Bangkok's hawker stalls

Cheap, delicious, and inescapable
Noteworthy for: Wherever you go in Bangkok, there will be food stalls on the streets and in markets to satiate your hunger.

Popular plate: Quick and delicious, you just can't go wrong with a Khao San Road pad Thai. Opt for a vegetarian option if you have hygiene concerns.
Food stalls can be somewhat intimidating for recent arrivers to the city but don't be shy: eating here is cheap and tasty and offers valuable insights into Thai culture and cuisine.

Many stalls specialise in noodle dishes—there's a wide array, from chicken pad Thai to 'moo daeng' (barbecued pork). To make things more confusing, noodles can be wide, thin, wiry, or transparent and made of rice, soybean, or wheat flours. The best way to see which you prefer is by sampling them, so get stuck in.

If you're looking for non-noodle dishes, try 'kaao pad' (fried rice), 'pad kaprao' (stir-fried meat with basil), 'kai jiaow' (omelette) filled with crab or oysters, and 'moo kratium prik Thai' (stir-fried pork in garlic and pepper).