{"id":4290,"date":"2026-05-09T12:29:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T19:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/?post_type=blog&p=4290"},"modified":"2026-05-09T17:49:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T00:49:24","slug":"best-food-in-bangkok-must-try-spots-and-whats-overrated","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/blog\/best-food-in-bangkok-must-try-spots-and-whats-overrated\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Food in Bangkok: Must-Try Spots (and What\u2019s Overrated)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bangkok food is overwhelming in the best way possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Street stalls on every corner, Michelin stars hidden in alleyways, and lines so long you start questioning if anything could actually be worth it. We tested that for you. We waited in the heat, stood in lines that made no sense, ate things way too spicy for us\u2026 and figured out what\u2019s actually worth your time if you\u2019re only in Bangkok for a few days. This isn\u2019t one of those massive lists with 25 random places. These are the spots we actually went to \u2014 the ones we\u2019d go back to, and the ones we wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Phed Mark \u2014 The Best Meal We Had in Bangkok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Location: https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/yGc8xKFtkRVvL2JB6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve seen anything about Bangkok food, you\u2019ve probably seen Phed Mark. His enormous following on YouTube alone makes this restaurant hard to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had to give it a try right as we landed in Bangkok \u2014 and honestly, we were beyond excited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The line was massive, which was no surprise. We waited about 45 minutes in the blistering heat, fresh off a 17.5-hour flight from Vancouver, Canada. Honestly, with the amount of people, it was well managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second we got the food, we understood why it was so busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got the 3rd spiciest level, and I\u2019m not exaggerating \u2014 Thailand spice is no joke. It was painfully spicy\u2026 but I couldn\u2019t stop eating it. The saltiness from the duck egg, the added chili oil, and the beef was just so perfectly balanced. This was the best way to begin our Thailand vacation, with an unreal Pad Kra Pao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we explored Bangkok over the next three days, I realized that my very first meal there may have been the best meal I had the entire trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> 100% worth the wait. Enjoy the weather \u2014 the wait really isn\u2019t that bad.
Would we go again?<\/strong> Immediately. The Pad Kra Pao was incredible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Spice level 3 with beef<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Phed Mark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Issaya Siamese Club \u2014 Overrated & Not Worth It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Location: https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/VDtsqWteSWi3kqhb6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We wanted to try something more upscale \u2014 something we wouldn\u2019t normally get back home in Canada, at least not for a reasonable price. We researched and researched until we came across Issaya Siamese Club in Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And honestly\u2026 it disappointed us and did not live up to the hype we had going into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the setting was beautiful. It felt like stepping into a tropical villa. But it was insanely expensive. Maybe tasting menus just aren\u2019t for us, but for $160 CAD, we expected more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were also the only ones in the restaurant, which created a bit of a strange vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The food was good, but it didn\u2019t wow us. And to top it off, the waiter kept refilling our water \u2014 which we later realized wasn\u2019t free. For our group of five, the water alone ended up costing over $48, which is insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our total bill walking out of this restaurant was just under $800.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> Not worth it. If you\u2019re in Bangkok, enjoy the cheap Michelin-rated street food, find something unique, but don\u2019t go for an 11-course tasting menu and walk out with a near $1K tab.
Would we go again?<\/strong> No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11 course meal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Our Favourite Random Find (This Place Was Unreal)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Location: https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/BWP2UmdcZsfQm18Y6?g_st=ic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is exactly why we love traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No hype. No viral videos. Just a random place we walked into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plastic chairs. Simple setup. Nothing fancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the food?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ended up being one of our favorite meals of the entire trip \u2014 and it cost a fraction of what we paid at nicer restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also a reminder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t over-plan every meal in Bangkok. Some of the best food just happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> Worth it, the prices were good so you can’t beat that.
Would we go again?<\/strong> Yes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Crispy pork belly with chilli and salt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rice with basil pork and a fried egg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mango Sticky Rice \u2014 Simple but So Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Location: https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/BWP2UmdcZsfQm18Y6?g_st=ic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Thailand. You can\u2019t come here and not try mango sticky rice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We went to K. Panich \u2014 a small, no-frills shop that\u2019s been doing this for decades. It\u2019s Michelin-recognized and has been perfecting the same recipe for years. And yeah\u2026 it lives up to the hype.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mango sticky rice is simple \u2014 but this is one of those dishes where every detail matters. The mango was perfectly sweet, the rice was soft but still had that bite, and the coconut sauce just tied everything together without being overly heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing flashy. Nothing overcomplicated. Just done really, really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re only trying it once in Bangkok, this is the spot I\u2019d pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> Not worth it. If you\u2019re in Bangkok, enjoy the cheap Michelin-rated street food, find something unique, but don\u2019t go for an 11-course tasting menu and walk out with a near $1K tab.
Would we go again?<\/strong> No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Mango Sticky Rice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Malls – EmSphere and IconSiam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Location: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We went to two malls in Bangkok \u2014 and according to Harlee, this was \u201cone of the smartest decisions we made.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yeah\u2026 they\u2019re malls \u2014 but the food is on another level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was so much to choose from. In one of the malls, they even had different regions of Thailand, so you could try a bit of everything in one place \u2014 which Harlee loved because she could \u201csample the entire country without moving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had pork leg on rice, crab fried rice, a fruit cup (Harlee insisted we needed something \u201chealthy\u201d), boba tea, and bao buns. At Emsphere, we had really good khao soi, donuts, and (again) more bao buns \u2014 which somehow turned into Harlee\u2019s mission to find the best one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole experience was honestly just fun \u2014 walking around, seeing all the options, and picking what looked best. It also gave us a nice break from the heat with a cool place to sit and reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The food was well priced, and it felt safe being inside \u2014 away from the bugs, massive rats, exposed wires, and the chaos of scooter traffic outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harlee\u2019s verdict: \u201cUnderrated\u2026 and air conditioning automatically makes it a 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sook Siam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crab Fried Rice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Final Thoughts \u2014 What\u2019s Actually Worth It in Bangkok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bangkok is one of those places where the \u201cbest meal\u201d isn\u2019t always the one you planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the one you find randomly. The one with plastic chairs. The one where you\u2019re sweating, slightly overwhelmed, and wondering if you ordered something way too spicy \u2014 and then you take a bite and it just hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what this city does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there are Michelin stars. Yes, there are viral spots with massive lines. Some of them are absolutely worth it (Phed Mark lived up to every bit of hype). But a lot of the time, the real magic is in the places you don\u2019t see coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re coming to Bangkok for a few days, here\u2019s the simple takeaway:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Try the famous spots \u2014 but don\u2019t build your whole trip around them<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Skip the overpriced tasting menus<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Leave room to wander and just walk into somewhere random<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Because chances are, your favourite meal won\u2019t be the one you researched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019ll be the one you didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And that\u2019s exactly why Bangkok is one of the best food cities in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ready to experience the best Bangkok restaurants? Have any questions or comments about your trip? Let me know in the box below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n
    \ud83d\udcac<\/div>\n\n
    \nHave questions about this trip?\n<\/div>\n\n

    \nWe love helping other couples plan smarter, more memorable trips. If you have questions about this guide, where to stay, what to skip, or how to fit everything into your itinerary, leave a comment below.\n<\/p>\n\n

    \nShare your question below \u2193\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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