Travel Tips

Heading to Thailand? Here are 9 Thailand street food bites you can’t miss

Thailand street food is fresh, flavorful, and affordable. Here are the 9 dishes you absolutely can’t miss, from iconic Pad Thai and Som Tam to hidden gems like boat noodles and coconut ice cream.

After living in Thailand for 5 years, people often ask me what I love most about it.

Of course, I talk about the beautiful beaches, the abundance of nature, and the friendly locals. But one thing I mention that surprises people is the food.

Thai food is fresh, flavourful, and super affordable. With vibrant local markets everywhere you go, you can enjoy freshly-cooked, delicious meals for just a few dollars.

To help you make the most out of your Thailand trip, I’m sharing 9 dishes and snacks you absolutely have to try when visiting the land of smiles.

And be sure to read until the end, as I reveal some lesser-known Thailand street food bites adored by the locals.

In this article

Pad Thai – Thailand’s signature stir-fried noodles

Average cost: 50-90 baht ($2-4 AUD)

Pad Thai is the most famous Thailand street food. But does it live up to its hype?

Absolutely! Pad Thai remained my go-to dish throughout my 5 years there. It’s filling, full of flavour, and not too spicy (unlike many other Thai dishes).

What makes Pad Thai so iconic and tasty is the tamarind sauce. It’s sweet and sticky, which, when combined with fish sauce, gives the dish the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Insider tip: Traditionally, Pad Thai is made with shrimp and tofu. But if you’re veggie, don’t worry. Tell the vendor “gin jai“, which means “I’m vegetarian“, and they will omit the seafood.

Som Tam (Papaya Salad) – A salad like no other

Average cost: 50-80 baht ($2-4 AUD)

Trust me when I say that Som Tam (AKA papaya salad) is unlike any salad you’ve ever tried. The key player of this unique dish is unripe green papaya. It’s cut into thin strips and mixed with long beans, fresh chiles, garlic, dried shrimp, roasted peanuts, and tomatoes.

Som Tam is sour, spicy, and so flavorful that you’ll never say salads are boring again! As a cold dish, it also makes a refreshing lunch or dinner in the hot weather.

Insider tip: Word of warning, papaya salad is SPICY! But if you tell the vendor “mai pet,” which means “not spicy“, they will use fewer chillis.

Tom Yum Kung Soup – The spicy-sour classic

Average cost: 60-100 baht ($3-5 AUD)

This highly popular Thai soup is adored for its blend of spicy (chilli) and sour (lime juice) flavours. It’s made with shrimps (or mixed seafood), lemongrass, galangal, and fish sauce.

At the markets, Tom Yum Kung Soup is pre-cooked in giant metal pots. The vendor will scoop some into a small bowl for you so you can tuck in straight away.

Insider tip: If it’s too fishy for you, opt for the chicken version (Tom Yum Gai) instead. It’s the same hot and spicy soup, just without seafood, and usually cheaper.

Satay Skewers – Smoky, peanut-sauce goodness

Average cost: 20-60 baht ($1-3 AUD)

Satay sauce may have originated in Indonesia, but it has become a staple in Thailand, where they’ve developed their own version.

Satay skewers are meat skewers (typically chicken) marinated in a sweet, peanut and coconut-infused sauce. They also come with an incredibly moreish dipping sauce.

Insider tip: Satay skewers often sell out fast. So I recommend getting a few of these to munch on as an appetiser as you wander around exploring the market.

Mango Sticky Rice – Thailand’s iconic (but slightly controversial) dessert

Average cost: 50-80 baht ($2-4 AUD)

Granted, mango and rice sound like an odd mix, but somehow it works. Sticky rice is naturally sweet, and when paired with coconut milk and fresh mango, it transforms into a mouthwatering dessert. It’s like rice pudding but 100% better.

I’ve made all my friends who visited me in Thailand try mango sticky rice, and while sceptical at first, they all ended up loving it!

Insider tip: Look out for this dish with blue sticky rice! No, it hasn’t gone mouldy; it’s made with Butterfly Pea, a floral tea native to South East Asia.

Roti Pancakes – A late night sweet or savoury street snack

Average cost: 40-60 baht ($2-3 AUD)

At every food market, you’re guaranteed to come across this yummy Thailand street food treat – roti pancakes.

Loved by locals and tourists alike, these crepes are fried in butter and stretched into a thin crepe. You can add a variety of fillings, such as Nutella and banana (my favourite) for a sweet treat or cheese and egg for a savoury snack.

Insider tip: Rotis tend to be a late-night snack with many vendors open until around midnight. So they make a fab dessert or quick snack on your way home.

Grilled Seafood – Phuket & Krabi’s specialties

Average cost: 30-100 baht ($1.5-5 AUD)

Seafood is a firm favourite among Thais and tourists, and at the markets, you’ll find piles of grilled calamari, giant prawns, whole fish (such as tilapia), and even lobster.

They are cooked just before the market opens, so if you want to get them when they are the freshest (and avoid potentially missing out altogether), head there early. You can usually find market opening times on Google Maps.

Insider tip: Many vendors let you mix and match, so I recommend trying one of everything!

Boat Noodles – Rich meaty broth in small bowls

Average cost: 20-40 baht ($1-2 AUD)

Thailand had many incredible noodle dishes beyond Pad Thai, but because they are lesser known to tourists, many miss out. One noodle dish you absolutely have to try is boat noodles, which is akin to a noodle soup, but the broth is thick.

The dish contains beef and pork meatballs, giving it a strong, meaty flavour. But what many tourists don’t realise is that it’s also traditionally made with pork or beef blood, which is what gives it the dark colour and intense aroma.

Insider tip: Too meaty for your liking? Opt for Pad See Ew instead (large rice noodles stir-fried in soy sauce). You can choose the meat you want or make it vegetarian.

Coconut Ice Cream – A refreshing tropical treat

Average cost: 20-40 baht ($1-2 AUD)

This one is easy to miss as it’s largely unknown to tourists. So here’s how to find it…

At the markets, look for a line of local kids queuing in front of a metal barrel. Inside this barrel is the most refreshing ice cream you’ll taste on your trip.

Made only from coconut milk and syrup, this tropical treat is dairy-free and suitable for vegans. It’s also incredibly cheap, typically around 20 baht ($1) for a scoop!

Insider tip: Eat it like the locals by adding sticky rice, or better yet, putting it inside a sweet bun, turning it into a kind of ice cream sandwich!

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Buy online before you fly, and you’ll connect to a reliable local network the moment you land. No time wasted haggling with the airport SIM card sellers. You can grab your bags and head straight to the night markets for that Pad Thai you’ve been dreaming of!

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