What to Eat in Yaowarat, Exploring the Street Food of Bangkok’s Chinatown
Yaowarat Road is full of bright neon signs and lights, not to mention food!
Bangkok’s bustling Yaowarat Road is home to the largest Chinatown in South East Asia. There is so much food here that it would take you weeks, maybe even months of exploring and eating to discover them all!
From Michelin featured eateries or local family run curry stalls, to large sit casual restaurants or street side dessert carts, anything and everything food related can be found within the major roads and alleyways of Yaowarat.
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Yaowarat Road the Chinatown Epicenter
Everywhere you look there will be tons of street food stalls and poeple
When travelling to Yaowarat Chinatown I highly recommend to allocate a large number of hours, perhaps even a full day or two to just exploring this area, it’s seriously huge.
However, eating is not the only activity here, this district is also dotted with many unique local temples and ancient historical landmarks. The legacy of Thai-Chinese culture all culminate here and you’ll find that many vendors have been at these locations for decades and even generations serving up authentic Thai-Chinese recipes.
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Regarding the best time to visit, the obvious answer would be during the evening/night as that is when things are the busiest and the road comes to life. However, many of the eateries also open during the daytime, if you don’t like busy crowds then visiting during the early hours of the day is also a good option.
Staying at Arawana Express Chinatown
Staying overnight at Chinatown was a good move cause you can’t explore everything in just one day!
I knew that just going there for the night wasn’t enough, so my partner and I booked a room at the Arawana Express Chinatown which, like the name suggests, was located right in the middle of Chinatown.
This was a good move as it allowed us to fully explore the area with all the time on our hands, not only that it also allowed us to see 2 different sides of Yaowarat, one during the night of course, but also one during the day time where everything was more peaceful and we can better appreciate the area for it’s culture and heritage.
The rooms were nice too with all the basic amenities, I was surprised that there was a full kitchen within the rooms complete with stoves, pans, and a smoke ventilation hood!
The best thing was that it was a literal 1 minute walk to Yaowarat Road.
The price was really cheap as well for a room, coming in at around 800 THB per night, split between 2 people that’s only 400 THB!
Other Bangkok Hotel Recommendations
Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park - For the ultimate in comfort and luxury, this 5 star hotel includes Bangkok’s best buffet (Goji Kitchen) as well as Thai massage facilities, and possibly the best staff in the hospitality business.
The Quart Ruamrudee - This 4 star hotel is located right by the BTS skytrain allowing for easy access to all of Bangkok’s best attractions.
Norn Yaowarat Hotel - Located right in Bangkok Chinatown, this hotel offers easy access to many of Bangkok’s famous temples and attractions as well as the Bangkok street food epicenter that is Yaowarat Road.
Let’s Get to Eating the Street Food Market!
See that hanging Chinese barbecue pork?
Yaowarat Road is the absolute best place to eat authentic local Thai food, that being said, I will not be including the basic dishes like Pad Thai or Green Curry here as you can find those literally anywhere else. You can find these dishes in Chinatown sure, but that’s not the reason you go to eat at Yaowarat.
No, Bangkok Chinatown is where you go to eat authentic foods that locals enjoy on an almost daily basis because fun fact, 14% of Thai’s have Chinese ancestry, that percentage may seem small, but the Thai-Chinese group is the largest oversees Chinese community in the world.
Yaowarat Road is also long and confusing, during the night it’s even more chaotic with thousands of people walking the streets.
If you are looking for a easy way explore Chinatown’ delicious street food scene, then this excellent Bangkok Chinatown Private Night Street Food Tour will bring you to try 12 of Yaowarat’s most distinctive street foods.
The tour also includes a friendly English speaking guide to teach you about the food and culture, You can book the tour via the link above.
Alright enough with the random history lesson, let’s get on to eating!
Khao Gaeng Jek Pui Best One Plate Rice and Curry in all of Bangkok
The line at Khao Gaeng Jek Pui can be long but don’t worry service is quite fast
Khao Gaeng Jek Pui is without a doubt the most well known rice and curry stall in this area. The first thing you’ll notice is the lack of tables… Due to the limited side walk space, the only seating you’ll get is one of the many bright red plastic stools. Jek Pui is also known affectionately by the locals as “Musical Chairs”, once a customer gets up you’ll have to quickly find a seat.
The second thing you’ll notice is the long line, don’t be intimidated by the lack so seating however, as most people will order for take-away.
