Best Food Tours in Bangkok Worth Booking For First Time Thai Foodies!
Khanom Bueang, imagine a thin crepe with sweet filling, basically a Thai dessert taco
Are you a massive foodie like me? First time traveling in Bangkok, Thailand? Or just looking for some new and amazing eating experiences? Looking for the best food tours in Bangkok to try some delicious and authentic local Thai street food!? No worries, I got you covered.
From the long standing generational recipes served on the streets of Bangkok’s Chinatown, to modern innovations and trendy cuisines at some of Bangkok’s best Street Food Night Markets. Let me introduce you to 3 of the most amazingly fun and exciting food tours in Bangkok, guaranteed satisfaction by a professional foodie (me)! I’ve been on these tours myself, some of which I even went on with my friends who visited from abroad, so I can assure you that these tours are ones that I wholeheartedly recommend.
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Why Take a Food Tour in Bangkok?
Kuay Tiew (noodle soups) are the most common types of dishes in Thailand
For me, the main reason as for why you should join some of the food tours in Bangkok is because this city is home to literally thousands of street food stalls and vendors, many of which are hidden away and very difficult to find unless you have a local to guide you. And that’s one of the main benefits, having local guide bringing you around.
On my last trip to exploring the street food of Yaowarat, Chinatown, I went on a food tour and our guide brought us to a family-run Pad Thai stall tucked in a very small unassuming alley, It was honestly some of the best Pad Thai, not touristy, and it’s a stall where the only people eat were locals. And our guide was lovely too, very friendly, fun, and helpful in explaining all the intricacies of Thai street food.
A lot of these food tours in Bangkok even include stops at places that aren’t on Google Maps, especially early morning wet markets, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost in Bangkok’s concrete labyrinth.
What to Look for in a Food Tour in Bangkok?
Yaowarat Chinatown in Bangkok is THE most famous place for street food in Thailand
Regarding pricing and timing of these Bangkok food tours, I really think it depends on what works best for you. Some of the best food yours in Bangkok range form quick 2 hour tasting excursions to full on evening and night experiences, such as the ones mainly focusing on the Chinatown areas.
What Thai Street Foods are on Offer?
Tod Mun Pla, juicy fried fish curryy patties, a classic Thai street food snack
I wholeheartedly think that the best food tours in Bangkok should offer chances to taste some of Thailand’s lesser known foods, or at least lesser known to the rest of the world.
So in addition to the basic Pad Thai or Green Curry, how about some real local Thai foods like Pad Krapao, Boat Noodles, Khao Gaeng Rice and Curry, Larb, Hat Yai fried chicken. You know something that locals actually eat and not what foreigners who never been to Thailand think that locals eat.
If you’re new to Thai street food, check out my complete guide to Thai street food it covers all the must-try Thai street food dishes, and it can also help with knowing what to expect from these my recommended food tours below!
I’ve ensured that the food tours in Bangkok I’m recommending below are ones that bring you to sample a wide array of local Thai dishes. Try to avoid ones that only bring you to try popular restaurants or famous dishes, these are often very touristy in nature and do not capture the true identity of the Bangkok street food scene.
Best Neighborhoods for Food Tours in Bangkok?
Location also plays an important role in what kind of Thai street food you’ll come across in Bangkok. It’s a massive city with many districts and neighborhoods, heck even small alleyways can have a completely different set of cuilinary delights on offer. When in comes to centralized locations for foodies however, There are 2 districts which stand out:
Chareonkrung (Old Town) - The old town of Bangkok, this is where you can find some of the most local “everyday” authentic Thai foods in Bangkok and for quite cheap as well, staple Thai dishes like khao gaeng (rice and curry) are foods that an office worker would eat on a daily basis for example.
Yaowarat (Chinatown) - The largest Chinatown in the world and the epicenter for Thai/Chinese street food in Bangkok. Here you can find lots of dishes influenced by Chinese immigrants like stir fried noodles, fish maw soup, roasted meats, and dishes that have stood the test of time through many generations.
To expand on these locations, the best food tours in Bangkok will bring you away from the main street and into the many small alleyways (or “Soi” as we call them in Thai) to sample street food from stalls and carts that are off the beaten path, I’m sure you’ve all heard that these tiny alleys often hide the best food known to man.
Though these places are still undoubtedly “touristy” it’s less so compared to the Sukhumvit area (the district with all the shopping malls, etc…) where there is a lot more “westernized” Thai foods for high prices that appeal more to foreigners rather than locals. Bangkok food tours that stick to Charoenkrung or Yaowarat tend to offer a much more authentic local eating experience. So before booking your Bangkok street food tour, make sure to check the itinerary and see if they include one of the two neighborhoods I’ve mentioned above.
