Varied and bursting with color, Thai cuisine is renowned as one of the world's best. And there's no need to visit fancy restaurants to enjoy great food! Street food is a true institution in the Land of Smiles—particularly in Bangkok where it's a way of life—so you can savor delicious traditional dishes at ultra-affordable prices from the countless street food vendors. Discover 8 street food specialties to absolutely taste during your trip to Thailand.

1. Skewers

Grilling enthusiasts shouldn't miss the skewers you'll find at every street corner in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. Most skewers are made with chicken satay placed on a bamboo stick and grilled over fire. They're typically served with a delicious peanut and spice sauce and accompanied by vegetables and rice. You'll also find plenty of pork or even fish skewers.

2. Som Tum, Green Papaya Salad

Called Som Tum, green papaya salad is an iconic dish of Thailand. Originating from the north of the country in the Isaan region, this refreshing salad is primarily made of grated green papaya, chilies, tomatoes, lime juice, fish sauce, and peanuts. Depending on the region, you'll find some variations with Som Tum recipes that include shrimp or fermented crab. Loved by both locals and tourists alike, Thai papaya salad offers a real fireworks display for your taste buds. And that's putting it mildly given the spices it contains. So if you can only tolerate mild spice, remember to say "Mai Phet" when ordering, which means "not spicy" in Thai.

3. Kai Tod, Fried Chicken

While fried chicken is a staple of most street food around the world, the Thai version may surprise you with its flavors. Kai Tod consists of coating chicken (wings or drumsticks) in rice flour mixed with spices, chilies, and garlic. Once fried, the chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Kai Tod is enjoyed with chili sauce and served with Thai rice. After tasting Kai Tod, there's a good chance you'll find any other fried chicken bland by comparison…

4. The Famous Pad Thai

No introduction needed… Pad Thai is THE iconic dish of Thailand. This stir-fried rice noodle dish with tamarind, onions, bean sprouts, fish sauce, lime juice, and peanuts has the advantage of being able to satisfy all tastes. It comes with chicken, shrimp, beef, seafood, tofu and/or vegetables for vegetarians… One thing is certain: it's one of the cheapest street food dishes and one of the most flavorful you can taste during your trip to Thailand.

5. Kai Jeow, Thai Omelet

An authentic and traditional dish, Kai Jeow is a Thai omelet made from eggs, fish sauce, chilies, and herbs. Usually served with rice and chili sauce, Kai Jeow can also contain vegetables (in which case it's called Kai Jeow pak) or ground pork (then called Kai Jeow moo sub). While this omelet is particularly popular with locals at breakfast time, you can enjoy it at any time of day in the many street food restaurants throughout the country.

6. Noodle Soup

Among the other street food dishes to absolutely taste, you can discover the must-try noodle soup. Prepared in large pots, noodle soups consist of noodles, broths, and numerous vegetables. You'll find all kinds with meat, fish, or vegetarian versions. Soup lovers can also try tom kha kai, a creamy coconut chicken soup, or tom yam kung, a spicy soup with lemongrass, sweet and sour flavors, and shrimp.

7. Mango Sticky Rice

For those with a sweet tooth, Mango sticky rice is THE Thai dessert to absolutely taste. This sweet treat is enjoyed at the end of a meal or as a snack at any time of day. It's glutinous rice cooked in a Thai bamboo steamer basket that is mixed with coconut cream, sugar, and topped with pieces of yellow mango and sesame seeds. Note that in street food, mango sticky rice is often wrapped in banana leaves folded into small rectangular shapes.

8. Banana Rotees

We end our culinary adventure with banana rotees. These are thin crepes that are both crispy and fluffy, filled with banana slices and condensed milk. You'll also find them in other flavors, with chocolate or other fruits like mango. A treat not to be missed under any circumstances!

Learn more about Thai cuisine.