Where to stay in Bangkok for street food 2024 - 5 Best areas
Looking for the best areas to stay in Bangkok for street food to experience incredible culinary experience?
In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top areas in Bangkok where you can dive into the city’s vibrant food scene, giving you everything you need to make the most of your gastronomical adventure in the capital.
Beyond just where to stay for street food, we’ll also explore neighborhoods known for their standout restaurants.
These recommendations come from first-hand experiences. Having lived in Bangkok from 2017 to 2022, I’ve visited hundreds of local restaurants and explored many street food sanctuaries.
While you can find amazing food throughout Bangkok if you know where to look, we’ve simplified things to offer the best recommendations that save you time and effort—so you can focus on enjoying your holiday.
This article is divided into two sections.
One part of this article is devoted solely to Bangkok Street Food, the other part offers you valuable information on where to find many of Bangkok’s local eateries.
In our opinion, there is a huge difference between street food – which you literally eat on the streets – and local food – which you eat inside a local restaurant.
Each section provides recommended areas and explains to you where to find great restaurants or designated street food areas.
Map of the best areas in Bangkok for street food and local food
Below, you can find a detailed map of all the major areas where you can find either street food or famous local eateries. The yellow areas are known for their street food vendors and night markets. The icons represent those important street food sanctuaries. The purple areas are parts of Bangkok where you can find many authentic and famous restaurants, making them excellent spots to taste some of Thailand’s most interesting dishes inside a local eaterie.
Further down this article, you can find individual maps related to either street food or local food.
Best street food areas
Best areas for local food
Our definition of Bangkok street food: food bought from street vendors and enjoyed right there on the streets.
Where to stay in Bangkok for street food?
The best areas to stay in Bangkok for street food are around Phaya Thai BTS Station, Silom, and Asoke.
You can find plenty of street food elsewhere throughout Bangkok, but there are some designated areas where there is an abundance of street food and those three areas are conveniently connected to these areas.
With the change in government policy regarding street food in Bangkok, many street food vendors were forced to move to designated areas.
This policy made sure that street food carts were not blocking the sidewalks, though Bangkok lost some of its authenticity.
On the other hand, these dedicated areas, such as the popular (train) markets and other night markets, are much more convenient and offer an insane amount of street food.
Visiting one of these night markets in Bangkok is an absolute must.
You can easily navigate to each neighborhood by tapping the link. Or go straight to the overview of the best areas to stay in Bangkok for street food.
The best areas to stay in Bangkok for street food are:
1. Phaya Thai BTS Station
Phaya Thai BTS Station connects directly to the Airport Rail Link, making it convenient to travel between Suvarnabhumi Airport and the city via the Skytrain.
What makes Phaya Thai especially attractive for food lovers is its proximity to two popular street food hotspots: Petchaburi Soi 5 and Victory Monument.
Victory Monument, a major transportation hub, has no shortage of food stalls catering to the crowds waiting for buses, ensuring you’re never far from a quick, delicious bite.
If you’re in Bangkok over the weekend, you can easily hop on the Skytrain to reach Chatuchak Weekend Market—the world’s largest weekend market—packed with an endless array of finger food.
Since most street food in Bangkok is found at markets rather than designated street-side areas, Phaya Thai is one of the few neighborhoods mentioned here that offers true street food right on the streets.
2. Asoke
Asoke is not directly surrounded by street food areas, although there are a few local markets nearby, but thanks to its connection to the Skytrain and especially the metro (MRT), you can easily travel to several street food areas.
None of the other recommended areas has this benefit.
The most popular market is Jodd Fairs, which is from the same organization that created Ratchada Train Market, and is just only a few metro stations away.
Unfortunately, the hugely popular Ratchada market with its iconic colourful tents had to close down permanently due to COVID as tourists were the largest group of visitors.
But, with a new location and a new name, a market from the same organization is back in business and that market in particular offers a huge variety of street food (over 400 stalls).
When going in the other direction to Wat Mangkon MRT Statio, you’ll enter street food Walhalla Chinatown (Yaowarat).
And if you visit Bangkok during the weekend, you can easily take the Skytrain to the previously recommended Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Not only is Asoke a great option for street food exploration, but also for sightseeing purposes, all because you have such a good access to Bangkok’s public transport.
Tip #1: at the same location of Ratchada Train Market is now a new market named The One. Same location, and different organization.
Tip #2: there is another train market called Srinakarin, which is located more toward Suvarnabhumi. It’s a bit of a hassle to get there are there currently is no BTS Station (under construction), but you will experience an authentic, not-too-touristy evening market full of street food.
3. Silom
Silom is an excellent choice for tourists, thanks to its strategic location and great connections to key city highlights.
While it features a street food area on Silom Soi 20, offering a decent variety of local eats, it’s not as extensive as other street food spots we’ve covered in our Bangkok street food guide.
One advantage of staying in Silom is that you’re closer to the older parts of Bangkok. However, there are no significant night markets in the immediate area.
For the best tourist-friendly street food, you’ll want to head to markets like Srinakarin, Jodd Fairs, and Chatuchak Weekend Market.
That said, Silom’s proximity to Chinatown means you can easily explore the vibrant street food scene in both areas.
