Itinerary of A Happy Tummy: A Food and Travel Guide of Bangkok (Thailand)

This article is part of the Bangkok Food Trip series. Check out the installments: Bangkok Food and Travel Guide | Chinatown Food Trip | Jodd Fairs Rama 9 Food Trip (Night Market) | Khao Gaeng Jek Pui (Thai Curry Rice) | MICHELIN Street Food Guide | Phed Mark (Pad Krapow or Holy Basil Stir-Fry) | On Lok Yun (Thai-Style Western Breakfast) | Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo) | Raan Jay Fai (MICHELIN-Starred Street Food) | SookSiam Food Trip | theCOMMONS Thonglor (Food Hall) | Wattana Panich (Beef Noodle Soup)

I realized that a majority don’t travel primarily for food like I do. Their itineraries are filled with the usual tourist spots and that’s perfectly fine. While some of them want to experience true local cuisine, they miss out on it due to loaded schedules and lack of planning. They end up with mediocre food or Western food chains (nothing wrong with the latter as I love trying them abroad, but you’ll miss out a lot if that is all you eat).

I want YOU to avoid this trend, save your stomach space from useless calories, and be “food wise” in your travels. After all, this is what my blog is all about. So I started a new series called Itinerary of A Happy Tummy. It’s a collection of travel guides that includes tourist sites to visit and food experiences to try.

So what can you expect from this guide? First, I’ll list down the food experiences that you can include in your itinerary. Second, I’ll list down the areas (with its attractions, museums, and/or shopping spots) that you can visit and add where the nearest recommended food spots are. Third, I’ll come up with a sample itinerary. Lastly, I’ll give you tips to maximize your food-wise travel.

But what can you NOT expect from this guide? I’ll exclude accommodations, transportation, visas (if applicable), and whatever else is not included above. Let’s manage expectations ;)

So this guide is on Bangkok, Thailand. It’s one of the top food destinations in the world, and one of my favorites in Southeast Asia, along with Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Singapore (excluding the Phlippines, of course). Just a word of warning: This is a long article!

Food Experiences to Try

Instead of dishes to try, I’ll list down food experiences instead. You will get to sample different dishes in some experiences anyway (but I will single out dishes that either are worth noting or have made an impression on me). I will also list down the places where to have these experiences. Take note that I’ll include experiences and spots that I have tried and haven’t tried. I’m trusting the local and international food b/vloggers’ recommendations.

Here are the food experiences you can try (click the links for related articles and sites):

Chinatown Food Trip. Located in the Samphanthawang district, Bangkok’s Chinatown is one of the largest in the world. It is home to hip bars, fascinating temples, and, of course, delicious food.

At the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown is Yaowarat Road, which comes alive at night when its sidewalks transforms into a night market. The famous road is lit with colorful signages and lined up with street food. No wonder both locals and tourists flock here to experience the beautiful chaos.

At Bangkok’s Chinatown, you can try crisp Patonggo (deep-fried dough sticks), mouth-watering Khao Gaeng (Thai Curry and Rice), and peppery Guay Jub (rolled rice noodle soup). Find out where to have it (and learn more Chinatown food spots) in this article.

Left to Right: *Khao Gaeng,* *Guay Jub*, and *Patonggo*

Floating Markets. Thailand is well-known for its floating markets. It’s one of the shopping options along with shopping malls and night markets. Of course, you can sample Thai food in these floating markets. While this activity can be touristy, it’s still worth trying even just once. Tatler Asia has listed down floating markets near Bangkok that you can visit (check it here).

Alternatively, if you don’t want to go out of the city, you can visit SookSiam, a “floating market” inside a mall. Check out our SookSiam food trip here.

Local Breakfast. You gotta start the day right with breakfast when you’re on a trip! When you’re in Bangkok, you can try these local breakfast items: Khao Kha Moo (braised pork leg rice), Jok (rice porridge), and Patonggo, among many others.

But you shouldn’t miss trying the Thai-style Western breakfast at On Lok Yon (check my review here)

Mango Sticky Rice. Without a doubt, this is the most popular Thai dessert. It’s a dessert composed of ripe mangoes and glutinous rice, covered with coconut milk.

While Mango Sticky Rice (or Khao Niao Mamuang as it’s locally called) is virtually available everywhere in Thailand, you can try it in the Michelin-recognized Kor Panich.

Michelin-Starred Street Food at Raan Jay Fai. Raan Jay Fai is an eatery helmed by one of Thailand’s culinary legends, Supinya Junsuta a.k.a. Jay Fai (in Thai, “Jay” refers to a sister, while “Fai” means mole). It was awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2018, and is the only street food spot in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The food here is expensive and the queue is long. But if you’re a true foodie, you should not miss this experience.