If you’re planning your trip to Bangkok and need a detailed guide, check out my ultimate 5 Day Bangkok Itinerary for the best things to do, eat, and explore in the city.
Alright, now let’s get into my top picks for the best food tours in Bangkok for authentic local Thai street food!
Bangkok Backstreets Food Tour 15 plus Tastings Included
The world’s most famous Michelin Guide Chinese Donut (Patongo) stall
The Bangkok Backstreet Food Tour takes you to Yaowarat, also known as the worlds largest Chinatown! This is a half day tour taking roughly about 4 hours and the thing I like the most about this food tour is that you get to sample a wide variety of Thai/Chinese dishes.
Normally when you think Thai food you think of Pad Thai or Green Curry, but you don’t think about the Chinese influence on Thai cuisine. Things like chive/shrimp dumplings, chicken satay, Kway Chap rolled noodles, Cantonese egg noodles, Chinese fried donuts, and so so much more.
I also want to point out that this food tour in Bangkok isn’t just about eating (although that is the best part) it’s also about learning the cultural influences of Chinese immigrants in Thailand, and you can thank the lovely English speaking guide for that.
I got to explore many different back alleys and “hidden street food gems” that even me, a local, would have never found out about. And what’s great about this Bangkok food tour is that the guide (shoutout to P’ Ninnie) was so accommodating and very knowledgeable about the history, chefs, and background of the area we were touring.
Bangkok Backstreet Food Tour Price and Value
The Bangkok Backstreet Food Tour comes in at $59 USD per person which I think is quite the steal because you’re gonna be eating a lot of delicious foods
Old Siam Bangkok Food Tour: 15+ Tastings Included
Within the Nang Loeng Market lies some of Bangkok’s most delicious eats
In contrast to the Chinatown Tour above, this one brings you to the old part of Bangkok where you get to cruise through the old canals of Bangkok on a local Khlong boat. Not only that but you get to ride a Tuk Tuk as well, that’s always fun.
This Bangkok food tour is a daytime tour taking roughly 4 hours, starting from around 9-10AM (you book the time). This tour will bring you to 2 different markets in Bangkok, the Bo Bay Market and Nang Loeng Market, in addition to restaurants and street food vendors.
But of course, the best part about this tour is that you’ll get to taste a lot of real authentic local foods. Some 20 different snacks and dishes, from simple things like fried bananas to Miang Kham, an incredibly unique Thai snack packed with all sorts of spices and nuts wrapped in leaves.
That’s what I love most about this Old Siam Bangkok Food Tour. It’s a rare chance get to actually feel like a local rather than a tourist. Seeing how the locals live, seeing the heritage, the lifestyle that once was back some decades ago. A lot of these vendors and restaurants in Nang Loeng Market has been there since the early 1900s.
Old Siam Bangkok Food Tour Price and Value
Same as the Bangkok Backstreet Food Tour above, the Old Siam Bangkok Food Tour comes in at $59 USD per person which again, I think is great value for the amount of food you’ll be eating. Not to mention the fun Tuk Tuk and river boat rides.
Bangkok Michelin Food Tour with Hotel Pick-up and Dinner
What could be better than mango sticky rice? nothing.
Everyone knows Bangkok is a city full of great food, and some restaurants are so great that they even earned themselves a Michelin Guide recommendation (or even a star)!
This Bangkok Food Tour is one of my favorites because of the sheer variety of activities and foods that you’ll be doing and eating.
In terms of tasting some of Bangkok’s most famous street foods, you’ll visit spots like Kor Panich Mango Sticky Rice to try their famous Mango Sticky Rice that’s been served since 1932, and enjoy a meal served to the Thai Royal family at Krua Apsorn.
You’ll also have the chance to stop by at various landmarks throughout the old Rattanakosin district, such as the Grand Palace or Wat Pho. Though honestly, most of the time you just drive past them but still cool to see these landmarks nonetheless.
Bangkok Michelin Food Tour Price and Value
Rather unsurprisingly, since this is a Michelin food tour, the price is going to be higher coming in at $83.03 USD per person. Though more expensive compared to the other 2 Bangkok food tours I’ve mentioned I still think this is a pretty good value due to the variety of activities you’ll get to do.
Also Michelin awarded street foods, enough said.
Bonus: Tingly Thai Cooking Class with Morning Market Tour
Joining a Thai cooking class is something you must do once in your life :)
Here’s a bonus activity for ya! If you want to get right in to the nitty gritty of Thai cuisine then the only way to do it is to cook some delicious Thai dishes yourself, it’s not really a Bangkok Food Tour, more like an activity, but it’s still fun!
Tingly Thai is one of the more popular cooking classes in Bangkok, you start off by sourcing fresh ingredients yourself at the local market, along the way you’ll get to learn about Thai cuisine as well as the ingredients involved in the cooking. Later on you’ll go back to the kitchen to turn those ingredients into magic.