Khao Gaeng Jek Pui is the most authentic of an atmosphere you’re going to get. Admittedly I don’t get to experience this style of dining much as an adult anymore as I live in the city center, But when I was young I would always go to these small curry stalls with my mother to buy a bag or two of curries to bring back home.
Look at that glorious curry soaking into every grain or rice!
Ordering is simple, you’ll start off with a base of either rice or Khanom Jeen (Thai thin sticky rice noodles). After that you’ll choose from one or two (or three) of the many delicious rich curries.
Each curry costs 40 THB for the regular portion or 60 THB for a large portion. You even have the option to add an extra boiled egg on the side for 10 THB.
My favorite curry to order is definitely the yellow pork curry, the richness of the coconut milk and the subtle spiciness can’t be beat, Mix in some of the curry sauce with the rice and you’ll get the ultimate comforting bite.
Another favorite of mine is the stir fried crab curry, if you like a bit of saltiness and sweetness then this is the dish for you.
You also get the option of adding some sliced Chinese sausage for an additional 20 THB, I’d say that’s well worth it if you never tried it before, it’s more firm compared to your regular sausage and also sweet and fatty.
Khao Gaeng Jek Pui Details
Location: 25 Mangkon Rd, Pom Prap, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Phone: +66 2 222 5229
Opening Hours: 3:00PM - 7:00PM | Mon - Sun
Krua Phon Lamai Sizzling Rad Na Noodles
Krua Phon Lamai may be a small stall but they serve up big flavors
Krua Phon Lamai is known for one thing and one thing only, their sizzling hot skillets of Rad Na noodles. Located in one of the many small alleyways in Yaowarat Road, This street side hawker stall serves up a traditional Thai-Chinese dish called the Rad Na.
Wide chewy rice noodles is stir fried in a smoking wok with corn, Chinese broccoli, dark soy sauce, and your choice of protein such as pork, chicken, or seafood. Then a thick gravy is poured onto the dish giving it’s name as “Rad Na” in Thai means to pour all over.
The atmosphere is fun and chaotic with waiters walking by holding sizzling skillets and TukTuk rickshaws and taxis squeezing by on the tight roads.
Even the ordering process is quite confusing, we had to walk quite a few steps away from the actual stall to meet a lady who was taking orders. Once we placed our order a man guided us to our table with is a few steps back to where we started.
The sizzling creates so much smoke and water vapor that I have trouble seeing my partner on the other side of the table
My partner and I ordered a single plate of Pork Rad Na (we don’t want to be too full so that we can try other foods). The price for a single plate was 70 THB for chicken or pork, if you wanted one with seafood that will be 100 THB.
We waited in quiet anticipation, excitedly wondering if the waiter passing by was holding our order.
When the dish finally came it was served dry, one thing I immediately noticed was that there was a crispy fried egg on top, which was unique as Rad Na typically wasn’t served with a fried egg.
Then came the glorious gravy pour, as soon as your our waiter poured on the gravy, the skillet erupted with aromatic smoke. The gravy was bubbling away which created some bits that were salty and crunchy.
The Rad Na was delicious however, it tasted pretty much the same as any other regular rad na you get elsewhere, just the sizzling gravy gave it an extra flare.
Krua Phon Lamai Details
Location: 62 Plaeng Nam Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Phone: +66 099 249 5414
Opening Hours: 6:00PM - 2:00AM | Wed - Sun
Sweet and Hearty Yaowarat Toasted Buns
Do you see the amount of filling they put in this bun? They don’t skimp out
If you’re looking for something sweet to eat in Chinatown then a popular spot is the Yaowarat Toasted Buns stall. This stall will definitely catch your eye with their bright yellow banner as well as the long queue.
A fluffy bun is toasted (or not, depending on your preference), then the inside is filled with a variety of different creams and fillings. There are so so so many fillings to choose from, from classic vanilla custard to Thai milk tea. Ultimately I went with the chocolate filling while my partner went with the regular custard.
We opted to have ours toasted as we love that extra crunch.
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What I didn’t expect was the filling to be so slimy and sticky! It’s not like your regular custard, the texture is akin to condensed milk, so be careful when you eat it as it will get messy.
The toast was crunchy and the fillings on both of ours were really sweet. I assume you can reheat these later as well as I saw some people buying a whole box worth.
