Skip to content
← All routes
The OG stalls8 explorers maxYummy Passport included

Bangrak – the original food stalls of the city

Bangrak · Charoenkrung~3.5 hours. Not too tired; just sweet spotEnglish, licensed guide
Your guide and the OG stalls of Charoenkrung.
Your guide and the OG stalls of Charoenkrung.

Why this tour is popular

  • USD 59/person
  • ~3.5 hours. Not too tired; just sweet spot
  • 15+ tastings of goodness along the first modern paved road of Thailand
  • Run in English by a licensed guide who loves food
  • Yummy Passport to keep track of your experience
  • Tasty Fun Facts to keep your jaw moving, chewing, and laughing

The tour in a coconut shell

Most tourists pass through this area to get on a river cruise without realizing they have walked through the 1st paved road of Thailand and a century of small cultural melting pot full of food history from Thai, Cantonese, Chinese herb drinks to Thai-Muslim curry, and Indian desserts. Imagine eating out at all these OG shops with their xx years old recipe.

Yummy passport
Tick off the food you try with us and continue exploring many more after the tour yourself. So, you can boast about it back home! Specially designed for our tour.
Small group
We aim for 8 explorers (if you are a group larger than that, please contact us so we can accommodate you better).
Tastings
15+ tastings small and big including local drinks.
Fun facts & laughter
First paved road of the country surely has so many cool stories from Bus no. 1, first shopping mall, to one of the world's legendary hotels – The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Transport
This is primarily a walking tour. But if we see Bus no. 1, the first bus line in the country passes by, we will try to hop on it.
Instant confirmation
We use the same booking platform as on Viator and GetYourGuide. You can use a voucher if you have them booking directly with us.
A little goody
Surprise small gift for you to remember your experience with us.
Pick-up / drop-off
To save time from the traffic, we ask all our guests to meet at the meeting point which is next to public transport station. We can help you find your ride back after the tour ends.

What you will do

There is no fun in telling you everything and spoiling the whole experience but here are some of the foods you will taste.

1

Meeting location

Our tour starts at BTS Saphan Taksin Skytrain station. More details on meeting point and direction will be in your 'boarding pass' after booking confirmation.

2
Charoen Krung road, the first paved road of Thailand

Walk along the 1st paved road of Thailand

Charoen Krung road means 'Road of the prosperous city'. This is the 1st paved road of Thailand using the European standard. It runs along the river right up through Chinatown and ends at the Grand Palace. It was where residents trade, exchange ideas, and eat. Apart from many historical buildings, you will eat out at the OG shops that still stand today watching 3rd generation old-timers make some of these great foods for you. The house recipe together with their smile is simply a sight to see. This is one of the few food areas that you can't miss.

fun fact!This road represents a key change in the city when Bangkok transitioned from using boats in canals to using small cars on the road. First bus line (Bus no. 1) started here, and it still runs.
3
Chinese herb drink from an old-school faucet

Explore street stalls with comfort foods and snacks

Charoenkrung area is best explored by foot, and you will see food stalls lining up along the road as soon as we turn the first corner from the meeting point. We will start you off with some street snacks like moo pan and a must-try local Chinese herbal drink right out of the old-school faucet. These will surely open your palate before we dive deeper into the neighborhood.

fun fact!Street food stalls are busiest during peak hours when commuters grab them to go. These are like mini drive-throughs that fuel the city.
4
70-year-old egg noodle factory

Ba Mee Kai: egg noodle factory

5 minutes down the alley from the main road is this 70-year-old shophouse factory that makes 40–50 kg of egg noodles a day. That's enough for 500 bowls. If we get there in time, we'll see the machine running and workers putting them in bags ready for delivery to noodle shops around the district. Now that you see the egg noodles, we will taste some. Hopefully, you'll love it like the locals do.

fun fact!Brought to Thailand by Chinese immigrants, famous among laborers back in the day. Known as 'Ba Mee Jub Kang' or 'Laborer noodle'. Lots of calories to get you through the day!
5
Moo Daeng — BBQ pork over noodles

Moo Daeng: BBQ pork · congee or pork knuckle

After generations of living side by side, Chinese and Thai culinary traditions have blended into flavors that now feel unmistakably local. Many Thais would think this dish is Thai while its origin is from Southern China where the biggest Thai Chinese ancestry migrated from. Let's see which uncle or aunty shophouse will have space for us to sit in. Look on the wall, most have photographs of local celebrities, local food endorsement awards, or even Michelin Guide stars.

fun fact!Chinese immigrants first arrived as traders, merchants, and laborers but now they fully blend in, dominating Thailand's economy and politics.
6

First bus line of the country: Bus No. 1

Going on a bus might be just another day but hopping on the first bus line of the country is something to remember. There are many versions of the bus starting from a small Mercedes back in the day given the road size and population. The bus runs along the river to the Grand Palace area. We will try to catch Bus #1 passing by the first modern shopping mall in Thailand, Central.

fun fact!Central Group is now one of the biggest conglomerates in Thailand owning all those fancy shopping malls in Siam and seven luxury department stores across Europe.
7
Old-school coconut ice cream with red jelly

Local desserts: ice cream

Plenty of dessert choices around the neighborhood from traditional Thai dessert, Chinese Thai, to Portuguese-inspired egg-yolk desserts. If we manage to catch Bus No. 1, we will take you opposite the Post Office HQ and try out old-school home-made coconut ice cream with iconic red jelly.

fun fact!Many Thai desserts use coconut, palm sugar, and pandan as local ingredients to bring out the aroma and its umami taste.
More surprises!We call our tours an expedition for a reason. Local street food vendors don't always show up every day and they may change their location so the itinerary is subject to changes, but we will make sure you're "Whale Fed" and full!

No available slot? How about our Bangkok Chinatown route?

Dietary information

Tell us when you book and we'll plan the stops around you:

Gluten-free / CeliacDairy-free / Lactose intoleranceNut allergiesSeafood / shellfish allergyDiabeticVegetarian / VeganNo beefNo porkHalal

Your guide

ChoteChote smiling
Chote – xxx

For Chote, food is a taste of home wherever work takes him. Each dish holds a story or memory, and his friends—Thai and international—can never get enough of his cooking.

Meet the whole team →
Why book with us? — [ Placeholder: add differentiators here — local food blogger led, giving back to society, etc. ]