Bangkok's Chinatown
Sometimes I dream I'm living in Bangkok's Chinatown, a Chinatown like no other that I've been to. It's enormous, and every night it's packed with people who are mainly there to eat.
If I did live there, I would never cook because, when you are surrounded by hundreds of outdoor food stalls and just as many restaurants, why bother?
Don't miss it. After 6 PM, start at Soi Thanon Phat Sai, which is known for dim sum and tea, for some small bites to whet your appetite.
Don't eat too much because the big attraction is the main drag, Yaowarat Road, a neon-lit street packed with vendors. At night, it's as bright as the midday sun (if the sun were made of neon).
There is every kind of food on offer here, mostly authentic Chinese cuisine. Here are some classics you should try:
Wok hei — crab fried rice with a smoky, wok-charred aroma.
Crispy pork (Moo Krob).
Fresh, spicy Thai-style seafood like grilled squid with chili sauce.
Guay Jub — rolled rice noodles in a peppery broth with offal, a staple of the area.
Toasted buns filled with custard, Thai milk tea, and chocolate.
Chinese donuts (Po Tong Go) served with bright green pandan dipping sauce.
Braised goose or duck in herbal soup.
If you have any space left in your stomach, there's also Charoen Krung Road, where there are traditional, old-town bakeries and cafes.
Okay, some of those outdoor venues look pretty funky to us Westerners. But if you follow a few cautionary rules, you won't get food poisoning.
Wash your hands and use a sanitizing hand wipe before you eat and after using the bathroom.
Buy food and drinks from clean, reliable stands. Look for high-turnover places and avoid buying food that's been sitting around too long. Ideally, you should buy a dish that's right out of the wok. And only eat thoroughly cooked food.
And you're good to go. Wander down Yaowarat Road and enjoy the smells, sounds, cacophony, lights, and tastes. It's a total assault on your senses.