Yoawarat Toasted Buns Details
Location: 453 Yaowarat Road Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100 Thailand
Phone: +66 65 553 3635
Opening Hours: 5:00PM - 12:00AM | Tues - Sun
Fish Maw Soup (and Shark Fin Soup) at Hoo Chalarm
Fish Maw Soup can be a bit daunting at first but once you taste it it is very comforting
A few steps away we encountered a stall selling fish maw soup, a classic traditional Chinese dish. Actually they also have Shark Fin Soup, however due to ethical reasons in how shark fin is procured we avoided ordering that.
Fish Maw is the dried swim bladder of large fish, it is also considered the most expensive part. The texture is sort of like a firm, springy mushroom/sponge. Yeah I know it doesn’t really sound appetizing the way I described it but trust me on this one, it tastes good. In this part of the world it is typically eaten for anti-aging health benefits.
The soup itself is more like a thick gravy and it has a comforting and soothing taste to it. Definitely worth a try and unlike Shark Fin soup, this one isn’t as unethical.
Hoo Chalarm Nam Daeng Brandy Nong New Details
Location: 456 Phadung Dao Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 61 873 4466
Opening Hours: 6:30PM - 12:00AM | Tues - Sun
Hong Kong Style Fried Noodles also at Hoo Chalarm
A master at work stir frying away
Located right next to the Fish Maw Soup stall (or actually the same stall? Not sure), you’ll find a skillful gentlemen handling a blazing wok. In addition to Fish Maw, Hoo Chalarm is also famous for their Hong Kong Style Stir Fried Noodles.
You’ll find that many visitors will stop by to take a picture of the chef battling it out with his wok! This stall is really a sight to behold.
The portion is massive, seriously big
These Hong Kong noodles are stir fried with crunchy brew sprouts, chunky abalone pieces, and big bits of juicy crab meat. The noodles are nice and a little bit springy, it’s a good thing that they aren’t too salty or oily as well, making this easy to eat and light on your stomach.
Hoo Chalarm Nam Daeng Brandy Nong New Details
Location: 456 Phadung Dao Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 61 873 4466
Opening Hours: 6:30PM - 12:00AM | Tues - Sun
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Kway Chap Rolled Noodles at Nai Lek Uan
So much pork in there, crispy pork belly is my favorite
There are many Kwan Chap places in Yaowarat but I’d say Nai Lek Uan is the best and also the most underrated.
A classic and authentic breakfast (or really any time of day) meal enjoyed by locals is a bowl of rolled noodles with sliced pig organs and crispy pork belly bathing in a warm peppery pork broth.
If you are looking for something not too heavy on your palette, this clean and peppery noodle soup is perfect to soothe your soul. The rolled rice noodles create an interesting texture that is slightly bouncy as you chew.
Like me, if you take your first bite of that crispy and juicy pork belly and decided that you crave more, not to worry, true locals know that a bowl of Kway Chap is not complete without an extra side order of Crispy Pork Belly.
Kway Chap Nai Lek Uan Details
Location: Yaowarat Road, Chakkrawat, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 83 565 0663
Opening Hours: 5:30PM - 11:30PM | Tues - Sun
Michelin Guide Pa Tong Go Savoey
Pure concentration, a master showcasing his craft
By far my most favorite Thai breakfast food (or more like a snack to be honest) is the Patong Go, also known as a Chinese donut. Small pieces of dough are deep fried to golden perfection and served with sweet dips such as pandan/Thai milk tea custard or condensed milk.
Pa Tong Go Savoey is a little Michelin Guide street side stall in Yaowarat selling the absolute best version of this classic Thai-Chinese breakfast food.
Their signature visual centerpiece is definitely the giant bronze wok filled to the brim with sizzling oil and floating pieces of Patong Go frying away.
The Patong Go is has a crisp and crunchy outer shell the most soft, airy, fluffy, and most inside that you can imagine. Despite all the oil that it has been swimming in, each piece of these Chinese donuts go down really easily and don’t feel oily or greasy at all.
Whenever you are in Thailand you must try a Patong Go for breakfast, and Pa Tong Go Savoey in Yaowarat Chinatown serves up the best.
Pa Tong Go Savoey Details
Location: 56 ถ. เยาวราช Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 095 591 5651
Opening Hours: 5:30PM - 11:30PM | Tues - Sun
Delicious Bird’s Nest Soup Dessert at T & K Seafood
This is really a unique dish, it comes with a side of sweet things to eat it with
Here’s something you don’t see everyday, Bird’s Nest Soup. Bird’s Nest Soup is a hot and sticky soup that is made out of the nest of the Chinese Swiftlet, a cave dwelling species of birds.
