This street food Tour Bangkok has is one of the best for all of the Bangkok Must Eat Dishes! Don’t Miss out on one of Bangkok’s Best food experiences!

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Organized Street Food Tour Bangkok vs. DIY

I wanted to put together my own DIY Bangkok tours, but didn’t know how or where to begin. I only had a couple of days to spend in Bangkok and it was important to me that I make the most of it.

To me, that means trying to get an authentic, local experience that is also balanced nicely with some of the major tourist attractions that any person might want to see when creating their Bangkok itinerary.

I generally lean heavily towards being a DIY-style type of traveler. I like to figure things out on my own. I spend hours on end researching a destination before a trip in an attempt to uncover hidden gems and local favorites. Pretty early on though I decided that I didn’t have time on my side to allow me to wander aimlessly trying to figure it all out on my own in Bangkok.

With only two full days, I really needed direct guidance to make sure I spent my time wisely and didn’t waste an entire afternoon getting lost and coming out with nothing to show for it.

Yes, I often think getting lost in a city produces an excellent experience, but I had a very specific goal here—to experience the best Bangkok’s sights, culture, and street food. I decided that the best solution was to join a couple of organized tours in Bangkok to ensure I made the most of every minute I had in the city.

The Best Bangkok Tours for Travelers

The Yaowarat Street Food Tour, Bangkok

To get the best foodie experience, I decided to join the Bangkok Backstreet Food Tasting Tour with A Chef’s Tour. When I think of big cities in Asia, blocks lined with delicious, tempting street food is one of the main images that always comes to mind.

Yaowarat Road is a street food hot spot in Bangkok and a must-stop for any traveling foodie. Bangkok’s Chinese community surrounds Yaowarat Road, which cuts through the heart of this lively area of the city. It is known for being one of the world’s most famous street food destinations.

Chinatown Bangkok is often simply referred to as Yaowarat because of the main road the area is centered around. It is one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world and is an area that has been historically defined by trade. Bangkok’s Chinatown was founded in 1782 and still remains as an ultimate shopping destination for locals and tourists alike.

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While it’s clear that Yaowarat Road is the place to go for authentic Bangkok street food experience, where to go from there is not as clear. Bangkok’s Chinatown area is busy—like, insane, out of control madness. There are people in the road, motorbikes whipping around every corner and out of side streets, and street vendors selling items in any space they can squeeze a cart in to.

Colors, lights, and different languages surround you, along with the aroma of roasting meat, fresh dourian, and city smog. If I had to boil it down to one word, I’d say the Chinatown area of Bangkok is overstimulating—in a really fascinating, exciting way.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of storefronts and street vendors selling enticing food along Yaowarat Road. The main street is packed with enough options to keep me busy for weeks alone, but then there is a whole other world of things hidden within the side streets and alleys that branch off from the main road.

I know enough about street food culture to know that there would definitely be some worthy options hidden in those back alleys—you know, the kind of places that only the locals know about.

Planning to travel around Thailand? Check out this guide on how to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The Experience with A Chef’s Tour

Within minutes of meeting Chef Nutth from A Chef’s Tour it became apparent that he really knows his stuff when it comes to street food in Bangkok. He is an experienced food lover and restaurateur with over 20 years of experience. Clearly my friend and I were in good hands.  We met in a central location, right in front of the Chinatown gate. Despite me feeling incredibly lost and disoriented the entire time I was in Bangkok, this spot ended up being really easy to find, which I appreciated.

I found myself pretty overwhelmed by Bangkok. I’ve visited countless big cities all over the world where navigation has been a breeze, but Bangkok was a bit different for me for some reason. I became even more grateful that I decided to book this tour and had an experienced local chef by my side. After spending a few minutes chatting at the Chinatown gate, we carried the conversation down along ever-so-busy Yaowarat Road. As we made our way towards our first food stop, Chef Nutth told stories about the history of Bangkok’s Chinatown and the cultural significance of the street food in this part of the city. Within minutes, the start of over four hours of eating began!

Planning a trip to Thailand? Find out the best time to travel to Southeast Asia

Street Food Tour Quick Details

Price: Check Prices
Departure Time: 4:30 p.m.
End Time: 8:30 p.m.
Tour transportation: This is a walking tour through the streets of Chinatown in Bangkok
Your Guide: A local licensed tour guide and chef with over 20 years of experience
Group Size: No more than 8 people per group—keeps it small and intimate!
What it includes: About 17 different tastings of food and drinks

Bangkok Must Eat Dishes on the Street Food Tour, Bangkok

Pan fried parcels filled with greens

These tasty fried treats are one of the first food stops we made on our walking food tour through Bangkok’s Chinatown. These little goodies are pan fried and full of greens, much of which I think are chives, and cut up into various sizes. In a way these remind me of a Chinese pancake with green onions, but they are much thicker than the pancakes that I’m used to eating. These had more of a cake consistency yet still have a nice crispiness to the outer edges while being softer and chewier in the middle.

