khao san road | NOMADIC PURSUITS

Street food is one of the best ways to learn about a country’s culture and its people. When we travel, we don’t just discover new places, we also explore the local palates. Splendidly in Asia, getting food from the streets is a lifestyle (and cheap too!). And for street food afficionados like me, Bangkok is nirvana!

Posted here are a few of those nonchalant treats on the streets of Bangkok, including those in the hippie Khao san road and the epic Soi38:

Khao san road: fancy some high protein munchies?

Khao san road: This is ice cream bliss!

Sathorn: Seafood tomyum and fried veggie noodles for brunch!

Khao san road: Pad thai, pork bbq and beer all for less than US$5.

Khao san road: Too yummy to describe – Pork, beef, or chicken bbq for 20Baht/US$0.6 per stick.

Soi/Street 38: more deliciousness-on-a-stick

Soi38: Fresh fishies covered in sea salt and grilling.

Soi38: Big fish out from the grill and into our stomachs! Eat with rice and salads on the side.

Soi38: Mango and sticky rice with cocnut milk -ladies and gentlemen, a taste of heaven for 50Baht/US$1.50! I’ve had this almost everyday around Bangkok but Soi38 wins for the richness and freshness (Anantara Phuket’s restaurant version of it is blah!)

Soi 38: More pork goodness on a cheap.

Soi38: Like the Philippines’ “halo-halo” – mix of sweetness on ice and milk/ice cream.

Silom center: Fried chicken with that yummy spicy peanut/soy sauce and watercress/river spinach on fish sauce.

Temples, night markets, street foods, red lights, and floating markets -these are what Bangkok is immensely popular for. A tourist favorite of the recent years, this city is an awesome juxtaposition of the old and new, solemn and outrageous.

Here are some of the popularly beaten places for tourists where my family of three have gone elbows-to-elbows with around the crowd in Bangkok.

Khaosan road: nightlife, street food, tattoos/henna, street massage, and coconut ice cream!

Wat Traimit: Solid Gold Buddha Temple located in Bangkok’s Chinatown

Wat Pho: the most beautiful temple of the three temples we’ve visited. Home to the biggest/longest reclining Buddha and center for learning Thai massage

Wat Benchamabophit: Temple made of marble, nothing too special inside tho. If you have to visit one temple in Bangkok, I recommend Wat Pho.

Soi 38: A haven for cheap goodness. It has the best mango sticky rice I’ve tried (I’ve had mango sticky rice almost everyday for 8 days in Thailand!). Soi38’s food hawkers start from 5pm in time for the locals coming home for dinner.

Soi Cowboy: This is one of Bangkok’s major red light district, with more western visitors. Close to the end of the road is the ladyboy bar -Cockatoo! No, we weren’t able to get in at any of the bars since we’re carrying a baby … next time, when he’s 13 maybe (hehe).

Damnoen Saduak: The oldest floating market which is an absolute tourist trap! The market is not really a local’s market, all things on sale are souvenirs for tourists and overpriced foods -but we still suck up to it, still a good experience.

Sampran Riverside: Popular for its elephant and cultural show. It also has a small mock up of the floating market. We have tried their organic int’l buffet restaurant -nothing special except for the seafood noodle soup and the fresh tropical fruits from dessert!

There are a lot more to see and do in Bangkok -fancy shopping at Siam center, stroll at the Royal Grand Palace, a daytrip to Ayutthaya, etc. You just got to pick your best bets unless you have a lot of time staying in this awesomely chaotic megalopolis!