The cost of street food in Thailand is very inexpensive and a great way to try different dishes
Street food is often associated with Thailand and for very good reason. From the world-famous Pad Thai and Tom Yun to the amazing desserts of mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream.
If you are planning on a visit you may be wondering, therefore, how much is Street food in Bangkok?
On average the cost of street food in Bangkok for an average meal is around 30 – 100 Thai baht ($1-3) with the cost of desserts and drinks being slightly cheaper at around 30 – 60 baht ($1-2).
In this article, I will give you a breakdown of the cost of street food in Bangkok, some popular street foods and the best markets to visit when you are there.
Bangkok street food prices
Frequenting Thai street food markets when visiting Thailand is the most cost-effective way to eat, especially if you are on a budget. I was there in November 2018 for a month and I think I ate in a restaurant maybe twice.
The average cost for a main meal, dessert, and drink:
- The average cost of Thai Street food (main meal) = 30- 100 baht ($1-3)
- The average cost of dessert = at
- Average cost of juices/smoothies = 15 – 30 baht ($.50 – 1)
The average cost for street food and drink over 1-4 weeks (lunch and dinner):
- 1 week = 1540 baht ($50)
- 2 week = 3080 baht ($100)
- 3 weeks = 4620 baht ($150)
- 4 weeks = 6160 baht ($200)
And for this amount of money, you can dine like an absolute king or queen.
7 popular Thai street foods
There is an absolutely massive array of different dishes to sample when you are in Thailand. In fact, it can be pretty overwhelming, especially if it is your first time.
So in that vein, I have decided to keep it simple and introduce you to a few of the famous and favorite dishes the Thai street food scene has to offer.
Pad Thai
Wok-fried noodles with egg, prawn, chicken, or beef. This is a very tasty dish and easy to make. Popular throughout Thailand
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Spicy papaya salad
Strips of green papaya are crunched in a mortar and pestle with a range of ingredients that include sugar, fish sauce, lime, and chilies. This creates a sweet, sour, salty, and hot flavor, associated with many Thai dishes.
Thai omelette
The Thai omelette is pretty similar to the traditional omelette you are probably familiar with, but with a Thai twist. Spicy, salty, and packed with seafood such as prawns and squid (optional)
Pad see ew
This dish, which is similar to pad Thai consists of different rice noodles that are stir-fried in dark soy sauce with a range of meats such as chicken, pork, or beef, in addition to Chinese broccoli or cabbage.
Mango sticky rice
A very popular street food dessert in Thailand. Freshly ripened mango, and sticky rice, which is slightly salted with sweetened coconut milk. You can also add coconut ice cream to it for extra indulgence.
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Coconut ice cream
This dessert is a great non-dairy option, made simply from coconut milk, sugar, and salt and churned. It is then served in coconut halves with toppings such as peanuts and chocolate sauce.
Roti pancakes
Thai roti or pancake is similar to a crepe or Indian bread roti. The trick is to get the bread as thin as possible, which is then fried and served with banana, chocolate sauce, or condensed coconut milk
Popular Bangkok street food markets
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Khao San Road
- Chinatown
- Lumpini Park
- Sukhumvit Soi 38
- Soi Rambuttri
- Asiatique the Riverfront
Night street food markets in Bangkok
- Patpong Night Market
- JJ Green Night Market
- Rot Fai Market
- Yaowarat Road
- Neon Market
So there you have it, a guide to the cost of street food in Bangkok, Thailand. If you have a favorite Thai dish or know of a great street food market that you want to add, drop a comment below and I’ll update the article.
Author
Gavin D is the founder of Street Food Central and Tru Foo Juice Bar Co. and has worked in the mobile catering industry for over 7 years.