Thai Donuts

I feel like almost every culture has its own version of a donut, or something very similar. Around the world there are various types of fried dough, sometimes coated in sugar or something sweet. In Portuguese cultures we have what we call filhos or malasadas, and that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this food cart on the sidewalk along Yaowarat Road.

The man behind the cart stood next to a giant oil-filled pan of some sort where he continually tossed in balls of dough to be fried into crispy goodness. It’s so fun to stand right next to someone as they are preparing what you are about to devour. The crowds around the Thai donut stand prove that this item is a hit on the streets of Bangkok. The warm bites of fried deliciousness are served with a special custard-like dipping sauce. It was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before, in a good way. It’s really neat to try a food that you are unable to compare to anything else you’ve ever eaten in your life. So while the fried dough aspect is all too familiar, the dipping component was a tasty new treat.

Thai Curry

Thai curry and rice was one of the heartier dishes we tried; I imagine it must be a classic local comfort food type of dish. The first thing I saw before we even approached the food cart was all of the people gathered around in the street, seated on small stools along the wall, or perched up on steps in the area. The food stall spans a large portion of the street and dishes are being served in a metal stand that has been set out on the sidewalk.

This place is the definition of ‘no frills’ but appears to be incredibly successful. Curry is simmering in large pots that fill the area with a delicious, savory aroma. The dish I ate was a green Thai curry over white rice and topped with a number of flavorful items: chicken, Chinese sausage, pork blood jelly, and an egg. I was initially concerned that the dish might be too spicy for me, since curry dishes often are, but this dish was on the mild side and had a really nice flavor. I’m really terrible at handling spicy foods, so if I can eat this then it should be good for anyone.

Grilled Chicken Skewers

It’s hard to go wrong with grill meat of any sort in my opinion. Small skewers of meat lined up in an orderly row on grill tops was a common sight when walking down Yaowarat Road. One of the first stops on the street food tour was actually to try these tasty meals on a stick. The nice thing about them, besides being delicious, is it’s an easy meal to grab and go since there often aren’t many seats available on these busy blocks.

‘Workers’ Noodles

The bowl of noodles we ate on this food tour is a prime example of exactly why I knew joining A Chef’s Tour was a great idea. This small back-alley noodle spot is one that I never would have found on my own, not in a million years. The noodle shop sticks to one thing and it shows because the noodles are so incredible. This restaurant that we stopped at  has been in the family for generations and it’s obvious that quality and tradition has never wavered. It’s the type of place that I probably couldn’t direct you to no matter how hard I tried, so this alone is reason enough to join the food tour and hopefully you’ll also get to experience this amazing noodle soup.

Mango and Sticky Rice

I’m going to get straight to the point. I cannot believe how incredible the mango and sticky rice is in Bangkok. I tend to favor savory eats in general when it comes to declaring a favorite, but the mango and sticky rice might take the top spot for me. I’ve tried this dessert dish at local Thai restaurants at home in San Francisco. While i’m fully aware that San Francisco doesn’t have the widest or best selection of Thai restaurants to begin with, I always assumed that they are serving a comparable version as one would eat in Thailand. Boy, was I wrong.

Eating mango and sticky rice on the Bangkok street food tour was like nothing I ever experienced. I never imagined that this relatively simple combination of items could taste so damn good together. I honestly don’t know if mango will ever be the same again. Not unless I am back in this part of the world. They are just different here, so vastly different. You must eat this if you are in Thailand, no questions asked—unless you are allergic to mango or something.

Steamed Shanghai-style Pork Wontons

I live in San Francisco where there is a big Chinese community and I am fortunate to experience a lot of great Chinese cuisine. I’m such a sucker for dumplings and wontons. On the food tour we were table to try steamed Shanghai-style pork wontons from a man who makes them by hand every day and sells them on the sidewalk off of a tray. This is another one of those places that I don’t know how I could ever direct anyone to, but these wontons are a must-try. They are small—much smaller than I’m used to, but they are packed with flavor and a great texture and consistency.

Are you visiting Singapore when you travel to Southeast Asia? Check out this Chinatown Singapore food tour and the things you must eat in Singapore!

More Popular Bangkok Tours

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

A half-day tour to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a great option. Visiting a floating market is on many travelers bucket list the first time they visit Thailand. Taking advantage of guided Bangkok tours is a great way to experience this attraction. It was definitely something that I wanted to experience as a first-timer, but I was on limited time when in Bangkok. Luckily I was able to book a convenient tour through my hotel that departed early one morning to make the hour and a half journey to the floating market, which is located outside of the city of Bangkok.

