Thai Street Food

Street food is a major part of life in Thailand, as food stalls can be found on most city streets across the country. It is here that you will find many tourists, side by side with the locals, eating some of the most authentic Thai cuisine.

On my recent visit to Thailand, I had some of the best street food in my life.  I ate in both posh, air-conditioned restaurants and at roadside stalls, and the latter was best every time.

The street food is clean and very safe to eat, as long as you look out for the eateries that have several Thai customers either eating or awaiting takeout. This not only ensures freshness and authentic food, but a very inexpensive meal as well. For  just a few dollars, you can buy a very tasty meal.

Thais normally eat many small meals during the day, unlike most Westerners who prefer three main meals at set times. This eating preference makes street food ideal, as it is the perfect place for quick, inexpensive food for the masses, whether they work long hours or have limited mealtime breaks.  Food stalls are always on hand for everyone, everywhere: shopping areas, marketplaces, bus stations, business offices, and busy neighbourhoods.

Not only do convenience and cost play a role in street food’s popularity, but the tradition of eating with friends and families outside of the home is also a major factor.

Street food is a major experience in Thailand, especially in Bangkok.  The colors, smells, sounds, textures and tastes of the various foods and treats available along the sidewalks give the city its original vibe.

I love watching the vendors whip up a meal before my eyes, examing the elaborate displays of food their wares, the aroma of barbequing chicken and pork satays, the gorgeous, yellow peeled jackfruit, and the neatly shaped packets of banana leaves filled with delicate sweet treats.

Street food sellers in Thailand take many forms. There is the very basic establishment that’s not quite a restaurant: It looks like a garage with many tables and chairs crammed into it and on the sidewalk in front of it.

There are street eateries, where mobile cooking stalls are set up with long rows of tables and chairs on the sidewalk; so many rows that you can’t tell where one eatery ends and the other begins.  These streets are transformed into alleys of lively food bazaars.

There is the takeout mobile stall, also lined up side by side with other vendors, selling different dishes that each specializes in. These moving restaurants comprise a pushcart or tricycle cart, pushing a large wheeled box containing everything needed to make their specialty.

Food is even sold on the canals and waterways, with vendors paddling their mini shops from one spot to the next. These boats offer noodles, curries, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables.

Regardless of how these businesses are run, they are all mostly family-run with even kids helping out in some cases, and working long hours to make a simple living.

Thai dishes are never boring or bland. You can really taste the blend of specialty herbs and spices used, like lemongrass, chilli peppers, fish stock, and other wonderful ingredients, all of which create textures & tastes that make Thai food such an exciting experience.

Below are some of my all-time favourite street foods….

Pad Thai…..this was whipped up in less than 10 minutes. Absolutely flavourful and delicious.  The condiments added at the end really lifted it to a whole new level: sugar, fish stock, salt, and peanuts.

Tom Yum Soup….this is my favourite soup. Ever. Lemongrass and galangal complemented this soup, with large shrimp and lovely noodles. The extra chillies gave it just the right kick.

Passion fruit juice…..I had never drank or eaten passion fruit before. This fruit provides nectar from the gods…

I am looking forward to cooking some new Thai recipes soon.