Have Food Will Travel: Bangkok, Thailand

We were very fortunate to have traveled to Southeast Asia last December. We like "slow travel," so we spent five weeks in Bangkok alone, living like locals, exploring and soaking up the atmosphere and local culture (especially in the food department!) We ate only Asian foods. No burgers, steak, Kentucky Fried Chicken or pizza (not that we didn't crave for them).

The array of food Bangkok offers is amazing! No matter where you stay,  you are sure to be greeted with the intoxicating aroma of food as soon as you step outside. Street food vendors are everywhere! Across the street from our Airbnb and hotel, next to the subway station, along the way to Chatuchak weekend market. Real estate on the sidewalks is precious as everyone is hawking some kind of goods and/or goodies. 

The first thing we did after we checking into our Airbnb was shop for groceries. Tops Market was recommended as it was located in a shopping mall closest to us. While in the mall, we discovered a restaurant serving Northern Thai cuisine. Good thing we ate there before food shopping, otherwise we would have bought too much to carry home. Everything was fabulous! Thus began our love affair with Bangkok's food.

Som Tam, the popular papaya salad

Mango with sticky rice and coconut milk

Rice noodle soup with fishballs

Pad See Ew (wide rice noodle with chicken)

People from all over the world come to Bangkok to shop. We came for the food. We ate street food, at the food courts in countless malls, at restaurants, and mom and pop shops in our Airbnb/hotel neighborhoods. Chinatown was interesting too, if you can handle the congestion.

Vendor selling shellfish at Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Oyster omelet at Tang Jai Yoo in Chinatown

Vendor selling chive cakes at the Lumphini subway station

Tom Yum shrimp

excellent Tom Yum Fried Rice at Mixt Mall, near Chatuchak Market

Durian, king of tropical fruits at ICON Siam Mall

Mango Sticky Rice Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) at After You Dessert Cafe

Our last week in Bangkok was in late January/early February. It was the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic; we didn't dare to venture into crowded places even though the crowd had thinned out considerably since the Christmas holiday. We hung out at the upscale Central Embassy Mall and ate at the classy food court Eathai almost every day that week. It was close to our hotel, and we knew it was rather quiet compared to other shopping malls. The Pad Thai noodle was some of the best we've had (read more at Postcard from Bangkok). We were happy to find our favorite Taiwanese dumpling restaurant Ding Tai Fung on the 5th floor; it's always good no matter which location you go. With the Coronavirus scare, there was no line or wait! Below are some of their popular offerings.

Xiao Long Bao, steamed dumplings, the star of Ding Tai Fung

Shrimp Fried Rice, another signature dish

Five Spiced Beef Noodle soup

Bento box at Fuji, the ubiquitous Japanese chain

Our last meal was at the Bangkok International Airport. The durian with sticky rice dessert was memorable. Yum!

Durian with sticky rice

As I write this post, fall is upon us. There's talk about a resurgence of Covid-19. Many of us will likely stay home, even for the holidays. It's sad. But we can travel vicariously through Bangkok resident Mark Wien who recently wrote the ultimate Bangkok travel guide for food lovers. He also has a YouTube channel, showing audience where to eat in Bangkok, and around the world. 

Meantime, we wait patiently for a vaccine so we can all travel safely again. Eat well, be well and stay positive!

This post is shared on My Corner of the World.

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