Eat for Fun in Bangkok’s Chinatown
When
most of us think of street food, we think of an old bag of chips and dream of carnival zeppole and boardwalk sausages and peppers. But in a distant yet accessible land, glorious gastronomic creations are being mixed up 24/7. Not enough people know: Bangkok’s Chinatown is the world’s vortex of scrumptious street food. Amidst the colors of Chinese lanterns,
electric signs, brilliant silks, gleaming gold shops, and fresh fruits and juices, long aromas flow from countless bowls of beef noodle soup, corn and bean cakes, crispy chili fried fish, sweet tofu—nearly all of Mother Nature’s flavors. Lost strolling Yaowarat Street and the adjacent alleys, one can assume that BKK Chinatown sports the hallmark of a new golden age. Everything is in incredible abundance, is family-run for generations, and nothing goes to waste.
What’s
hot. Thais have an expression
that means ‘eat for fun’ with good purpose: their food is superbly savory, served keenly fast, and is thoroughly satisfying yet light enough to consume, yes, all day long. And the proof is their lean figures despite an overall lack of serious exercise. (Serious is a bad word in Thailand, anyhow.) When you go, try the famous crispy pork noodle soup; it’s simply grand. The noodles are hand-rolled, long and flat, and set swimming in a bright broth with crispy pork chunks. With some luck you’ll come across mini sausage-stuffed squid nearby, one of God’s perfect combo textures. There are also candy fried bean and corn chunks along the main drag that will renew lost faith in human creation.