Bangkok China Town And Huai Khwang: Thai Street Food

China Town and Huai Khwang are two of the best places in Bangkok to try Thai street food.

As you’ll see, Chinatown is one of Bangkok’s most authentic old city districts.

After an amazing day out to see Talinchan floating market and Wat Arun Temple on the west bank of Chao Phraya we caught the ferry back across the river to Rachawong Pier and legendary China Town. It’s incredible to think that Chinese merchants first established their trade centre in this popular riverside district almost three centuries ago!

At dusk shutters were being pulled down in Sampeng market as businesses closed for the day -morning is the best time for shopping here although the maze of narrow alleyways was still packed with pedestrians looking for bargains late in the day.

Hundreds of small shops sell clothes, handbags, shoes, bangles and all kinds of cheap goods while traditional vendors push carts of flowers and fruit through the mayhem.

Modern-day China Town is a crazy mixture of neon lights and street food stalls beckoning in the evening light. In fact, Bangkok is one of the best cities for street food in the world! Along the busy Yaowarad Road flashing signs of emblematic hotels and historic restaurants such as Grand China Hotel or The Canton House ‘open since 1908’ grab your attention too.

Street food is the star attraction as you walk up the main street, a real experience with amazing live cooking skills and a variety of weird and wonderful fare.

It was fascinating to watch a kid tossing flaming noodles into the air, and to see but not try the notorious fried bugs or glazed pig heads!

We just browsed not stopping to eat as the plan was to get the metro back to Huai Khwang for the ultimate after dark food experience.

Temples in China Town

Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is a sacred pagoda located in the heart of China Town and beautiful to see, its lanterns glowing in the dark cast a red glow over the gold engraved pillars and the worshippers kneeling in front of the ancient Confucian, Buddhist and Taoist shrines.

Wat Traimit is in the same neighbourhood just outside the hubbub and noisy chaos. We passed by the impressively backlit Buddhist temple after dark on the way to the subway station, too late to go inside to see the famous Golden Buddha, a priceless sold gold statue. The sounds of an evening ceremony spilled outside into the night air but by this time it was closed to the public.

Huai Khwang

The east side city district comes alive at night as half of Bangkok seems to be buying fresh fish from the outdoor wet market and the rest are enjoying a meal on a pavement terrace. Thai street food is typically cooked with fresh ingredients and spices, to order as you watch. People eat out as it is generally cheaper than cooking at home – expats living abroad in Bangkok will know what I mean!

Most eateries in Thailand have a menu showing photos of the dishes with the name in English underneath, if not just point to the ingredients and keep your fingers crossed. Other customers are always ready to help, and one lovely lady was really amusing, her very limited English got us what we wanted along with a lot of laughter…a large cool Leo beer came first!

My favourite dish is Tom Yam a delicious spicy seafood soup flavoured with lemongrass which Juan and I shared along with a large portion of chicken stir-fry with cashew nuts and prawn pad Thai noodles.

We eventually got back to the hotel and repacked our bags ready for an early start in the morning…to catch a cross country train up to northern Thailand.

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