How to Eat Like a Local in Bangkok
By: Lucifer Goodman
Tags: Vacation, Bangkok, Travel, Thailand, Thai Food

As intimidating as the huge metropolis of Bangkok will seem, the sights and smells of all sorts of cuisine being sold at just about every street corner will seem totally overwhelming and pretty hard to resist. So how do you know which is the best authentic dish to savour? Read on and learn as this article helps you discover the secret to eating like a local in Bangkok!

1. Eat the Best Street Food Bangkok Has to Offer

Bangkok street food is tipped to be the best in the world; the underlying meaning being that you will find street food practically everywhere. Every street food vendor will specialise in one particular type of food, plus you get to see them make it. If you are stuck for choice wondering about which one to choose then you must stand back and do the ‘observation test’; that is to ‘observe’ which stall is the busiest and have the most locals lining up for a bite. Locals know their food and have their favourites, judged on taste quality and reputation, you can also watch the preparation and hygiene methods practised. So, go ahead and observe and then choose; you won’t regret it. This way you can start your foodie tour, moving amongst the most famous stalls.

2. Hit the Local Markets in Bangkok

The local markets of Bangkok are great precincts for having loads of fun, bargain shopping and savouring a variety of traditional market food. There are a number of local markets to browse, the largest weekend market in Bangkok is Chatuchak, located less than 25 minutes from Emporium Suites by Chatrium, this huge bazaar boasts over 15,000 stalls and is a haven for the foodie to explore. Others consist of local neighbourhood markets which are generally sectioned off, such as, areas for vegetables, fresh fruit and cooked food. You must also do the rounds at the local ‘wet markets’ where fresh seafood, meat and poultry are sold. Market food vendors too are similar to the street food sellers, specialising in one type of cuisine, walk around and use the observation rule before you decide where to eat.

3. Choose to Dine at Authentic Bangkok Restaurants

The thought of walking into a restaurant to enjoy a meal you can have at a street food stall for a fraction of the cost does seem rather odd; but look at the pros, the classy restaurants of Bangkok are air-conditioned and perfect to beat the heat and relax with a good meal, so, go ahead and indulge. Also, the ‘shop-house’ restaurants are pretty neat to browse. You will find a number of them in Chinatown; a shop-house is basically the ground floor of someone’s house which has been converted into a restaurant, the kitchen will be a small space allocated at the back or a cart located at the front of the restaurant. Of course, for days when you want to dress up and enjoy a night out, the high-end restaurants of Bangkok are perfect, especially the restaurants located within Sukhumvit hotels. You will find some of the best restaurants Sukhumvit has to offer are good venues for relaxing with an afternoon coffee and local bite to eat.

4. Browse the Cafeterias for Office Workers

Eating at the dedicated cafeterias catering to the office workers of Bangkok is a great way to enjoy local delights. Come lunchtime huge parking lots are transformed into make-shift eateries while others are permanent cafeterias serving the most favoured dishes to the throngs of hungry office workers. Follow the crowds of office workers and you will find the most popular eating stations in the city.

5. Learn to Control the Spice Level

Your last tip to eating like a local must include a warning on controlling the spice levels of your meals. Locals love their food extra spicy, and unless you request beforehand all meals will come to your table in this style. Learn the following phrases in Thai — Mai pet which means ‘not spicy’ and pet maak which means ‘very spicy’.

Enjoy!