Discover Authentic Thai Street Food at Sukhumvit Soi 38

Sukhumvit Soi 38 Night Market sits in Bangkok’s busy Sukhumvit area. While it’s smaller than before, this market still gives visitors a real taste of Thai street food. Unlike the fancy restaurants on Sukhumvit Road, here you’ll eat at wobbly tables on the street. Meanwhile, cars weave around food carts and friendly dogs wander by looking for scraps.

The food tastes great, costs little, and arrives quickly. Moreover, most menus use English to help tourists. Furthermore, unlike some street markets, these stalls stay fairly clean and use fresh ingredients.

What to Expect at This Night Market

During the day, Sukhumvit Soi 38 looks like any normal road. However, at night it transforms into a lively food market. Around twenty stalls serve classic Bangkok street food. For example, you’ll find tasty papaya salad, BBQ meat skewers, duck noodles, and fruit smoothies. Additionally, vendors serve pad thai, mango sticky rice, and Thai-style wonton noodles.

Steaming bowls of Tom Yum soup fill the air with spicy aromas. Similarly, sizzling Pad Thai noodles cook on hot woks. Local cooks prepare these dishes with flavors that only they can provide.

Must-Try Food Stalls and Specialties

Near the entrance, look for the famous ‘Pad Thai Fire Look’ stall. Every night, this cook fries noodles for hours. Although it might not look special, he has a reputation as one of the city’s best Pad Thai makers. Therefore, his noodles taste amazing.

A little further back, you’ll spot the smoothie and juice stall. For 20-40 baht, you can buy a blended iced drink with Thai fruits like papaya, mango, and lime. Sometimes, they also sell fresh young coconuts for just 30 baht.

Along a small alley near the juice stall, there’s a noodle cart. Here, they serve delicious noodle soup with crab meat, wontons, and barbecue pork. Consequently, this spot stays popular with locals and visitors alike.

More Delicious Food Options to Try

As you continue down the street, you’ll pass many great food outlets. For instance, one vendor often burns his fingers while grilling pork satay sticks. His dedication shows in the taste of his food.

Towards the end of the stalls, you’ll find a wood-lined restaurant with an outdoor cooking station. Here, you can try khao soi, which is a rich Thai coconut curry noodle soup. They also serve freshly battered pathong ko. These Thai donuts come with condensed milk and pandan leaf custard for dipping.

Another excellent dessert stall sits on the left side of the road. Two friendly ladies serve generous portions of mango and sticky rice. They cover the juicy fruit and rice with sweet coconut sauce for only 60 baht.

Why Visit This Traditional Food Market

In Bangkok, concrete buildings are taking over more space each year. Therefore, it becomes harder to find ‘Ahaan Bolaan’ – the old style Thai food. However, at Sukhumvit Soi 38, you’ll always find cheap plates filled with food for 30-50 baht.

It’s simple to sit and enjoy fresh, tasty, and real Thai street food while soaking up the atmosphere. An exciting evening awaits just by walking around the stalls and looking at the huge variety of food and drinks available. For those who love sweets, there’s a mouth-watering selection of local desserts. Furthermore, the smiling locals always want you to try their cooking.

Practical Information for Your Visit

Sukhumvit Soi 38 Night Market opens every day from 5pm until 1am. Best of all, entry costs nothing.

If you want a quieter setting, nearby Sukhumvit Road and its side streets offer many traditional and fine dining options. For other Thai street food experiences, consider visiting Train Night Market Ratchada or the original Train Night Market. For a party atmosphere, try Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri.

This market sits on the edge of the city but stays close to many other Bangkok attractions, like Khlong Toei Market. You might visit after seeing Ancient City or the Erawan Shrine. In that case, Sukhumvit Soi 38 Night Food Market makes an excellent dinner stop.