Last week, we affirmed Bangkok as global capital and Mecca of Street Food culture. This after finding that myriad websites placed the Thai capital at the top of their lists of best Street Food destinations ever. We also realized we had not yet focused on Bangkok yet in this space…
Pad Thai with Shrimp Bangkok-style: Possibly the most
recognizable Thai Street Food dish in the world…
Thus, we pledged to remedy that egregious oversight at the next possible opportunity – which is now.
Why Thailand?
Aboutthailandliving.com tells us there are several essential cultural drivers for the development of generalized communal cooking and eating. Not the least of which is: “the sense of service [is] highly developed in […] Thai society. [Also] meals are so inexpensive and delicious that everyone prefers to eat in the street with friends [rather] than wasting their time cooking at their place. In the cities, and particularly in Bangkok, many Thai do not have their own kitchen[s]. This is why you will see many of them eating in the street.”
Street Food establishments in Bangkok range in size from macro to micro. That is, the largest may offer dozens of dishes while the smallest may specialize in a single dish, such as Chicken Noodles. Indeed, noodle and rice dishes are ubiquitous on the city’s Street food avenues, called Sois, which are open 24/7 and typically seamlessly lined with food stalls. Note: Monday is street cleaning day, and many stalls remain dark to let the cleaners do their thing unimpeded by throngs of diners and crushing traffic.
Skewered, grilled meats, fish and seafoods are plentiful as are deep-fried specialties (one in particular, herb-stuffed whole fish). Spicy seafood soups based on Red Thai Chili paste and savoury rice noodle soups are ubiquitous, and can be found made with almost any meat and veggie combo you could imagine. You can order any Thai Street Food with your choice of any of dozens of egg or rice noodles to make it a meal. For dessert, fresh fruit and ice cream vendors are everywhere, and tend to be perambulatory rather than located in stationary stalls.
On out menu today
Travel.earth has compiled what may be the top aggregated list of Thai Street Foods you can Google in one place. Its editors appear to have scoured dozens or hundreds of ‘Top Thai Street Food’ lists to come up with a definitive ranking. So it is on this source that I’ve decided to base my choices for top Bangkok comestibles. There, and from my own long, deep love affair with Thai Food.
Pla Pao
We must start with he Whole Grilled Fish. Traditionally gutted leaving a generous internal pocket, a fish large enough for two to share is stuffed with a simple blend of fresh herbs composed of lemongrass, kafir lime leaves and Thai basil.
The skin, which is left on, is crusted with salt to seal in moisture during cooking, and pulled back for serving to expose the perfect white flesh. Just enough salt seeps into the fish to season beautifully.
Pad Thai Kung
This one should be familiar to all who have been exposed to Thai food. Pad Thai with Shrimp is by far the most popular Thai dish outside Thailand – especially in Europe and North America. Traditionally served with lime wedges and a sprinkle of peanuts. And that ubiquitous Fried Egg.
Khao Pad
Stir-fried Rice, prepared in any of thousands of ways, with meat and or veggies, and typically topped with a fried egg.
This is a trademark of Thai Street Food that delights true fans. Jasmine Rice is traditionally used for all Thai rice dishes. Khao Pad may also comes with a side of Kimchi.
Gai Satay
Grilled, Skewered Chicken with a rich, spicy peanut sauce. However, this dish has been adopted and adapted by cuisines all over the world, and can be found in variations using honey sauce or other regional flavours. You’ll also find Moo Satay – skewered Pork – at stalls specializing in grilled meats.
Sai Krok Issan
Famous Asian fermented spicy, salty dry sausage. Usually made from Pork, but other variants are available.
Traditionally served sliced thin, with slices of fresh ginger, Birdseye Chilis and shreds of raw white cabbage. Considered a street treat rather than a meal.
Som Tam
A true classic: Fresh Papaya Salad (see photo, top of page. And one I always reach for at Asian buffets when I have the opportunity to attend one. As a street Food, it’s a top snack choice. Fresh Papaya juliennes with similarly prepped carrot and other crisp raw veggies along with thinly slivered onions. All marinated in a spicy-tangy vinaigrette that makes the dish both a great starter or a between-courses palate cleanser.
Thai Barbecue
In contrast to the many other Thai skewers and other quick-sizzling grilled Street Foods, Thai Barbecue is technique applied to many meats, marinated and cooked long and low, often in larger pieces. Favourites include Pork, Chicken and seafoods. Perhaps best known outside Thailand is Barbecued Red Pork, marinated with sweet-spicy ref chili sauce.
Just the very tips…
… Of the most select tips of the Thai Street Food iceberg. I know that’s a mixed metaphor, and an old, hoary one, at that. But it seemed to me like a fair way to describe just how huge and varied the Thai Street Food experience is. You’ll find familiar-looking and -sounding grab-and-go foods that originated in Thailand all over the world! And don’t forget to try making some of these simple, satisfying and palate-delighting treats at your earliest opportunity…
~ Maggie J.