To the Thai people, street food is not only a commodity, but a lifestyle. The origin of street food dates back to ancient times, when local markets acted as distributors of fresh ingredients. Later developments in foodscapes came with the modernization of traffic ways and arrival of Chinese immigrants. In-country migration also played a great part in acquainting local culinary traditions from different regions with each other.
Today, Thailand boasts many world-famous street food cities, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. While street food may fuel the face-paced style of city living, Thai vendors still carry on the tradition of detailed and complex cooking. Street food can act as a way for people to socialize, sight-see, or even enjoy friendly debates over who knows “the best place for so-and-so dish in town”.
Famous Thai street food dishes include pad Thai (ผัดไทย) – stir-fried noodles, kuay tiew (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว) – noodles, and moo ping (หมูปิ้ง) – barbequed pork on skewers.
From top right: 1.Pad Thai 2. Kuay tiew (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว) 3. Moo ping 4. Fried rice
Source:
- The Origins and Future of Street Food in Bangkok: https://www.expique.com/article/the-origins-and-future-of-street-food-in-thailand/
Written by: Tayud Mongkolrat