Check out our Raan Jay Fai experience here. It can be your guide should you want to visit it.

Night, Weekend, and Other Kinds of Markets. This is another shopping option in Bangkok. And where there is shopping, there’s also food! Check out this list curated by Will Fly for Food.

The two most famous ones are Chatuchak Weekend Market and JODD Fairs Rama 9 night market (check out our experience at the latter here).

Pad Krapow (or Kaprao). This is the ultimate comfort food for Thais! This classic Thai dish is composed of a protein (most popular is ground pork) stir-fried with krapow or holy basil and other aromatics, fried egg, and rice.

One of the famous Pad Krapow spots is Phed Mark, which was opened by food vlogger Mark Wiens and his friends. Check out our Phed Mark experience here.

For more Pad Krapow spots, check out this list by The Thaiger.

Pad Thai. This dish needs no further introduction! But if you’re unaware (LOL), Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish that’s available everywhere—on the streets, at markets (floating, night, and weekend), and at restaurants. It’s also the most famous Thai food outside Thailand.

We tried it at Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu, a food spot with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinction (check out our experience here). For other Pad Thai spots, check The Thaiger’s list here.

Street Food and Hole-in-the-Walls. Bangkok is definitely a street food city. It’s full of amazing hole-in-the-wall and vendors that even the MICHELIN Guide took notice (check out the list here). For MICHELIN-rated spots that we tried, check out this article.
Thai Milk Tea. This is the most popular Thai drink, available in most food spots. One chain that serves it Cha Tra Mue.

Cha Tra Mue Milk Tea. They also have vegan options.

Areas to Visit

I’m listing down areas instead of individual activities, attractions, museums, and shopping spots because I want you to maximize your visit at a particular area and help you save time and fare. After all, Bangkok is a huge city so it makes sense to plan your itinerary per area.

However, I will still list down highly-rated and/or personally-recommended activities to do per area or near the area. So pick that areas that you want to visit, the activities you want to do there, and the food experience/s you want to try there as well.

Bangkok Old Town

Located in Rattanakosin Island, the Bangkok Old Town is possibly the home of most tourist sites, such as historical buildings and temples. It’s good if you can find your accommodation here. Here’s what you can do and see here:

Democracy Monument: This monument commemorates the 1932 Siamese coup d’etat that led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

Khaosan (or Khao San) Road: Known for being a haven for backpackers for its cheap accommodations, this road/area is popular for night life. The road is lined up with bars, restaurants, massage places, and retail stalls.
Museum Siam: Housed in a neoclassical building, this is a modern “discovery museum” that showcases Thai culture and history. (Article coming soon!)

The Grand Palace: This compound is home to royal structures and The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It used to be the residence of The Thai Royal Family, and is now used for royal ceremonies and official events.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall at The Grand Palace

Wat Arun: Also known as The Temple of Dawn, this temple is actually located across the Chao Phraya River. But it’s often visited along with The Grand Palace and Wat Pho due to its proximity (it’s just a river barge away). I think it’s better to visit this temple when it’s about get dark because its lighting is just gorgeous.

Wat Pho: Located south of the The Grand Palace, this massive temple complex is home to a large reclining Buddha image. Thus, it is also called The Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

Recommended Food Spots: Kor Panich (Mango Sticky Rice), On Lok Yun (Thai-Style Western Breakfast), Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu, Raan Jay Fai (Michelin-Starred Street Food), Thipsamai (Pad Thai)

Chinatown

As mentioned earlier, Bangkok’s Chinatown (located in the Samphanthawang district) is one of the largest in the world. We stayed here for a few days, as we found it strategic since it’s home to many food spots and is near other districts (including Bangkok Old Town) that we want to visit. Here’s what you can do and see here:

Sampeng Lane Market: This alleyway is home to retail stores and vendors selling cheap products.
Temples like Wat Mangkon Kamalawat and Wat Traimit: Obviously, Bangkok’s Chinatown is home to some temples. One is Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, which is the largest and most important Chinese temple in the city. Another is Wat Traimit or the Temple of the Golden Buddha, which houses a 5.5-ton solid-gold Buddha image.
Yaowarat Road at Night: This is the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, which comes alive at night when its sidewalks transforms into a night market. This famous road is lit with colorful signages and lined up with street food.
Recommend Food Spots: Guay Jub Ouan Pochana (Rolled Rice Noodle Soup), Khao Gaeng Jek Pui (Thai Curry and Rice), Patonggo Savoey (Chinese Dough Fritters), Pa Jin Cockle Yaowaraj (Blood Cockles)

Pathum Wan and Ratchatewi

These adjacent areas are home to many malls where you can do your retail therapy. Most malls are located in the busy Pratunam area. Here’s what you can do and see here:

Budget Shopping at Big C, MBK Center, Platinum Mall, and Pratunam Night Market: Go here if you want to maximize your shopping budget without sacrificing quality. Just beware of fakes, and don’t forget to haggle.