The nest is made from the regurgitated spit of these birds, gross I know… The spit is wounded around and around until it hardens and forms a nest, these are then harvested with the impurities carefully taken out, then dissolved in water to turn it into a soup.
You have the option to get this soup either sweet or salty depending on your preference.
You’re probably thinking why do people eat this? Well according to traditional Chinese beliefs, Bird’s Nest Soup contains plenty of health benefits such as assisting with the digestive system, bolstering your immune system, and of course, as an aphrodisiac.
Is all of this true? Who knows, but it sure does make for an interesting dish.
The taste is quite subtle with a little hint of sweetness, it cools quickly as well. Would I eat this again? No. But if your are curious to try it for the first time or want to reap it’s supposed medicinal benefits then T & K Seafood serves up a compelling version Bird’s Nest Soup.
T & K Seafood Details
Location: 49, 51 Phadung Dao Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 02 223 4519
Opening Hours: 4:00PM - 12:00AM | Mon - Sun
Legendary 100 Year Old Pae Sia Dimsum
When we arrived Pae Sia was almost sold out, this was just an hour after opening
When in Chinatown you absolutely cannot miss out on dumplings or dimsum.
It was early in the morning and my partner and I were craving some Khanom Jib (Thai word for Shumai), and we happened to find this unassuming gentle old man selling mini bite sized pieces of pork shumai from his metal steaming basket.
The Pae Sia Dimsum stall has been around for about 100 years and as small as this stall was (literally just a table) there was still a long line of people queuing up for his delicious Khanom Jib.
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The man was focused on his craft, expertly picking up the khanom jib with a wooden skewer with precision and pure focus. There was not a moment where he was distracted, he knew that people were waiting, and he knew that his dimsum was the best.
Bite sized pieces of garlicky and meaty joy
Each serving of Khanom Jib comes with a spoonful of crunchy fried garlic bits and a splash of their famous sour and spicy chili sauce.
These were the smallest shumai I’ve ever seen, about the size of a coin. Nevertheless these were pretty tasty and meaty.
I love addition of the crunchy garlic bits as it gives the shumai a nice garlicky fragrance. the chili sauce also gives it a nice sourness to cut the fatty-ness of the meat.
The fact that many people order a whole bag’s worth of this khanom jib and, the fact that he’s almost sold out just a mere hour after opening speaks for the legacy and deliciousness of Pae Sia’s Dimsum.
Pae Sia Dimsum Details
Location: PGR5+9WV, Plaeng Nam Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 081 726 0777
Opening Hours: 11:30AM - 7:00PM | Mon - Sun
Yuan Yuan Mǎn Mǎn Vegan Tofu Ice Cream
So many different toppings to choose from
Have you ever heard of Tofu Ice Cream? No? Neither have I.
Now I love tofu and I love ice cream but them combined together? This unique creation is something you’ll only find in the food paradise of Yaowarat Road’s Chinatown.
Instead of the regular milk or cream based ice cream, Yuan Yuan Mǎn Mǎn used tofu as their base, creating a vegan friendly ice cream.
If you are skeptical don’t worry as the visuals and texture is exactly the same as your classic vanilla ice cream.
Yuan Yuan’s stall has a few pre-determined menu items, but you can also customize your own with a variety of toppings.
It might not look like much but this little cup is full of fragrant flavor
We ordered the classic Tofu Ice Cream, the plastic Yuan Yuan branded cup is filled with 2 scoops of their signature Tofu Ice Cream.
Next they added 2 pieces of Black Sesame Bua Loy Dumplings (a Thai rice dumpling filled with a variety of sweet fillings, usually eating in a coconut or milk based soup).
Lastly, the cup is sprinkled with crushed crunchy ginger cookie bits.
Guys, this is unlike any other ice cream I’ve ever had, your first bite and you’ll be able to tell that the theme here is fragrance. The subtle tofu flavor in the ice cream is actually very refreshing, and combined with the crunchy ginger cookie bits give it an ever more pronounce aromatic taste.
The sesame Bua Loy dumplings have to be my favorite, soft and mochi-like in texture, when you bite into it, the black sesame cream filling bursts and fills your tastebuds with such intense aroma.