Chinatown isn’t a night market, but it’s a street food area.
If you stay in Silom, you’ll get the chance to visit one or two night markets, explore Chinatown’s street food, and sample the local eats in Bangkok—a perfect mix of everything.
Can't get enough of street food?
If you want to fully explore Bangkok’s street food scene, have a look at our Bangkok Street Food Guide. Here, we dive deeper into each recommended area as well as the night markets that Bangkok has to offer.
Where to stay in Bangkok for local food?
Our definition of local food: food served in local places, where recipes have been passed down through generations and remain family secrets.
The best areas to stay in Bangkok for famous local food are:
1. Khao San Road
Khao San Road is one of the most popular areas for tourists to stay in Bangkok, known for its vibrant nightlife, bustling street food vendors, and small shops.
While Khao San is great for food, some of the city’s most interesting local eateries are just a few streets away. Head to Maha Chai Road and Dinso Road to discover standout restaurants, including the legendary Jay Fai.
Nearby, you’ll also find gems like Pad Thai Thip Samai, Nattaphon Coconut Ice Cream, Mit Ko Yuan, Tee Yentafoo, and Krua Apsorn—all within easy reach.
One downside to staying in this area is that Khao San Road isn’t well connected to public transport, except for the boat service and one MRT station near the Grand Palace. However, you can take a ferry to MRT Sanam Chai or BTS Saphan Taksin. Taxis can also get you to BTS Ratchathewi or MRT Sam Yot.
As a popular tourist hub, Khao San Road and its alleys offer more tourist-friendly street food, like Pad Thai, Mango Sticky Rice, Coconut Ice Cream, and Banana Rotis—perfect for those looking to indulge in these classic Thai treats.
For a more authentic dining experience with a kick of spice, head to Maha Chai Road and Dinso Road.
Tip: If nightlife isn’t your scene, consider staying closer to the river, preferably near an MRT station like Sanam Chai, to enjoy a quieter experience.
2. Silom
Silom is an excellent choice for staying in Bangkok, not just for its food but also for its strategic location.
You’ll find many of Bangkok’s top attractions within easy reach, including Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and The Grand Palace. These highlights are easily accessible by boat or the newly extended MRT line.
Being close to the river, Silom offers a range of hotels with stunning riverside views.
What sets Silom apart is its diverse dining scene, featuring everything from local eateries to high-end restaurants perched atop skyscrapers. During lunchtime, the area buzzes with office workers enjoying a wide variety of delicious Thai food.
For street food enthusiasts, Silom also has a street food area on Silom Soi 20, which we’ll explore further later in this article.
In contrast to the lively atmosphere of Khao San Road, Silom provides excellent access to public transportation and a more subdued vibe, making it ideal for those who want both convenience and a quieter environment.
3. Chinatown
Chinatown in Bangkok, the largest Chinatown in the world, boasts a rich culinary heritage influenced by Chinese merchants who settled here long ago. As a result, this area is home to some of the city’s most incredible restaurants.
However, one downside is that Chinatown can be quite polluted and noisy, which might make it less ideal as a place to stay. Fortunately, there are plans underway to modernize this part of the city, which could improve the situation in the coming years.
Despite these challenges, Chinatown remains a fantastic destination to experience authentic Bangkok food. In the quieter outer areas, you’ll discover numerous great eateries that offer a respite from the hustle and bustle.
Note: Many of the restaurants in Chinatown are closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.
4. Asoke
One of the most convenient areas to stay in Bangkok is near Asoke BTS Station, where you can access both the MRT and the Skytrain, putting you right in the city center.
This central location makes it one of the busiest areas in Bangkok, particularly with heavy road traffic. However, its advantages are significant: you’ll have easy access to outstanding restaurants on Sukhumvit Road and other notable food areas in Bangkok, such as Chinatown, Silom, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Jodd Fairs Market, all reachable by public transport.
You can also explore the older parts of Bangkok with ease, thanks to the extension of the MRT line.
Additionally, there are many excellent local Thai restaurants in the vicinity.
Tip: For a unique experience, consider staying at the Hom Cooking Hostel near Nana BTS Station. This food-focused hostel offers a range of food tours and cooking classes.
5. Phaya Thai
Phaya Thai BTS Station is directly connected to the Airport Rail Link, making this area a popular choice for accommodation in Bangkok.
From here, taking the Skytrain northwards allows you to easily explore well-known food areas such as Victory Monument, famous for its boat noodles, and Ari, a trendy, up-and-coming neighborhood.
Notable dining spots in this area include Ong Thong Khao Soi, Nittaya Kai Yang, Khua Kling Pak Sod (Rajchakru Branch), and Kub Kao Kub Pla (Ari Branch).
There are also excellent restaurants near Phaya Thai BTS Station itself, such as Pe’Aor, Phayathai Kitchen, and Ar-Simp.
However, Phaya Thai lacks a direct connection to the MRT line, making it slightly less convenient for reaching other parts of Bangkok compared to the Asoke area.
Despite this, Phaya Thai is a budget-friendly option that is less bustling than other parts of Bangkok, yet still centrally located.
