Chinatown Bangkok street food scene is concentrated along Yaowarat Rd, a 1.5 km street, lined with restaurants and street food vendors offering their very best dishes.
Yaowarat Road in Chinatown is also the best food street in Bangkok, not only for the quality of food, but also the variety of dishes.
From sweet Thai deserts to famous Thai dishes, soups and noodles, meats and grills: every evening, Yaowarat is bustling with energy and a rhythmic clitty-clack of utensils and sizzle of grills fills the air.
Yaowarat is the biggest food market in Bangkok and the sheer amount of street vendors offering different dishes may get you confused or even overwhelmed from where you should even start.
In this Chinatown Bangkok Street Food guide I’ll cover everything you need to know about the best places for must try food and dishes while you’re in Bangkok. But if you’re still not confident about what dishes to try, then an option would be a food tour. This will throw you directly into Bangkok’s chaotic food scene as an experienced guide will take through Chinatown’s backstreets and hidden corner shops and stalls
Is Chinatown Bangkok worth visiting?
Yes, Chinatown in Bangkok is undoubtedly worth visiting. Street food is one reason, so if you’re a foodie, Chinatown should be high on your list of things to do in Bangkok.
Chinatown is also an old part of Bangkok. There are temples worth visiting and its a great location for photography, both architectural photography during the day and at night when Yaowarat road is bustling with life and lit up with colorful neon lights.
What time is best to visit Chinatown Bangkok?
There is no specific time to visit Chinatown in Bangkok. Eateries and street vendors are open throughout the day until late at night.
However, Monday’s are cleaning day as many owners spend the day cleaning their shops and stalls an take the rest of the day off. Also Yaowarat really comes to life after 5:00pm. This is when most eateries and street food stalls set up. The air is also a lot cooler in the evening and the neon lit street signs add the atmosphere you’d expect in a Chinatown area.
Taste more than just Pad Thai
What better way to try the best street food in Chinatown than having someone guide you to the backstreets of Yaowarat.
There’s a food tour that takes you on a culinary experience where you’ll get to try 15 authentic dishes all while being guided by a pro food expert.
CHINATOWN BANGKOK STREET FOOD – WHERE TO EAT THE BEST FOOD
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
Guay Jab is the speciality at Nai Ek Roll Noddle. This dish is a simple broth topped with chewy rolled rice noodles and flavorful crispy pork belly.
This place is set up on the street-side of the bustling Yaowarat road and attracts a diverse crowd for its tasty yet affordable dishes.
It’s common to find a line of hungry customers waiting to be seated. But since the dishes are served quickly and customers tend to eat and leave without lingering around, the line moves pretty fast.
Address: 442 ซอย 9, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
Opening hours: 8:00am – Midnight
Jek Pui Curry
Jek Pui Curry serves quick and tasty meals. Although this place has been here for over 70 years, its not popular with tourists but it’s a well known eating place for locals. That means what they serve has not be altered to please foreign tastes.
The concept at Jek Pui Curry is simple. They offer a choice of either rice or noodles and then add a side of your choice.
The most popular dish here is rice with yellow pork curry and Chinese sausage on top.
Address: 25 Mangkon Rd, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100
Opening hours: 3pm – 7pm, Daily
Fikeaw Yao Wa-Rat
Just off the the bustling neon lit street of Yaowarat, there is Fikeaw. A small restaurant tucked away in a relatively quiet side alley.
At Fikeaw they specialize in a variety of seafood with the highlights being gigantic lobsters, massive prawns and a variety of other shellfish cooked to your liking. It’s a nice cozy place with a few tables and plastic chairs on the street.
If you want to experience Chinatown at night, but find Yaowarat street food scene too chaotic, Fikeaw is the answer.
Opening hours – Tuesday to Sunday 6:00pm – Midnight
Address: Soi Yaowarat 11, Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
T & K Seafood
If you love fish, crowds, sitting on plastic chairs and the scent of burning grills filling the air, then head over to T & K seafood. They always have a line of hungry customers and that’s because they always have a variety of fresh fish and sea fruit.
T & K gets a lot of attention because of the energetic atmosphere, reasonable prices and the fresh ingredients used.
Due to the popularity of T and K seafood, and the fact that many dishes take time to prepare, if there is a line of customers waiting to be seated, it usually takes some time to start moving. After all, this is one of the famous street food fish stalls in Yaowarat so a little wait is expected.
Opening hours – everyday 4:00pm – Midnight
Address: 49, 51 Phadung Dao Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
Yaowarat Toast – Sweet Chinatown Street Food
If you’re up for a simple yet sweet delicacy, a slice, or 2, or more of Yaowarat toast should be on your list of food to try in Chinatown/Yaowarat.
In short, Yaowarat toast is crunchy outside, fluffy inside with a gooey flavorful stuffing in the middle. There are a few fillings to choose from: chocolate, condensed milk and sweet butter are the most popular.
One of the best stalls serving nice, warm and crunchy Yaowarat toast is located in front of the Government Savings Bank, along Yaowarat Road.
Opening hours: 7:00pm – until bread runs out 😀
One last thing
Yaowarat is popular with tourists and locals especially during the evening when everyone wants a tasty meal.
It’s normal for the place to be packed every evening and on weekends it gets even busier.
Because of this you may feel overwhelmed on your first visit. That is why it is good to have at least an idea of what you want to try, especially if you’re totally new to the whole food scene in Thailand.
Another option is to book a food tour and let your local guide, guide you to the best places. There are some great food tours that offer an all inclusive package including food and drinks, a local guide and have reasonable price for all that is included.