High-End Shopping at centralwOrld, Central Embassy, and Siam Paragon: These malls are where the mid-level to high-end brands are located.

Jim Thompson House Museum: This houses the art collection of Jim Thompson, the American entrepreneur who revitalized the Thai silk industry.

Lumphini Park: This is Bangkok’s first public park. It’s where locals and tourists go to relax and breath fresh air in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.

MICHELIN-Starred Dining: Pathum Wan is home to many MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Check out this list.

Recommended Food Spots: Go Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice, Kuang Heng Pratunam Chicken Rice, Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle, Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo)

Watthana

Being a home to many expats, this district is home to high-end restaurants and shopping malls. It is also where Thonglor or Thong Lo is, which is dubbed as the hippest neighborhood in all of Bangkok. We visited theCommons Thonglor, which is a hip community space with food, lifestyle, and retail concepts (check out our experience here).

Recommended Food Spots: Phed Mark (Pad Krapow or Holy Basil Stir-Fry), theCommons Thonglor, Wattana Panich (Beef Noodle Soup)

Other Activities and Attractions:

Asiatique The Riverfront: This is an open-air mall by the Chao Phraya River. It’s a popular for dining, shopping, and entertainment. There are even amusement park rides such as a Ferris wheel and a merry-go-round.

Chatuchak Weekend Market: This is the world’s largest weekend market, with over fifteen thousand stalls. It is said that over two hundred thousand people visit every weekend. But the cheap prices would make braving the crowd worth it!

Day Tours: You can book day tours that go outside the city. The popular ones go to Ayutthaya (historical site), floating markets, and the Maeklong Railway Market.

ICONSIAM: Located beside the Chao Phraya River, this is one of Bangkok’s newest malls. It is home to dining concepts, retail stores (including luxury brands), and SookSiam (check out our experience here).

JODD FAIRS Rama 9: This is formerly the Train Night Market Ratchada, a.k.a. Talad Rot Fai. Like any night markets, JODD FAIRS has live entertainment, retail stalls, and, of course, food vendors.

King Power Mahanakhon: This is the tallest skyscraper in Bangkok and is famous for its “pixelated” look. They have an observation deck, which gives visitors a 360-degree view of the city. It’s also perfect for sunset viewing.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Before I show you my sample itinerary, here are few things to take note of:

The sample itinerary is for a trip of 4 days and 3 nights. For me, this is the minimum length for a trip to be enjoyable. If your trip is longer, then just fill in the additional days.
I included the areas, attractions, and food experiences that you should visit/do for a first-time visit.
Because we all desire to maximize any trip, I assumed that you’re arriving at Bangkok in the morning and leaving in the evening.
I didn’t consider the operating days and times of the attractions and food spots listed in the itinerary. So please do some research and take note of them (you can check my linked articles if applicable). Adjust as needed. You don’t want to end up with the attraction or food spot closed.
In the end of the day, it’s your time, money, and trip. So feel free to change anything in the itinerary. If you want to splurge for an activity or food experience, go for it. If you want to sleep in or take a nap in the middle of the day, go for it. Enjoy your trip in the way you want to!

TIPS

Finally, let me give you some tips to maximize your explorations and foodventures:

It’s best to start the day at 8AM with a breakfast to further maximize the day. I’m a big believer in breakfast. I have 2 reasons: First, it’s always good to load some energy for the whole day. Some activities can be strenuous, like climbing up hundreds of steps, doing a day hike near the city, or just walking kilometers within the city. Second, there’s always the tendency to skip lunch or have no food for a long period of time if the day gets too busy or an itinerary stop takes longer than expected.
Bangkok is a huge city! Our mistake was that we underestimated how vast the city is. The stops that we thought we’re a few steps away from one another on the map we’re actually kilometers apart. So plan your itinerary and commute well, lest you end up walking kilometers under the Bangkok heat.
I have given you a good amount of resource to plan for your exploration and foodventures. But if you still end up in a place where you’re unsure where to eat, try a trusted technique: Look for a place with a lot of customers or where there is a queue. There’s a high chance that those places serve good food.
Leave some room for spontaneity. Sometimes, the best experiences happen when we least planned it. But don’t leave too much room lest you end up wasting resources.

Did you find this guide helpful? Is there anything I need to add? Comment them below!

For other Itinerary of a Happy Tummy food and travel guides, check these out: Cebu City (Philippines) | Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) | Singapore