In my mind, the exploration of street food is one of the best way’s to put yourself into an opportunity to have a spontaneous travel experience.
One of the reasons I just can’t get enough of Bangkok is that it’s a never ending city with infinite neighborhood streets…
… and the streets are filled with not only delicious Thai street food but also a broad range of international street food.
One day as I was exploring the tangled market walkways of Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district, I noticed a number of stalls selling Burmese products and all signs were written in Burmese.
My Food Mind
Now let me tell you that I sometimes have an over obsession with cuisine, so when I noticed Burmese signs, I had no idea what they read, but I thought “food.”
Lo and behold, where there are people, there will be food – that’s the way human’s function!
Just a few moments later, I was sitting on the folding chair and tables provided and contemplating what scrumptious Burmese dishes to order.
I had spent a few weeks in Yangon months before, so I knew a few Burmese foods and that’s about it.
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Luckily Mona, the owner of the restaurant was ready, willing and super excited that we had stopped by to get a taste of her Burmese street food cooking in Bangkok!
After mentioning that we were interested in eating Laphet Thohk (a Burmese tea leaf salad), she took motherly care in the preparation of the other dishes – just like Mama Chapati in Tanzania.
Of all my previous street food endeavors, I have never had a vendor take so much care in making a dish look so perfect so I could take a photo of it.
I first took a photo and then Mona came running over saying “wait, wait, wait.” She proceeded to sprinkle the dishes perfectly with cilantro and add just the right amount of chili and other condiments.
She really took pride in her Burmese street food – I loved seeing that!
Along with mohinga (click link to watch a video), the restaurant is a popular spot to eat Khao Swè Thohk, a dish of mixed noodles covered in a tomatoey sauce and garnished with slices of chicken, peanuts, pickled cabbage and chilies.
It was mouthwatering fantastic, Burmese street food that radiated with motherly food love.
Not knowing what else to order, Mona escorted me into the kitchen and presented a huge platter of vibrantly yellow something.
I did remember eating it in Burma, and though it’s known as “tofu,” it tasted a little more like mozzarella cheese than the Chinese style tofu I grew up eating.
Mona explained to me that this variation of tofu is actually made from ground daal (yellow lentils), giving it a hearty starch. When chopped up and made into a salad, the Tohpu Thohk was outstanding, so amazingly tasty!
I wasn’t going to ever leave a Burmese street food restaurants without a plate of Lahpet Thohk, a mixed Burmese salad made with pickled tea leaves.
Along with the pickled tea leaves, Mona added cabbage, sliced tomatoes, a handful of fried chickpeas and a generous amount of sliced red chillies and garlic.
The combination was spectacular, perhaps the best Lahpet Thohk I’ve ever experienced.
The Burmese meal was outstanding, the ambiance was fantastic, and the motherly love of Mona’s cooking could be felt with every single bite of her food!
Looking for Burmese street food in Bangkok?
Mona’s restaurant is actually not on the map, I tried to locate it on Google Maps with not much luck, so I just added it to the map about where I think the location is.
Just start walking through the clothing section of Phra Khanong Market and you’ll eventually comes to a small Burmese section. This Burmese street food restaurant is located right in the midst of all the clothing, kind of at the market crossroads.
I know this isn’t that clear, but part of the fun is the exploration, right?
View Burmese Street Food in Bangkok in a larger map
Have fun!
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Bradley Campagnac
6 years ago
Hi Mark are there any non veg Burmese resturants in central Bangkok?
Claire
7 years ago
I found Mona’s yesterday in the market and had a great meal! Thank you for posting these directions. We asked no less than 20 people (none of whom had any idea) and eventually found it in the midst of the clothing section. It was wonderful and I’m hoping to go back before leaving Bangkok.
Nazneen Salahuddin
7 years ago
I am going to Bangkok next week. I love Burmese food as my mothers family have roots there. Where can I buy and eat Burmese food
Mark Wiens
7 years ago
Hey Nazneen, glad you’ll be coming to Bangkok. This is one of my favorite spots, and if you walk around the Phra Khanong market, you’ll find Burmese community.
