Someone once said to me “don’t worry, we’re in Thailand – of course there will be food!” and how true they were!

Food plays such a huge part in Thai culture, it’s more than just a meal, it’s a time for friends and families to cook, eat and spend time together.

It provides a livelihood for so many:

Village famers

Cooks

Street food vendors

The lady on the foothpath selling bags of limes and chillies!

Street food can be found anywhere at any time on food carts, motorbike BBQ’s, smoothie stands, tropical fruit carts, ice cream bicycles, foot path restaurants… the list goes on!

All the food I’ve eaten from these places has been 100% safe to eat and more delicious than the hotel restaurant! (Sorry to my Doctor back home in Geelong!)

While having so many options may seem overwhelming, a lot of stall holders are able to tell you the English name of what they’re selling. If not, point, smile and enjoy what you’re served – it’s more than likely going to be delicious!

These are my top 5 street meals:

BBQ fish

Salt crusted fresh whole fish (similar to snapper) stuffed with herbs and BBQ’d to perfection!

These fish come with noodles, lettuce and a hot pungent sauce (think lime, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic).

Take a lettuce leaf in your hand to form a cup, fill with fish, noodles and sauce then roll – it can get messy.

Expect to pay up to $10 for 1 fish with all the accompaniments (pricey for street food, but worth it).

**Don’t be put off by the look of these fish, they are my absolute favourite! Please don’t be afraid to try it!!

Pork leg on rice

Pork is king in Thailand, and this simple dish is an absolute winner.

The pork has been slowly braised in a delicious broth (soy, garlic and herbs) until juicy and tender then is served on rice with fresh herbs.

A large pile of the stewed pork can be seen at the front of the shop to help you know you’ve found the right place – it’s a great reason to stop and have a quick plate!

This costs between $2 and $4 depending if your dish comes with boiled egg or not.

Mango Sticky Rice

Street dessert! Mango’s are abundant here and enjoyed in salads, smoothies or the classic “mango sticky rice”.

Rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk is matched with fresh mango, a creamy coconut/pandan sauce and crunchy mung beans (don’t be put off by the name, they’re just like crushed peanuts!).

This simple dessert is creamy, sweet and fresh and is a reason itself for coming to Thailand!

Chicken/pork skewers

After a quick snack? BBQ skewers can be easily found in stalls or on the back of a motorbike BBQ.

Sticky grilled pork or chicken with a soy based glaze are a delicious snack for $0.50C to $1 each.

Chicken noodle soup

Similar to “pho”, this delicious soup is a staple in a Thai and expat diet!

For $2, you get a bowl of noodles, tender chicken and broth made with daikon (Asian white radish) bought to your table. Also available with duck! Yum!

At the table, you can customise your bowl with a choice of fresh ingredients:

Thai basil

Bean shoots

Boiled eggs

Lotus root

Cabbage

Snake beans (Similar to green beans)

Then add your seasonings:

Fish sauce

Sugar

Peanuts

Chilli (in 3 different varieties: dry flakes, wet flakes and chilli vinegar)

If you’re not sure what to add, just watch a local!

This lunch follows the rule of thai cooking by including something sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce) and hot (chilli).

It’s fresh, flavoursome and a steal at $2 per bowl.

Once you’ve enjoyed your street meal, leave your empty plate and cutlery (spoon and fork) on the table and let the cook know you enjoyed it by saying“aroy mak!” (arr-roy muck)– it gets a smile every time.