5 Days in Bangkok - What I Ate

Last week I went to Bangkok in order to secure our Vietnam visa's for our upcoming trip. I was there for 5 delicious days with Jody meeting up with me on the weekend. I had some awesome food & explored some very cool neighborhoods. Here is what I tried:

The first night I went to one of Bangkok's best street food areas: Sukhumvit Soi 38. They have all the Thai specialties but I went with a wonton noodle soup. It's the quintessential Asian street food experience sitting out on the road on plastic stools & devouring freshly made local cuisine. So good!

Killer Wonton Soup with BBQ Pork & Crab

I had a taste of Britain for lunch the following day at a pie shop down the street from my hotel called the Witch Pie Factory off Sukhumvit 65. I haven't had mashed potatoes for a year so I opted for the Shepherds pie with more buttery mashed potatoes & onion gravy! They have all kinds of meat pies, quiches & even scotch eggs (a British specialty that I've tried from a friend in Chiang Rai).

Taste of England in BKK

That evening I wandered around Bangkok's impressive Chinatown. I love this area because it's always throbbing with energy & truly is a foodie paradise. Every evening, countless stalls come out and serve the hungry masses right on the side of the road. Wandering down Yaowarat street is a blessing for the senses as the air is filled with irresistible smells. Fresh seafood waits to be flash fried & wafting aromas of intense pork swirl around as the locals sit down & stuff their faces with Bangkok's finest. The street is lined with authentic Chinese restaurants that specialize in birds nest soup & shark fins! One pork stall lured me in & the busy tables confirmed my choice. Always eat at places that are busy. The specialty at this shack was kuay jab. This spicy noodle soup is truly an ode to the pig. I'm not sure exactly which parts I was eating - liver, kidney, intestines...but they were all delicious! Washed down with a fresh mango smoothie, it was a good start to the evening.

Everything Pig on Display

Yaowarat St - Chinatown

Flavor City

I just couldn't get enough of the pig because I came was still hungry and decided to get a plate of fried pork rice. I love the crispy bits of pork belly with the sweet sauce & a boiled egg! Always a winner.

The next day I headed out to the "Pumpkin Lady". This family run, neighborhood restaurant actually called Poisien off Victory Monument is legendary for whipping up consistently delicious Thai favorites. The two ladies running it were so welcoming & it really felt like home. I tried Penang Curry & Tom Yum Koong - both were the best versions of these Thai staples that I've had in the country. I've become accustomed to these flavors but they really pack a punch!

"Pumpkin Lady" - Legit Thai Food In a Family Joint

Penang Gai (Chicken)

Fiery & Delicious Tom Yum Soup

I went with my favorite Thai stir-fry that night for dinner at a local hole-in-the-wall. Pad Krapow Moo is my fallback option when I can't read the menu. We know it as stir-fried pork with Thai holy basil. Gotta get the Kai Dow (fried egg) added though!

Pad Krapow - Never Fails

No visit to Bangkok would be complete without a stop at Boat Noodle alley. This line of fast food noodle soup restaurants on the canal outside Victory Monument is always a memorable experience. The menu consists of about 15 kinds of noodle dishes with multiple options of noodle, meat and broth. The chefs whip the dishes together with production-line efficiency so the steaming bowls end up in front of you in a snap. I ended up mix and matching 6 different ones - why not at 10 baht a bowl? Fried pork rinds, wonton strips & fresh veggies garnish each one & I'm full before I know it. I'll miss this place dearly.

Production Line of Noodle Soup at Boat Noodle Alley

Good Stuff

6 Bowls Down...And I Wanted More

I wandered right into the Middle East at Sukhumvit Soi 3 to what's called the "Soi Arab" that evening. These series of streets don't feel like Thailand at all. Islamic food, culture & shopping galore. Ethnic restaurants line the streets in this authentic micro-neighborhood. All kinds of food is available from Ethiopian, Persian, Egyptian & Lebanese just to name a few. Expatriates & tourists from the Middle East congregate here, so you're more likely to find a woman covered from head to toe in black garb than a Thai "masseuse". It's a fascinating street to wander down flanked by sheesha bars & Arab men in ferrari shirts way too tight for their own good selling fake watches. I parked myself at Al Ferdoss - a Turkish, Lebanese restaurant and watched the end of the Thailand vs. China womens volleyball match along with 20 or 30 other locals. Ordered Mutton Biryani with a side of naan bread. It was amazing. Can't complain with fresh herbs, onion, lime and homemade pickles for garnish either! Thailand won in a massive upset too...the cherry on top.

Delicious Middle Eastern Cuisine at Al Ferdoss

Watching Volleyball

Little Arabia in the Center of Bangkok

When Jody arrived, we stayed at a lovely place called W Home which I highly recommend. The small, family run guesthouse is close by the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok's oldest neighborhood. That evening, we went to Asiatique - the new mall complex right on the water. Had some beers and people watched for a few hours before hopping into an Irish Pub for a taste of home. A lovely evening.

Just Chillin

Excellent Burgers & Steak at Flann O'Briens in Asiatique

Our last day in Bangkok consisted of a scenic & highly affordable boat ride on the Chao Praya express up the river. We took it as far as it went & got off in the last stop - Nonthaburi. It became immediately clear that not many foreigners visit this part of the city, but we felt at home because of our previous 10 months in country. We strolled through a massive market selling all kinds of seafood, animal parts, fruits & veggies and stopped at a hopping small joint that specialized in papaya salad & grilled chicken. The chicken was to-die-for and along with papaya salad and some delicious crab noodles, we were sufficiently stuffed.

Lots of People Eating = Good Sign

So Juicy & Tender - That Sauce was Killer Too

Cellophane Noodles & Fresh Crumbled Crab Meat

It's no wonder why I love this city more & more every time I visit. From the authentic, diverse neighborhoods, to the smiling, friendly locals, you're sure to find amazing food in the Asian metropolis that is Bangkok.