Elle Kyu
8 years ago
Now I am at Bangkok and craving my local foods. I miss my country foods when I see the pictures. Laphat Thok is my favourite one. Thank you for posting and sharing this.
garen
8 years ago
Anyone know if this stand still is at this location?
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Hey Garen, I haven’t been there in a while, but as far as I know, it’s still there.
Nina
5 years ago
I just went yesterday and it’s still there! 🙂
kredyt dla zadłużonych bez zdolności kredytowej
9 years ago
We stumbled over here different page and thought I may as well check things out.
I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking into your web
page again.
SN
11 years ago
Thank you so much for info of Burmese food in BKK. I went to BKK many times: but could not figure out where to find them.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
No problem SN. This place if motherly and serves great market style Burmese food – and it’s delicious. Let me know if you go there!
Aidan
11 years ago
Brilliant Mark! We visited here over the weekend and tried everything you suggested (isnt Laphet Thohk incredible!) and for that half an hour we could have been sitting in a back street downtown Yangon….great experience! Thanks for sharing
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
No problem Aidan – it really is just like being back in Yangon! Did you have any trouble finding it?
Aidan
11 years ago
No problem. Heading east on Sukhumvit, cross Soi 71, under the walkway and first left. Its at the end of that alley. Doesnt look like a restaurant (only one table?) but they will make you very welcome
Bethaney Davies
11 years ago
Hi Mark,
I was just about to put a post on the LP Thorntree asking where I could find some Burmese food in Bangkok! I had read an article about restaurants being clustered around ABAC University too. Definitely going to give your lady a try. Maybe I should print out a picture of her and the sign so I can ask for directions?
We have ONE Burmese restaurant back home in NZ and it is ridiculously expensive and impossible to get a table at. I’ve been hanging out for some Burmese food since I was there in 2009.
Bethaney
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Great to hear that Bethaney! I’m out of the country right now, but otherwise I may have been able to show you there. Get to the Phra Khanong market and then just ask from there – you’ll find it! Let me know how it goes!
aaron
11 years ago
oh my god! u’re awesome markk!
even tough I’m a burmese student in Bangkok, I dun know dat street food. I’ll definitely go and eat there! cool man! keep it up!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Aaron, yes, I’d really recommend this place. If you can’t find it exactly, just ask a few people around the Phra Khanong market and they’ll point you in the right direction. Let me know how it is!
Stephen
11 years ago
I was happy to stumble upon a Burmese cafe in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, China. Where there are Burmese Jade Dealers, there will be Burmese food!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Cool to hear that Stephen – Did you eat there? How was the food?
Bama
11 years ago
Mark, I just went to Yangon last week and I like Mohinga very much! I still can’t figure out how they say it in local language though, because for me it sounds like mo-he-waa..But anyway, I simply love the combination of rice noodle, fish gravy and everything else in it.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Great to hear this Bama, cool that you had a good time and enjoyed Mohinga! My mouth is watering right now – thanks for sharing!
TheWorldOrBust
11 years ago
Damn, that’s looks like some serious gourmet stuff!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
It was really tasty – simple and delicious!
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy
11 years ago
I wish that much care went into every dish, everywhere we eat!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, yes, Asian’s really have a special culinary touch!
Thuza
11 years ago
If you love to take Myanmar food, there are several food shops around ABAC University. There is one of the Myanmar communities in Bangkok. You can find food, things, etc. Please come and try.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Cool, thanks for sharing Thuza, I’ll try to stop by when I’m in the area next time!
aungkyitun
7 years ago
ok .i come to this location.
tunimaal
11 years ago
It seems so delicious. As we say here in Japan: OISHII DESUNE (delicious isn’t it)….. Would lov to try it
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
It was really really delicious! Thanks, I’ll remember Oishi Desune!
sully86
11 years ago
mark: i almost lick the screen of my laptop… Anyways awesome pictures
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, thanks Sully!