Yaowarat Bangkok: Where History, Heritage & Hunger Collide!

If I could live anywhere in the world… it would be Bangkok’s Yaowarat.

Why? Because stepping into this legendary Chinatown isn’t just a food crawl—it’s a **time machine** 🕰️🔥. Centuries of Thai-Chinese tradition simmer in every wok, every bite, every family recipe passed down like precious gold. This is where Bangkok’s soul (and its best eats) began.

Ready to feast like a king on street food royalty? Let’s go! 👇

Aerial view of a cityscape with a roundabout and monument in the foreground, tall skyscrapers in the background, and clear blue sky.

Nighttime photo of a traditional Chinese gate with ornate decorations, in front of a temple, with light trails from passing vehicles on the street.

The area was established in the late 1700s and has been a bustling commercial and cultural center for the Chinese community.

Yaowarat in Bangkok, also known as Chinatown, is one of the largest in the world and home to over a million people of Chinese descent.

Ready to feast like a king on street food royalty? Let’s go! 👇

As an coffee addict, I started my day the best coffee in the area. This century-old shophouse is where Thai grandpas sip bitter coffee, toast drips with kaya, and soft-boiled eggs revive souls. Order the warm, pillowy bread slathered in sweet spreads—your stomach (and last night’s regrets) will thank you.

#1. Eiah Sae ☕ The 100-Year-Old coffee

Two slices of bread topped with orange-colored egg and sauce, served on a decorative plate, with a cup of tea or coffee with milk in the background.

A lively street scene featuring a restaurant with a yellow building, white balcony rails, and a green awning; several motorcycles are parked out front, and multiple people are seated and socializing on the sidewalk.

A traditional Chinese breakfast place for toast and coffee/tea. The general interior and exterior of the building is kept to its old-school look

#2. Taelao Chailee Bun 🥟

A man holding a partially eaten steamed bun with filling, smiling at the camera outdoors.

5 generations. 80+ years. SOLD OUT by sunrise. ⏳ This stall’s legendary sala pao (fluffy buns!) and old-school dim sum vanish faster than you can say "อร่อย!" I sprinted at 7AM and barely got the last batch. 🔥 Hot tip: Reheat at home—each bite is a pork-stuffed time capsule.

Steamer tray filled with steamed dumplings and some meat filling on the side.

A street food stall selling dumplings with a woman preparing food, surrounded by other vendors and customers, with a hanging pink sign with Thai and Chinese writing.

This dimsum food vendor is run by the 5th generation of the Chinese Thai descendants.

Tangy, crunchy, umami BOMBS.** 💥 Their hoi jor (crab-meat rolls) are crispy outside, meaty inside, and their shrimp balls? Chef’s kiss.Don’t leave without a jar of their magic pickles—sour, spicy, and life-changing.

#3. Jay Daeng Gium Chai

Interior of a small Asian restaurant with a counter displaying various prepared foods and condiments, staff members preparing food and engaging with customers, yellow menu boards on the wall, and warm indoor lighting.

Person serving deep-fried chicken pieces at a busy food stall surrounded by various food items and condiments.

Close-up of a man with smile wrinkles on his eyes, holding a stick with a round, golden fried ball near his mouth in a market or food stall, with a woman in the background.

My favourite shrimp balls in the world is here!

Wait, what? 🤔 This iconic green noodle dessert got its name from a long-gone theater called "Singapore." Now, it’s a sweet, coconutty MUST in Yaowarat. Prove you’re local: Eat it with palm sugar + salty-sweet toppings.

#4. Lod Chong Singapore

Three glasses filled with crushed ice and a green beverage, garnished with slices of cucumber, with straws in each glass.

The Dessert is name after a theatre not a country though, sorry Singapore 🇸🇬

#5. Pae Sia Dim Sum 🥢 100-Year-Old Dumpling Cart

BRASS STEAMERS. 3.50 BAHT EACH. LEGEND STATUS. 👑 This tiny cart by the Vietnamese temple sells Teochew-style dim sum so iconic, even your great-grandpa remembers it. Order: Pork-stuffed gems dipped in garlicky sauce. Bonus: Watch the ancient steamer puff like a dragon’s breath.

Steamed dumplings topped with crushed peanuts in a white bowl, with a toothpick inserted, placed on a red surface.

Small Thai street food stall selling roasted chickens and other dishes, with two workers behind the counter preparing food, hanging chickens in a glass display case, and a sign in Thai above the stall.

This dim sum is truly the treasure of Yaowarat

#6. Plaeng Nam Chicken Rice ข้าวมันไก่แปลงนาม : Yaowarat’s Hidden Gem Since 1952

🏮 If Yaowarat had a flavor, it would taste like this. Tucked away near Plaeng Nam Road, one of Chinatown’s oldest streets, lies a 70-year-old chicken rice stall that has mastered the art of simple, soul-satisfying perfection. No fancy signs, no modern gimmicks—just generations of tradition served on a plate.

This is Plaeng Nam Chicken Rice—and it might just be the best in Bangkok.

A plate of rice served with cooked chicken, pineapple, and cilantro, accompanied by a fork and spoon, with a bowl of soy sauce on the side.

Yaowarat Isn’t Just Food—It’s a Love Letter to Bangkok. From dawn dim sum runs to midnight wok hei feasts, this is where flavors outlive empires**. Come hungry. Leave obsessed! Watch all the action on my video: