Food is undeniably the best part of travel. There is nothing in the U.S. like the amazing street food you can get in Mexico, India, Spain, or Asia. The freshness of the produce and meats and the great flavors from the local spices are amazing. Our main goal upon arriving to a new place is to find the best little hole-in-the wall place that is filled with locals. This usually means the food is great and the prices are better. We ran across just such a place in Bangkok– T&K Seafood.
We spent one our first evenings in Bangkok walking around Chinatown. The markets and stores were shutting down, but the streets were still alive with people, cars, tuk-tuks, and plenty of food stalls were still in full swing. More upscale restaurants were advertising shark fin soup, seafood curry, and crab galore, but we didn’t want to pay a lot, so we stuck to the streets.
We came across a large gathering of locals and tourists sitting at stainless steel tables on plastic stools outside of a jewelry shop. Around the corner we could see huge pots of food boiling, saucepans simmering, and buckets-full of fresh seafood on ice. Bingo!
We grabbed two seats as soon as they became available and took a look at the menu. Crab, seafood curry stews, grilled cockles and muscles, squid soup, fresh oysters, and giant prawns were all very reasonably priced. Our first night we got a stuffed crab cake, crab in yellow curry sauce, grilled cockles, fried prawns, and a big beer all for only 600 Baht.
The food was amazing and it cost only a fraction of what you would pay in the United States.
The place was so good that we went back again and again, trying something new each time. This was by far some of our favorite food on the entire trip. The atmosphere was also part of the appeal. You are inches from a loud, traffic-filled street with the huge, neon signs of Chinatown surrounding you. The long cafeteria-style tables are shared with other patrons. This inevitably leads to chatting (if they speak English, of course) about the food, the city, and travel. It is very much a backyard BBQ kind of venue with a very fun feel.
Worried about getting sick? Don’t be! The seafood is chilled and hasn’t been sitting out in the sun all day. The dishes and cooking utensils were very clean. Huge buckets of fresh water are brought in for each load of dishes. These people set up shop in the same location every night, so they know what they’re doing. They are clearly not in the food poisoning business.
The lady selling two-day old cockles out of a grimy bucket on the other side of the street might be a little questionable. Just use a little caution and you’ll be safe eating street food anywhere. If you are in Bangkok, just head to Chinatown and look for the busiest street corner. You can’t miss it.
Kim & Clark Kays quit their jobs for an uncertain trip around the world. Originally from St. Louis, they relocated to Chicago after getting married in 2005. After working for five years in middle school and the Fortune 500, they realized there was more to life than the 9-to-5, so made the crazy decision to exchange money for time rather than the other way around.
Their hobbies include fighting over writing styles and searching for gelato. They think food, beer, architecture, and photography are some of the best things about travel—especially when combined. Their travel blog, To Uncertainty and Beyond, includes long-term travel tips as well as humorous anecdotes from their journey through Europe and Asia. They invite you to experience their journey and learn from their adventures and mistakes.