Personally I loved being picked up at the front door and not having to put any effort into getting myself to the Damnoen Saduak floating market. Normally I’d be all for the adventure, but when I only have a couple of days I realize there’s not any time to waste. Joining a tour that departs early is a smart idea because the market gets really busy the later in the morning it gets. It’s best to arrive as early as possible before the place gets too crazy. This is definitely a touristy activity, but it’s a really neat thing to experience at least once if you haven’t seen anything like this before. Riding in a longtail boat through the canals is fun in itself, but being approached by vendors in boats who are selling food, gifts, souvenirs, and much more, is such a unique experience. I’d recommend this tour to anyone who has never visited a floating market in Asia before.

Quick Details

Price: Check prices
Departure Time: 7:30 a.m.
End Time: 1:30-2:00 p.m.
Tour Transportation: Round-trip transportation from Downtown Bangkok to the floating market and long-tail boat ride to get to the floating market; does not include second boat ride at the floating market.
Your Guide: English-speaking guide

Day Trip Tour to Ayutthaya

If you have a full day to spare when in Bangkok, this day trip tour to the ancient city of Ayutthaya is another option. Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam and is a popular stop for tourists traveling in Thailand. The tour is about nine hours and takes you to explore the ancient ruins of monasteries and palaces, while also experiencing other famous sights like where the head of Buddha is tangled in a tree. This tour includes roundtrip transportation along with a river boat cruise and lunch. The trip to Ayutthaya departs from Bangkok at 7:30 in the morning and returns to the city at 4 in the afternoon.

Quick Details

Price: Check prices
Departure Time: 7:30 a.m.
End Time: 4:00 p.m.
Tour Transportation: Round-trip transportation by coach from hotels in certain areas of Bangkok. Check here to see where this trip picks up.
Your Guide: English-speaking guide
Includes: Round-trip transportation, lunch, entrance fees, water, and coffee.
Other Tips: Do not wear shorts, sandals, or sleeveless shirts. Visitors are expected to be dressed appropriately when entering temples.

Bangkok Night Bike Tour

This 4-hour Bangkok Night Bike Tour is a fun and unique way to see some of the major sights. In recent years biking has become one of my favorite ways to explore a new city when I am traveling. I’ve realized that you see so much more when you are on a bike, rather than being trapped in a bus, subway or cab. Of course walking is a great option for wandering, but you can’t cover as much ground by foot. Biking allows you to get around quickly while discovering new things along the way that you would have otherwise missed. This bike tour departs after sunset and takes less-traveled routes to explore small markets and the famous temples of Wat Arun and Wat Pho. Of all the Bangkok tours that visit the temples, this tour gives a really unique experience to be able to explore the city by bike.

Quick Details

Price: Check prices
Departure Time: After sunset
End Time: 4 hours after departure
Tour Transportation: Mountain bike
Your Guide: English-speaking guide
Includes: Bike, lights, helmet, guide, water, snacks, and insurance.
Other Tips: A full range of bike sizes are available. Please check the booking page for more details.

Are Organized Bangkok Tours Worth it?

City tours and food tours are so valuable to me when I’m traveling. Not only do I get to eat a ton of delicious local food (on the food tours, which are clearly my favorite) but I get to be guided around by someone who really knows the city. The information and firsthand experiences that guides can offer usually completely justifies the cost of the tour. And then to top that off, I get to eat the entire time. What’s not to like about that?

I love city tours and food tours and have utilized them in a number of countries I’ve visited. Sometimes people question me an ask if it’s worth the price, because many often feel that they could have the same experience on their own for cheaper.  While that may be partially true, there are many scenarios where I disagree with that statement. Take the street food tour for example. Sure, you can purchase the food items for cheaper—maybe. But if you are traveling alone or as a couple, it may end up costing you more to do it on your own actually, assuming you wanted to try all of the dishes. The benefit of joining a food tour is often that you have more people to share and split dishes with, making it more economical and allowing you to taste more items without wasting food or money. In my opinion, all of these Bangkok tours are well worth the money, especially if you have very limited time like I did.

Places to Stay in Bangkok

If you are looking for places to stay in Bangkok, here are a few suggestions for every traveler’s budget:

Budget-Friendly Options

• The Yard Hostel Bangkok, located in the trendy Ari neighborhood.
• Bed to Bangkok, a hostel located near Chatuchak Weekend Market.
• Kama Bed & Breakfast Bangkok, a boutique bed & breakfast in the sathorn district of downtown Bangkok.

Moderately-Priced Options

• Old Capital Bike Inn, a boutique accommodation in Old Bangkok with a vintage bike theme.
• Sukhumvit Park Bangkok, a Marriott executive apartment hotel in the heart of the city.
• SSIP Boutique Dhevej Bangkok, a colonial-style boutique hotel in Bangkok’s Dusit district.

Pricey Treat-Yo-Self Options

• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, a 5-star luxury property in Central Bangkok.
• The Okura Prestige Bangkok, a contemporary and stylish 5-star hotel in the heart of the city.
• SO Sofitel Bangkok, a luxury hotel with an infinity pool overlooking Lumpini Park.

Have you visited Bangkok yet? What are some of your favorite Bangkok tours?

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