There is nothing as striking as street food when you want to get to know a culture of a country. This is doubly true for Bangkok, a place that is known for its street food – for they are convenient, delicious and of course, cheap. It doesn’t matter where you stay in the city – Pathum Wan or Thung Khru; it doesn’t matter the sort of accommodation you have selected – budget hotels or luxury serviced apartments. Bangkok has street food stalls aplenty, and at almost every street corner. In fact, if you are staying in a busy district, such as at Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor Bangkok, you will be able to visit street food stalls that are open around the clock. Some of the street vendors function as organized groups, which means that you will be able to enjoy a different choice of meal at the same place on different nights.
Bangkok street food is as varied and colourful as its residents. You may find it at a handheld cart on the side of the road, you may find it in a tight little group at a local market. You may even find it in the guise of a traditional shop house with tables taking over the pavement. Although every stall usually has a smattering of choice dishes, each usually specializes in one type of street food. The most popular food items are papaya salad, fried rice, noodles with shrimp, steamed chicken on rice, grilled chicken/pork skewers, sour Issan sausage, stir-fried pork with basil and fish barbecued in salt. You will be able to gauge the speciality of each stall by observing the vendors at work. Some might be stir-frying with the aid of an ancient wok, while others may be pounding papaya. You will find some vendors grilling meat skewers while others will be busy boiling noodles. Whichever it is that you choose, it is best that you go to a rather busy place because that is one sure way of guaranteeing that the ingredients are fresh. One thing to note, though. It is not guaranteed that all vendors would speak English. So learn a few important phrases before daring the streets, or be prepared to fall back on the age-old universal language of communication: point and smile.

Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+