I’ve been going to Bangkok on a regular basis ever since I came to Calcutta all those years ago, and it was only on a recent visit when I was chowing down some delicious pig’s stomach soup in Chinatown (I’ll save you the details of that one) that I realised that I’ve never sat down to tap out this world filled with heavenly flavours and fragrance, many times mouth-numbing and sinus-clearing plates, cups and sticks full of deliciousness.

Now I know it’s not easy being in Bangkok if you have a list of special dietary needs (no non-veg/ fishy things /pork etc) so I have tried to include something for everyone. Bangkok’s Chinatown is probably my favourite part of the city and has to be one of the greatest Chinatowns in the world outside of Hong Kong. So much great food anywhere and for someone looking for a bit of a food adventure, this has got to be the place to be. Leaving Sukhumvit aside, which has anyway become a shadow of its former foodie self before midnight. The markets are the place to indulge, day time or night time and dining in your uber sterile hotel really isn’t going to give you anywhere near that taste of Thailand that you’re really heading to Bangkok for!

In my Top 10, I’ve tried to stay away from what everyone will tell you to look out for — Som Tam Salad, Phad Thai, curries and soups aplenty! I’ve tried to step off the beaten path and hope to give a broader look at what is really on offer to every taste but it ain’t all that easy in just 10 alone! The prices I’m giving are all starting prices.

Sausages aplenty

You’ll need to work out how adventurous you really are. Starting with the smooth slit pork sausage grilling pretty much anywhere in Bangkok, dipped in sweet sticky chilli sauce, all the way through to the skinny Chinese sausages in Chinatown, really thick skewered pork sausages and one of my favourites made with rice and minced pork that you’ll find in all the market areas.
Tbt 10 / Rs 20 onwards

Sweet things

Thailand quite famously has some of the most delicious freshly-cut fruits in the world. Although Indian mangoes certainly win hands down, pretty much nothing else will. Look for the grilling bananas served with sweet sauces and maybe a side of sweet sticky rice. Or if you find someone close by churning fresh coconut ice cream, then you know you’re on to a winner. You’ll even find cake sandwiches and cupcakes in the 40 degrees of heat and 85 per cent humidity, but this is Bangkok and anything’s possible!
Tbt 10 / Rs 20 onwards

Rice noodle rolls

If you ask, a lot of these will be vegetarian, filled with things like spring onion, pumpkin and are a simple cheap and delicious snack while sweating it out in Chatuchak Market. You’ll also find my favourite — shrimp rice rolls — and invariably you’ll have a variety of sauces to choose from.
Tbt 10 / Rs 20 onwards

Brothwallah

You’ll obviously find broths all over Bangkok, all the way from the local Tom Yum and Tom Kah packed with all those Thai fragrances of kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and galangal, sometimes with coconut milk. Give me the Goong (Prawn) any day of the week, down to all those delicious Chinese bowls of noodles in simple broth topped with slithers of meat, fish balls, sometimes offal and bean sprouts, dried shrimp, spring onion, coriander and a squeeze of lime and everyone’s a winner.
Tbt 20 / Rs 40

Slow roast pork and duck

I don’t think I’ve ever been shy at discussing my love of all things pig and duck and for any fatty crispy skin lover, you can never go wrong when you see these crisped crackling skinned back sections cooked so perfectly with just the right balance of meat and slow-cooked fattiness that will be hacked up in front of you with an option of chilli sauce or chilli soy vinegar on the side.
Tbt 30 / Rs 60

Grilled fish

You’ll see fish grilling whole on just about every street in Bangkok in a variety of shapes and sizes from baby carp and tilapia, all the way through to mackerel and 1.5kg local sea bass. These are usually just coated in course rock salt and grilled. Sometimes, you’ll find them stuffed inside pandan leaf or skewered on lemongrass. The salting keeps the flesh buttery moist. One of my favourites is a skewer of mackerel while walking through Patpong and a bottle of Singha in the other late night.
Tbt 40 / Rs 80 onwards

Sushi

I think sushi in India is somehow shrouded with all manner of pomp and circumstantial exclusivity, so it’s always great seeing it being made fresh in front of your eyes, on the street side to put you back in your place and for as little as
Tbt 10 / Rs 20 per piece and no more than
Tbt 20/ Rs 40 for a delicious morsel of beautifully steamed sushi rice with all your favourite toppings and fillings and a side of wasabi and Kikkoman Soy Sauce.

Steamed buns

Chinatown, oh, Chinatown! I remember when I first started working in Manchester, the first chance I had I’d head into Chinatown for a steamed bun or two, filled with savoury or those delicious sweet egg fillings. There are even vegetarian options of taro, raisin and the simple steamed bread bun (Mantou being the correct spelling) and two of these will make pretty much a filling meal for anyone.
Tbt 5 / Rs 10 onwards

Crispy fried everything

The whole of Asia, in fact why just Asia, the whole world just loves crispy fried everything, abounding! As do all of us Bengalis. Bangkok offers something for everyone — from a selection of spring rolls filled with things like mushrooms and glass noodles, taro, sweet potato and other such as corn cakes, stuffed tofu, dim sum. The Thai crispy fried chicken will send Colonel Sanders’ original recipe flying out of the window! It’s a must-have either whole leg, thigh or just generally.
Tbt 10 / Rs 20 onwards

Japanese balls

Takoyaki as they’re known in Japan. They are made pretty much the same way as south Indian rice balls, Kuzhi Paniyaram. Great to stop and watch them quickly and skillfully being made with just a couple of chopsticks quickly moving each of them around. Usually filled with things like octopus, ham and prawns fresh off the skittle, topped with Tonkatsu sauce and the famous Kewpie Mayonnaise and if you’re lucky a sprinkle of bonito (type of fish) flakes and sold by the half dozen.
Tbt 30 / Rs 60

And finally for the curious

Not for everyone but this enormous spiky fruit durian from the same jackfruit family has — what can I say?! — a whiff that’s a bit like smelly socks or strong cheese and that smell really travels but if you can get past that then the taste is almost like fruit custard.

You’ll also see ladies selling paan but they’re not filled with masala. You’ll find diced lemongrass, coconut, beetle nut, kaffir lime and dried shrimp! It’s worth a try and that brings to mind those late night crispy insect sellers! I’ve had most leaving aside the giant cockroaches and scorpions (even I need to draw the line somewhere) but in all honesty, once you’ve gotten over the insect hurdle, most of them are just like any crispy fried savoury snack!

Have a Bangkok street food recommendation? Tell t2@abp.in