The Menu can change from time to time but when I went a while ago, the dishes we made were Shrimp Tom Yum, Shrimp Pad Thai, and Mango Sticky Rice
I love cooking classes, not only do you get to learn new kitchen skills but the whole experience is like a souvenir, because you get to bring that knowledge back home so that you can show off your amazing Thai cooking skills to your friends and family!
Tingly Thai Cooking Class Price and Value
Tingly Thai’s Cooking Class is only $36.23 USD per person. And I think that is great value! It’s a fun experience and compared to your regular Bangkok food tours, this activity is more hands on and… well in my opinion fun. Not only that you’ll get an opportunity to shop at the local wet market, something that not a lot of tourists get to see in action.
Tips for Choosing the Right Food Tour in Bangkok
Roti is a flatbread that’s often a eaten as sweet dessert or snack in Thailand
So, we’ve talked bout the best food tours in Bangkok but there are so many options out there that picking the right one for you can feel a bit overwhelming. So here are some tips that will hopefully help you choose the one that’s actually worth your time (and appetite).
Day vs Night Food Tours in Bangkok
This family owned noodle shop in old town only opens during the day
Day or night tours? What’s the difference? These 2 periods of the day offer vastly different experiences, for me, the best food tours in Bangkok take place during the night, especially in areas like Yaowarat or at street food markets. During the night, the atmosphere is louder, more flashy with the neon lights more chaotic, and this vibe lends itself to you feeling more adventurous (and not to mention hungry)
Night time food tours in Bangkok is all about bombarding your senses with chaos and flavors. Goong Ob Woon Sen (glass noodles with shrimp), Hoi Tod (crispy oyster omelettes), and Rad Na Poo Khao Fai (volcano gravy noodles) are some of my favorite things to eat during the night at Yaowarat.
Daytime food tours in Bangkok usually focus on exploring the local lunch spots, wet markets, and old school eateries. The atmosphere is chill and you’ll find more mild (yet still very delicious) everyday favorite dishes like Khao Man Gai (Thai style chicken rice), Pad Krapow (holy basil stir fry), and traditional Thai desserts like Khanom Chan (layered tapioca jelly) or Khanom krok (coconut griddle cakes) from fresh market stalls. These tours tend to be more chill, great for exploring neighborhoods and seeing daily life unfold.
So if you're booking through platforms like Viator or Klook, make sure to check the time of day and the food stops included, both types of tours are totally different in terms of vibe, but equally delicious in terms of flavor
Group Sizes (and Private Groups) of Food Tours in Bangkok
There are a lot of people eating Bangkok street foods, so it’s best if you move around quickly
All of the above food tours in Bangkok that I mentioned are done in small group sizes, usually a maximum of 8 people. Some of you might think this is too small but I think it’s perfect as it’s more manageable for the local tour guides and everyone gets to try a bit of everything.
A small tour group also lets you move between the dozens of Bangkok street food vendors quickly and without too much hassle, no waiting around for a big group to catch up. That’s a huge bonus when you’re navigating busy food markets or weaving through narrow alleyways. The guides do a great job of prepping vendors ahead of time too, so most of the food is ready as soon as you arrive.
If you're looking for something even more flexible and private, there are also private food tours in Bangkok you can book like this Private Bangkok Food Tour by Tuk-tuk. These are perfect if you're traveling with family, want a one on one experience with a local guide, or have specific dietary preferences. Though those might be a bit more expensive compared to a regular tour.
Dietary Restrictions and Accessibility of Food Tours in Bangkok
Seafoods like squid, shrimp, and crab, are also very popular in Thai street food
Of course I need to address issues about dietary restrictions, in these Bangkok food tours, you’ll be sampling a wide range of authentic Thai street food, and that often means limited flexibility with ingredients. This applies to pretty much all the best food tours in Bangkok I’ve mentioned, especially those that focus on local street vendors, where dishes are prepared in traditional ways and substitutions aren’t usually possible.
Most Bangkok street food tours do NOT accommodate the following dietary needs:
Vegetarians or vegans
Pescatarians or no pork diets
Gluten free
Dairy free
Peanut allergies or any other severe food allergies
If you have any of these dietary restrictions or allergies and you go on these Bangkok food tours, you might miss out on a lot of tastings… That said, every tour operator is different, a lot of tour guides are happy to accommodate if you let them know in advance. I highly recommend checking the tour description carefully and contacting the Bangkok food tour company directly before booking, just to be sure.
A thing to note about pork since it’s specifically mentioned, Thailand is a culture that primarily eats pork compared to beef, so that’s why a lot of vendors mainly use either pork or chicken for their recipes in their dishes, but don’t worry as beef options along with other proteins are also widely available, again just let the tour guides know in advance so they can prepare.
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