Known for its cheap shopping, delicious food, and invigorating massages, Bangkok is definitely a favourite destination amongst Singaporeans. We know Singaporeans are dedicated to food – we’ll gladly brave long queues under sweltering heat and hunt down hole-in-the-wall stalls in the most obscure locations, but are you limiting yourself to the standard tourist fare, or are you actually eating how the locals do? We round up 10 food places where the locals hang at for ideas for your next trip.

1. Khun Deng Guay Jub Yuan, 70 Phra Athit Road

This eatery serves up delicious sticky rice noodles in a flavourful broth with pork in various forms. It’s right behind Thammasat University and feeds the kway chap yuen cravings of hungry students. Order the piset sai khai (more ingredients with an added egg) for maximum satisfaction.

2. Phra Athit Boat Noodle, 47 Phra Athit Road

If you’re looking for the most famous and “authentic” boat noodles, head to Victory Monument, but if you’re looking for the most delicious version where locals dine, you can find it at Phra Athit. This eatery used to be located on the main road, but has since shifted slightly inward to occupy a space along a private carpark – look for the signs. All the variations of boat noodles sold here pack a punch, but the best is the one with sirloin beef – make sure you arrive early in the day to try this, they are known to sell out by 3pm.

3. Escapade, 112 Phra Athit Road

Escapade is tended to by an award-winning mixologist, but forget about the drinks, the burgers here are crazy good. They have eclectic options for you to customize your burger – my favourite is the chocolate bun with the wagyu patty, and even the ketchup that comes with your fries is homemade. Come early or be prepared to wait – their shop is tiny and service can run super slow during peak hours.

4. ISAO Sushi Bar, 5 Sukhumvit 31, Watthana

The Thais love their Japanese food – and ISAO is a fusion sushi place popular with young professionals and trendy Thais with spending power. Try the sushi sandwich, which comprises of spicy tuna and salmon in between sushi rice coated with tempura batter, ebiko, and scallion, as well their famous Jackie – a sushi dish (shrimp tempura, ebiko, avocado) shaped like a caterpillar, topped off with ikura (salmon roe) to form its eyes.

5. Som Tam Deng, Chula Soi 50

Everyone and their grandmother has been to Som Tam Nua at Siam, but for a more local experience, go to Som Tam Deng, where you’ll be dining amongst students from Chulalongkorn University. This place serves amazing Isaan food – you can get Som Tam (papaya salad) levelled up not just with salted egg but also crab, as well as Larb Moo which is a dish of minced pork with greens and toasted rice in a delicious spicy/sour sauce.

6. Ba Mee Sawang, 336 / 3-4 Thanon Rama IV

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Locals flock to this place in droves to get their ba mee (egg noodles) fix. The dish might look unassuming upon first glance, but it’s about as delicious as it gets. The egg noodles are handmade, and a perfect accompaniment to the juicy, fatty barbecued pork, the flavoursome wontons and the generous chunks of fresh crab claw meat.

7. Heng Chun Seng, 33 SunThon-Kosa road, Khlong Toey

For something different, try the maw fai (fire pot) dish which is much loved by the locals. This is a hotpot of soup along with beef, jarret, silver shank, cow’s intestines, and beef meatballs. If your throat (and digestive system) can take it, do like the Thais and spam your hotpot soup with chilli, fish sauce, and vinegar. Go big or go home.

8. Me and Ice Cream, Siam Square One, LG Floor

Siam Square One is a mall in Siam that’s so new, some of the shops aren’t even open yet. At Me and Ice Cream, you’ll find plenty of locals escaping the heat and enjoying their sweets – they have a good variety of desserts including pancakes, brownies, waffles, and a new-fangled ice cream hotdog. We recommend the banana Nutella crepe – you can’t go wrong with such a classic combination.

9. Mongkol Coffee, Siam Square One, LG Floor

Just a few steps away from Me and Ice Cream, you’ll find Mongkol Coffee which specializes in beverages (coffees, teas, Italian sodas, and others), so be sure to not exhaust your stomach capacity so that you can pop over for a drink after dessert. This is a perfect place to do some people-watching and recharge after several hours of shopping (of course, whilst waiting for the street stalls to start setting up at night).

10. Jok Prince, Charoen Krung Road, entrance to Prince Theater (200m down from opposite Robinsons’ Shopping Mall)

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Foreigners will find it difficult to find this place, seeing as there are no signs in English, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Jok Prince is essentially just two rows of tables in an uninspiring-looking narrow alleyway between two shophouses, but don’t let the premises fool you – it serves up one of the best porridges in Bangkok. Get your porridge with minced pork balls or offal, with a raw egg or a century egg, and enjoy its deliciously smoky aftertaste.

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