Bangkok’s Chinatown then I recommend heading to this street food cart.
Tip: Want to learn how to make your own Pad Thai? Then check out this highly-rated Thai cooking class! It’s not in Chinatown, but easy to reach by BTS (Bangkok’s Skytrain) 🧑🍳
5. Coconut Pancakes
While we were in Bangkok our go-to snack when we felt like something sweet was Coconut Pancakes.
Different variations of coconut pancakes are sold all over Bangkok and they are so delicious. The ingredients are just rice flour, coconut milk and sugar. But this simple combination is so good!
They are freshly cooked by street vendors all over Bangkok so they are usually fresh off the grill.
One tip I would give when eating coconut pancakes is to let them cool down a bit before diving in.
The texture is nice and warm and gooey when they are hot. But I think that the flavor is much better when they have cooled down.
When you are in Bangkok’s Chinatown I recommend trying the coconut pancakes at the Toffee cart. The pancakes here are super thick and not too sweet.
It is 30 Baht (0.9 USD) for one pancake but they are quite big and filling and you can share one between two.
Tip: Need to work off all that delicious food? This top-rated bicycle tour discovers Chinatown and nearby attractions in a fun and healthy way 🚲
6. Dumplings
Dumplings are an integral part of Chinese cuisine and you have to try them when you are in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
The warm doughy texture combined with the seasoned filling is delicious and something you can never get sick of.
Dumpings can come with a variety of fillings including pork, mushroom, shrimp and crab. In Bangkok, Thai herbs are often added which give them a unique twist to dumplings found in other parts of the world.
We bought dumplings from a random cart on this street and they were very good.
There are quite a few carts selling dumplings so I recommend sampling some from a variety of different carts to find your favorite.
7. Grilled Squid
I had never tried grilled squid before visiting Bangkok’s Chinatown. But I saw a huge pile of squid while walking along Yaowarat Road and thought this was a good spot to try for the first time.
The cart was called Guy Kao Grilled Squid and I really enjoyed it!
After I ordered the squid I was expecting to just get grilled squid on a stick. But instead, I received the grilled squid in a bowl with cilantro and a delicious hot sauce.
Just be prepared that the hot sauce is HOT! 🔥 I like spicy food but my mouth was on fire after a couple of bites.
I saw reviews online of people who were not happy with their squid from Guy Kao. But mine was cooked very well so I think it depends on who is working and how well it is done.
It is a very popular stall so if you do not want to wait in line make sure that you get there early just after the sun goes down.
8. Crispy Coconut Pancakes
Another of my favorite sweet snacks to have while in Bangkok is Crispy Coconut Pancakes.
These are kind of like a sweet taco made with rice flour and mung bean that is filled with meringue and topped with something sweet such as shredded coconut.
Apparently, these pancakes have been popular in Thailand for centuries. So they existed before Thailand was even a country!
I can see why they have stuck around for so long. I loved the crunchy texture along with the coconut flavor.
They are an awesome snack to grab on the go and many vendors are selling them along the main street in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
9. Wonton Soup
Wonton Soup is a super popular dish in Chinese cuisine and a great place to try it is in Chinatown Bangkok.
We became addicted to wonton soup because we had an awesome cart selling it outside of our condo. It was the first place we ate when we arrived in Bangkok and we ate there nearly every day.
Luckily in Chinatown, we also found a stall that makes a delicious wonton soup.
One of the keys to wonton soup, in my opinion, is to make the noodles with the right texture and Jae Malee Noodles gets it right.
The noodles have just the right chew to them and the wontons (dumplings) and pork give the soup a nice mix of different textures.
I also liked that the soup was served in a metal bowl which is much nicer than eating out of a plastic bowl.
10. Yaowarat Toasted Bread
The next item on the list is not something that I was super keen to try when I first saw it.
I first saw Yaowarat toasted bread while watching an episode of the Best Ever Food Review show on YouTube.
Based on the host’s reaction and the description of the food I had crossed it off in my mind. It was white bread filled with a miscellaneous sweet cream. Not something I would usually eat.
But while exploring Chinatown in the evening we happened to stop next to a toasted bread stand while it was raining and got curious.
We decided to buy one and it was surprisingly delicious! The bun was nicely toasted and the creamy filling was not too sweet.
It is for sure not the healthiest food in the world. But if you are feeling like something sweet while wandering around Bangkok’s Chinatown I recommend giving Pang Pang Toasted Bread a go.
Tip: This Chinatown by Night Walking Tour also stops here for a toasted bun. If you’d like to have a local guide and cover some food and sights then this tour is worth checking out 🍞⛩️
11. Pad Kra Pao
If you visit Chinatown before 5 pm and feel like cooling down while you eat I recommend going to Yaowaraj Restaurant.
This little restaurant has the feeling of eating street food with the added benefit of air conditioning. They have a wide selection of dishes available, the servings are quite small but everything is cheap.
If you have never tried Pad Kra Pao then I recommend trying it here. It is one of my favorite Thai dishes.
You can either choose pork or beef that is cooked in hot chillis with basil. Just be careful because this dish can be very hot. But if you like spicy food I am sure you will love it.
There are also a range of other dishes available like Fish Maw soup and Pad Thai. So if you feel like sitting down and tasting a range of different dishes on this list this is a good spot.
Tip: If you are short on time this Tuk Tuk Tour combines temples, markets, famous sights, and food sampling in Chinatown in one go every night 🛺
12. Mango Sticky Rice
If there was a king of Thai desserts I think that honor should go to Mango Sticky Rice.
It is a simple dish made with rice cooked in coconut milk with sugar and sprinkled with crispy mung beans.
The rice is then eaten with a fresh mango and the combination is amazing. When we were walking around in Bangkok we were always tempted by Mango Sticky Rice no matter the time of day.
Quite a few stands are selling Mango Sticky Rice along the main street of Bangkok’s Chinatown. But I recommend going to this stall.
The serving size will be quite small but if you want a big serving of Mango sticky rice you have to go to a less touristy part of Bangkok.
13. Healthy Juices Fruit Smoothies
No matter when you are in Bangkok it is always hot and sweaty. So I am always looking for a good way to cool down.
My favorite way to do this is to get a fruit smoothie. On both nights that we visited Chinatown, we stopped at Healthy Juices. They don’t seem to be on Google Maps, but we marked their location.
They make big fruit smoothies that are not too sweet and are the perfect way to cool down. The smoothies are also beautifully presented and the lady is friendly. So I can highly recommend this stall.
14. Steamed Buns
Steamed buns are one of my favorite quick snacks to grab when I am in Chinatown or anywhere in the world. But I have to be honest I was not able to find a good steamed bun while I was in Thailand.
Usually, steamed buns are sitting in a warming oven and the dough is super moist and doughy. The middle of the bun is filled with some type of savory filling such as meat or egg.
But I always found that the bread of the steamed buns in Thailand was quite dry, spongy and flaky, which is not what I like!
I am sure that there must be some good ones in Bangkok’s Chinatown but I was not able to find them. However, if you have never eaten a steamed bun I think it is something that you should try while walking around.
They are super cheap and you will see them on sale all over the place. You might have better luck at finding a good one than me! If so, let our readers and me know in the comments below.
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Which Chinatown Bangkok Street Food will you try (or avoid)?
I hope you enjoy sampling all the street food on offer in Chinatown, Bangkok. There are so many places to eat that I am sure you’ll have a great time.
If there are any spots you think deserve to be on the list let me know in the comments! I am sure we will be back one day and I would like to try out some new places.
Also, check out the other Bangkok blog posts we have written to make your visit to Thailand easy.
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