You definitely need to try Yuan Yuan’s, I would definitely come back here for a second or third helping. You can read a more detailed review here: Yuan Yuan Mǎn Mǎn Review
Yuan Yuan Mǎn Mǎn Details
Location: Phadung Dao Rd, สัมพันธวงศ์ Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Phone: +66 088 264 5515
Opening Hours: 6:00PM - 10:00PM | Tues - Thurs and 6:00PM - 10:30PM | Fri - Sun
Dtue Huan Pickled Cabbage Soup with Pork Organs
Don’t be afraid of the pieces of pig organs, they can be quite tasty
Dtue Huan is a dish that is unfortunately not that well known outside of Asia. Dtue Huan is a Chinese soup dish made from pickled cabbage and topped with pieces of Pork organs like: liver, lung, heart, kidney, intestines, etc..
It may sound gross but I can assure you that there is no funky smells, I actually think that this dish is the perfect dish for introducing people to eating organ meat as the flavors are not overwhelming.
Dtue Huan is eaten as a breakfast dish and is common everywhere in Thailand, there are many stalls in Yaowarat so take your pick.
The soup is served hot, and the taste is light and clean with a little hint of sourness from the cabbage. The soup is served with a side of dark soy sauce for dipping your meats into as well.
If your are looking for guidance on what organ to eat, my favorites are the heart and intestines. The heart might be the easier option as it is firm, meaty, and a little bouncy, and it’s the one that is closest in flavor and texture to a normal piece of pork.
Glutinous rice sausage is my favorite side to have with Dtue Huan, another is crispy pork belly
When eating a Chinese pickled cabbage soup, you must order a side of this sticky rice sausage.
Pork intestines are filled with a glutinous sticky rice along with some boiled peanuts and ginko nuts. The sausages are then steamed, sliced up, and then served with dark soy sauce for dipping.
The texture is like a more sticky and dense sticky rice and the taste is also not that far off.
My favorite place to get this dish is at Arunwan which happens to not be located in Yoawarat… But it’s still a really good spot to go to for breakfast.
Arunwan Details
Location: 295 อาคาร, PARK X ปาก, Ekkamai 15 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Phone: +66 080 994 2299
Opening Hours: 9:00AM - 7:00PM | Mon - Sun
Details About Chinatown
Chinatown is located along the entire stretch of Yaowarat Road. In fact, and is located near the Khao San district. Nearby are also the big 3 attractions: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and the Grand Palace.
Yaowarat Road’s Chinatown opens 24 hours a day but activity really starts picking up during the later evening hours, some shops are open in the morning and if you don’t like long queues and large crowds, this is the best time for your to try out the food.
Chinatown has plenty of street food to eat but it also home to a lot of jewelry, clothing, and furniture stores. So if you’re also intending to do some shopping those options are available to you.
Location: PGR5+4W6 ถ. เยาวราช Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Opening Hours: 24Hrs | Mon - Sun
How to get to Yaowarat Road Chinatown?
Chinatown is located in the Yaowarat district of Bangkok, also known as the old town.
The easiest way to get there is by taking the Metro (MRT) to Wat Mangkorn station and walking for about 5 minutes to Yaowarat Road. From here you can explore the entire street.
You can also reach Chinatown by boat, getting a water taxi from various stations around the Chao Phraya River, you’ll want to get off at Ratchawong Pier which will put you near Yaowarat Road.
You could also take a taxi or a motorbike there.
Yaowarat Road Chinatown Hotels and Accommodation
Arawana Express Chinatown - Popular hotel right in the center of Chinatown
The Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel - great value and elegant decorations
Luk Hostel - Best hostel in Bangkok, located near Chinatown
The Quarter Hualamphong - Comfortable chain hotel located at the main train station
Looking for Things to Do in Bangkok?
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World - Encounter over 400 marine species and 30000 creatures
Floating Markets Day Tour - Tour 3 major markets: Damnoen Saduak, Maeklong, Amphawa
Safari World Bangkok - Meet exotic and friendly animals at Bangkok’s animal kingdom
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price
Useful Resources for Traveling in Thailand
Tourism Information - All the information you need when traveling in Thailand
4G/5G SIM Card - 8 days, 15GB, Important for staying connected while in Thailand
Private Airport Transfers - Transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city without worry
Best Bangkok Hostels - A list of the best hostels to stay for cheap and meet new friends
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