We arrived in Bangkok after midnight on Friday night, but it might just as well have been 5 PM on a work day for the number of people in and outside of the airport. All of the restaurants were open, the “night market” where people go to stroll and buy souvenirs from the street vendors selling food and goods was open until 3 AM. We went to our hotel and slept, looking forward to experience the city refreshed.
The next morning we went to the “weekend market” and enjoyed the bargains almost as much as the people watching. The smells were just over whelming, with food stalls mixed in with spice shops, clothing stalls, music, you name it. There are over 5,000 stalls selling absolutely everything here. The bargains were just incredible; we saw tourists who were buying US name brand socks and underwear because of the deals. We stuck to tourist T shirts, genie pants and other items we couldn’t get at home. We also stopped at several food stands and ate.
About the street food: before we arrived, I had decided not to eat on the street because I have a weak stomach. I threw that thought right out the window. This food is fresher than anything I’ve ever eaten at home. The chicken was clucking this morning, the fruits and veggies, still in the fields. Since the country has little or no refrigeration, the meat is cooked as soon as it is available. The residents of the city generally don’t have kitchens, they take their meals from the street vendors.
The first morning we left the hotel at about 10 am to take a walk. Right outside, we saw a street vender with about two hundred small roasted chickens in his cooking stand. We laughed saying they would be sitting all day in the hot sun. We walked back an hour later and the whole batch had been sold and was gone. The man was cooking more that would sell just as quickly.
My favorite stop each day became a stand that sold pineapple in a bag. He had bins full of fresh pineapple stacked, when I indicated I wanted some, the vendor took the fruit and within 90 seconds he had cored and cut.
Looking to explore the streets of Bangkok, Thailand? Contact me and let’s start planning!
Tags: bangkok, Bangkok local cuisine, street food, street food safety Bangkok, Bangkok street food, Bangkok night markets, Thai street food, street food culture Thailand, street food vendors Bangkok, Bangkok food exploration, food tours Bangkok, Bangkok culinary experiences, street eats Thailand, foodie travel Bangkok, solo travel food Bangkok, Thailand, group dining in BangkokCategorised in: Pacific Region