Posted on Tuesday, 25 June 2019

Thai street food is world famous - with good reason. Whether you're in the mood for sweet or savoury, you'll find a plethora of options on the streets of Thailand. And almost better than the taste is the price: most of these bites cost between 40 and 80 baht (£1 to £2).

Khao Soi

Crispy deep fried noodles sunk in a rich yellow chicken curry sauce with pickles on the side - the thrilling textures and delicious flavours of Khao Soi will have you coming back for more. However, despite its wondrous taste, you're more likely to find it in Chiang Mai than Bangkok.

Som Tam

Stall-made Som Tam is usually the best because the high turnover means the ingredients are very fresh. This papaya salad is a heady blend of peanuts, tomatoes and crunchy green beans - delivering just the right proportion of spicy, sweet, sour and salty. If you're vegetarian, you can request it without 'kung' (shrimp) and ‘nam pla' (fish sauce). If you don't want the fishy taste, ask them to wash out the pestle.

Duck

If you can find it, try Thai-Chinese roasted duck with egg and rice. Another duck dish, less popular among foreigners, is duck feet wrapped in duck intestines. When in Rome...

Mango Sticky Rice

If you're lucky enough to visit Thailand in mango season (April to June), this dessert is a must-try. Made with glutinous rice, fresh mango and coconut milk, it gives you the sugar rush you'll need after a day filled with exploration. Mangoes are available out of season, but be prepared to pay more.

Kuay Teow Reua

Kuay Teow Reua – cheap, tasty and filling - is a classic rice or egg noodle dish, served with a choice of extras: beef, pork, or fish balls. You can find versions of this across Thailand.

Pad Thai

There's no doubt that you'll find this ubiquitous dish in touristy areas - but you'll have to hunt down the versions favoured by locals (which are almost certainly fresher and tastier). A filling blend of egg noodles, egg, spring onions and bean sprouts with a choice of chicken or no-meat.

Khanom Wan Thai

These beautifully-coloured sweeties are a good deal less sugary than most western treats, and are often based on banana or coconut. Head to Bangkok's Chinatown if you want to sample these pleasing wonders.

I-dtim Ma Phrao

Best enjoyed out of a real coconut, this treat is still immensely satisfying out of a paper pot. When the temperature gets too high, it's time to seek out this tremendous sugar-hit: look out for the small ice-cream trollies about town...

Khao Man Gai 

This hearty winner will fuel your adventures effortlessly, with minimal impact on your wallet. Usually served with a spicy green chilli sauce, it's available across the country.

Fish Mousse Parcels

This unusual-tasting street bite combines fish mousse with red curry spices, which is steamed in a banana leaf and finished off with coconut cream and a few flakes of chilli.

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