A Guide to Pattaya’s Best Street Food – a true account of the reality
When in Pattaya, eating street food isn’t just a meal—it’s an adventure. From the bustling night markets to roadside stalls, Pattaya’s street food is packed with flavours, colours, and a little bit of mystery. Here’s a guide to help you dive into the best bites, with a few tips for making the most of your street food experience.
The Must-Try Street Foods
- Grilled Seafood Skewers
Picture this: fresh prawns, squid, and fish skewered, marinated, and char-grilled to perfection. You’ll find seafood stalls along the beach and at night markets, each with a tempting smoky aroma. These skewers are perfect for grabbing on the go, and prices are friendly, starting at around 50-100 baht. Try it with a bit of chilli sauce for an extra kick! It’s like almost free at these prices punters. - Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)
A Thai classic, som tum is a fresh, zesty salad made from shredded green papaya, tomatoes, lime, peanuts, and chili. Every vendor makes it a little differently, so you might taste different levels of spice and sweetness depending on where you go. The vendors will often ask if you like it spicy, so make sure to specify your heat tolerance! It’s not my cup of tea but the expats love it. - Moo Ping (Grilled Pork Skewers)
Simple but delicious, these juicy pork skewers are a must-try. Marinated in a mix of garlic, coriander, and soy sauce, then grilled until caramelised, moo ping is a breakfast favourite but available all day. They’re perfect for munching while wandering the markets or beach side streets. - Kanom Buang (Thai Crispy Pancakes)
These little crispy pancakes are a delight! Made with a thin layer of coconut meringue, they’re filled with either sweet toppings like golden threads (foi thong) or savoury shrimp paste. These treats are both fun to watch being made and delicious to eat. A tip is asking for icing sugar…. yummo. - Mango Sticky Rice
You can’t come to Thailand and skip mango sticky rice! This sweet treat combines ripe mango slices with sticky rice topped with creamy coconut sauce and a sprinkle of mung beans. Look for stalls with fresh, juicy-looking mangoes—they’ll be the best for this dessert. It’s everywhere, and better than I thought. - Pad Thai and Pad See Ew
If you’re after noodles, pad Thai and pad see ew are two delicious options. Pad Thai is a sweet and tangy noodle stir-fry with shrimp or tofu, while pad see ew is a savory, soy-sauce-based noodle dish with a smoky flavor. Both are stir-fried to order, so they come fresh and piping hot. Just ask for extras if it’s not to your taste, and ask for the less sauce. I’ll explain further down. - Satay
Satay skewers are perfect for sampling different flavours, from chicken and beef to pork. Served with a side of peanut sauce and sometimes a cucumber relish, these skewers are tasty and satisfying. You’ll find these in nearly every market or beach side area. Again, ask for minimal sauce. - Khanom Krok (Coconut Pancakes)
This dessert is made from coconut milk and rice flour, resulting in little round pancakes that are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Often topped with green onions, corn, or even taro, they’re a fun blend of sweet and savoury. I’d give it a go if I was you. A personal fave for me.
Tips for Westerners
- Follow the Locals: The busiest stalls are usually the best ones. Locals know where to find the freshest, tastiest dishes, so if you see a long line, join it!
- Bring Cash: Most street vendors only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to have some small bills on hand for easy payment. If you turn up with a 1000 baht bill, you’re not in luck. Breaking a larger bill is something to do at the 7-Eleven I found. Oh or McDonald’s or the Chemist, like Boots. Hehe, I didn’t tell ya that.
- Try Something New: Half the fun of street food is discovering new flavours. Be adventurous! Even if you’re not sure what it is, give it a try—you might just discover your new favourite snack. Or throw it.
- Enjoy the Night Markets: Pattaya’s night markets, like the Thepprasit Night Market and Pattaya Floating Market, offer a smorgasbord of street food. Visiting at night means you’ll enjoy cooler weather and a lively, bustling atmosphere. It’s not always busy if you go early though.
Eating Your Way Through Pattaya
Street food is more than a meal in Pattaya—it’s part of the culture. Every skewer, salad, and dessert has its own unique flavour and story. So, grab some napkins, bring your appetite, and get ready to take a dive into the culinary magic of Pattaya’s street stalls. Finally, let’s get to the nitty gritty. If you don’t eat Thai Food all the time, please don’t eat it three times a day to start with. There are dire situations. So please, please, start slow, eat a bit and keep eating mostly western food at the start. Unless you want to make your best friend Kleenex and want to lose 5 kilos in a week, just ease into it. Above all, it’s great food in moderation to start with. I say this with love to my readers.
Editor scottoson and images by pixabay.
Nobody reads this bit anyway. If you do I’m giving away some PattayaStar polo shirts. email the editor with the code words “nobody reads the fine print” to go in the draw.
