Bangkok Food Tour: Where to Eat like a Local in Chinatown
One of the best ways to explore a city’s iconic culinary hotspots is by joining a food tour. A Bangkok food tour is a must especially one that specializes in the backstreets of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Known as Yaowarat Road, Chinatown is a haven for food lovers, like me!
This post outlines our experience in booking a Bangkok Food Tour and covers all the delicious food dishes we tried along the way from crispy pork belly to finishing the night with a classic Thai dessert, Mango Sticky Rice. Whether you are visiting Bangkok for the first time or have been multiple times, joining a Bangkok Food Tour is a must do experience.
**This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!
I recommend booking your Bangkok Food Tour online prior to your trip. We booked this Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour through Viator.
We chose to book the Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour because it included about 15 or more tastings and he food on the itinerary sounded Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour and it was!
Here are some other options of Food Tours in Bangkok, in case you want to see what other options are available.
Bangkok Food Tour Tastings
The Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour we joined primarily focused on Bangkok’s Chinatown. There was a nice mix of food dishes that were Thai and influenced by China. Below is a list of all the food items we sampled while on the food tour.
Khao Kha Mu (Pork Leg Stew with Chili Garlic)
Our first taste of Thai cuisine at Chinatown was Khao Kha Mu. This is a popular Thai street food dish that consists of braised pork served over rice.
We had ours served with a Garlic-Chili Sauce and it was a nice mix of crunchy, sweet, and spicy. I’d hate to say it because this was our first dish and so early on, but it might have been my favorite dish we tried while on our food tour.
Kanom Gui Chai (Chive Pancake with Soy Sauce)
Kanom Gui Chai is another popular Thai street food snack. It’s a lighter meal that consists of a sticky rice batter with chives, it’s green in appearance.
Apparently, there are two types of Kanom Gui Chai, Steamed and fried/pan fried. The tour had us try the steamed Kanom Gui Chai. It was served to us with soy sauce. I loved it, I liked the texture and the taste.
Moo Satay (Pork Satay with Peanut Sauce)
Moo Satay, Moo meaning pork in Thai, is a style of Thai pork satay. I had satay in both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and it has honestly become one of my favorite street food dishes in Southeast Asia.
Satay are small meat filled skewers that are grilled over charcoal. The pork is well marinated with coconut milk, turmeric, curry, and other spices.
For me, the peanut sauce steals the show. Usually the peanut sauce is served with satay and it consists of ground peanuts, coconut milk, and other spices. It compliments the satay very well.
Suki Yaki (Thai Hot Pot)
Thailand has their own version of Suki Yaki that is inspired by the Japanese version of Suki Yaki. Thailand adopted this delicious dish and added local flavors. Suki Yaki, is a hotpot dish where you ingredients are simmered in a broth.
We got to sample small bowls of Thai Suki Yaki with noodles, chunks of meat, and a spicy sauce. I like Suki Yaki in general and found the Thai version to be very good.
Nam Bai Bua Bok (Centella Juice)
Have you ever heard of Nam Bai Bua Bok or Centella Asiatica Juice in English? I never did until our Thai Food Tour. Nam Bai Bua Bok is a herbal drink made from centella asiatica which is also known as pennywort.
This drink is valued in Thailand and known as a cooling drink with healthy benefits. Our guide told us that locals drink it to help with inflammation, circulation, and skin health.
Nam Bai Bua Bok had a slightly bitter taste and was somewhat earthy. But while drinking it during the day in Thailand while it was hot outside, I did feel its cooling affect. You can’t drink to much of it, just keep that in mind.
Giaw Goong (Shrimp Dumpling)
To try some of the best shrimp wontons around, our tour guide took us to Jok’s Kitchen, which was tucked away in a narrow alley of Bangkok’s Chinatown.
Jok’s Kitchen is a Michelin-recognized restaurant and is a bit of a mystery. You make reservations here and there is no menu. Mr. Jok simply makes your meal with the food of that day.
