Street food in Thailand

In Bangkok Chinatown, mid-afternoon, streets slowly start to come to life. People put up barriers and set up stands on both sides of the road. During the day, you can see some food vendors in the streets but nothing prepares you for the evening/night street food extravaganza. After 6pm, interminable rows of street vendors, colours, lights, and amazing aromas overwhelm your senses, in the best possible way. All is made right there, in front of you: rice with meat steamed in banana leaves, Peking duck in flavourful rice rolls, piles of fish and seafood on skewers ready to be grilled, pad thai ingredients ready to be thrown into the wok, dumplings of many kinds, crab fried rice, fish cakes, crispy pork belly, fish stew, soups, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed fruit juices loaded with flavour, many offerings that looked delicious but we had no idea what they were, and mango sticky rice (our favourite; we ate it every day). These are just some examples, not an exhaustive list. Oh, and even deep-fried insects. The smells are intoxicating.

Right across from our hotel, looking like a garage, is a non-pretentious stand recommended by the Michelin guide. Of course, we had to try it. There was no menu. The lady just asked: “You want small or large?” I ordered large. Received small.:) The soup was delicious, but in my opinion, the momma-and-pappa’s corner joint’s pad thai was equally deserving a Michelin recommendation, if not a star. When you download the Michelin guide, you will discover that it has many street food stands in Bangkok listed. I agree wholeheartedly. We also tried the stand with deep-fried dough. I know, it doesn’t sound exciting, but it was delicious!

Masses of people weave through the streets of Bangkok and satisfy their bellies with street food. No wonder Thai people go out to eat often. Who has the time to make a pad thai from scratch if you can get if fresh and delicious on the street cornet for $3?I will miss the Thai street food very much, but I better stop the gluttony before starting to physically resemble a Buddha. :) Just one more serving of the mango sticky rice before we go…