One of the signature dishes at Jok’s Kitchen are the shrimp filled dumplings and we got to try them on our Bangkok food tour. The dumplings were on the smaller side and I got to eat a few but they were really good. Hats off to Mr. Jok for his delcious dishes.
Gang Keaw Wan Gai (Curry)
Next, we went to a outside vendor called Jek Pui Curry to try Gang Keaw Wan Gai. This dish is a classic Thai Green Chicken Curry.
The server had large pots and you order the type of curry you want. We then grabbed our bowls, sat, and ate. In general, I really love curry and enjoyed this dish. Thailand tends to use a lot of spice, so if you don’t like spicy food, make sure to tell the server.
Durian (King of Fruit)
Durian, known as the “King of Fruit” is known for it’s strong and pungent smell and custard-like fruit. Durian is definitely a love it or hate it kind of fruit. In my case, I’ve tried it a few times, last time was in Kuala Lumpur, I didn’t enjoy it as much.
In Thailand, the Durian fruit had a much sweeter taste. The odor was not as strong and the texture was thicker. I actually didn’t mind the durian here. Not to say that I’d eat a ton of it, but if it is offered to me, I’ll try it again.
Guay Jab (Roll Noodle Pepper Soup)
Another one of my favorite dishes I tried during our Bangkok food tour was the Guay Jab. This popular noodle dish is made of rolled rice noodles in a rich peppery broth.
I got my Guay Jab with braised pork and intestines. The flavor of everything was nice, especially the peppery broth.
Soy Sauce Ice Cream
I liked the Bangkok food tour we were on because the tour provided a nice mix of savory and sweet dishes. After slurping down the peppery soup, we popped into a store that sold soft serve ice cream and Deksomboon soy sauce.
Yes, the soft serve ice cream was mixed with the soy sauce. Although soy sauce doesn’t seem like it would pair with any type of dessert, it worked with ice cream. With the rich vanilla flavor, the soy sauce added a slightly salty/caramel flavor.
T & K Seafood Restaurant
One of the final places we visited while on our food tour throughout Chinatown was T & K Restaurant.
Here we tried many things to include Kung Pao (BBQ Prawn), Ma Muang Nam Pla Wan (Sour Mango with Salty Sauce), Pad Pak Boong Fri Dang (Stir fried Morning Glory), Pad Hoi Lai (Stir Fried Clam), and Mung Good (Mangosteen).
Pa Tong Go (Donut with Green Pandan Custard)
Before the tour ended, we got dessert again. We tried two more things, Pa Tong Go and Mango Sticky Rice.
Pa Tong Go is a deep fried dough, like a donut. Its outside is crispy and the inside is soft and airy. We tried this with a Green Pandan Custard sauce.
Khao Niew Ma Muang (Mango Sticky Rice)
Last but not least, we concluded our Bangkok Food Tour with Khao Niew Ma Muang or Mango Sticky Rice.
Mango Sticky Rice is a beloved dessert in Thailand and I highly recommend it. I had all sorts of Mango Sticky Rice in both Thailand and Cambodia and it was always a nice treat. Fresh mango with sticky rice and a coconut glaze to drizzle on top, it was delicious.
You can find Mango Sticky Rice everywhere from street vendors to restaurants throughout Bangkok.
Conclusion
A guided street food tour in Bangkok’s Chinatown is the perfect way to explore hidden alleyways, taste authentic dishes, and discover local favorites that you might miss out on when traveling on your own.
Whether you are traveling to sample local dishes or a first-time Bangkok visitor like me, booking a Bangkok food tour is a must if you want to try as much as possible, learn about the cuisine, and find hidden gems.
Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸
Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇹🇭
Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖
For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com
Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁
Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.
In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘
I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
You May Also Like
Visiting the Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
Guide to Visiting the Batu Caves: Everything You Need to Know
