A Walking Guide to Yaowarat Road
Yaowarat Road in Bangkok Chinatown are one of the oldest Chinese communities in Thailand and is always an attraction, ranking high on any traveller’s list of things to see in Bangkok. And it should! Yaowarat, Sampeng Lane and all the small shopping streets around, such as Song Wat Road and Talat Noi, are buzzing with activity day and night. It’s a gigantic market made of tiny shops packed against each other for almost a square kilometre. It’s crowded, very hot, fun and utterly eclectic, selling everything from wholesale fabric to fashion accessories and cooking equipment.
All the sidewalks and intersections of Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road are cluttered with street food vendors, especially in the evening, and predominantly Chinese. You’ll find some great noodle soups, crab noodles and fried dishes. In street foods, humble-looking shops are frequently the most popular. Unfortunately, many restaurants in the street also sell swallow nests and shark fins; no need to say that we strongly recommend you avoid these places. Don’t expect to find much Pad Thai here; that’s a speciality of Khao San Road, not to say a touristy thing.
But beyond the obvious, Chinatown abounds with a hundred little treasures for the explorer and photographers, places not on tourist lists, and narrow alleys that will take you straight back to Bangkok as it probably was 40 or 50 years ago. On the right-hand side, when walking along with traffic, small shops selling dry ingredients for Chinese cooking and medicine are always fun; most items on display are alien-looking.
Those lanes are crowded all day, and you’ll be caught in a permanent ballet of delivering carts and Vespas. Beyond these alleys is one of the oldest fresh markets in town. It’s old and messy, but it has this unique, timeless atmosphere of old trade quarters. Don’t be shy and explore! People are always friendly, and how many times was I offered the food I was looking at?
Chinatown also has an enormous concentration of old Vespas used as delivery vehicles. A few are in mint condition, but the large majority have been fixed countless times and repainted with more or less care, but ultimately, they still faithfully do the job.
The whole area is peppered with Chinese shrines of various sizes, which are always interesting to visit, especially the Canton Shrine on Charoen Krung Road or the Leng Buai Eia Shrine, which is possibly one of the oldest in Thailand. But don’t miss the beautiful Wat Traimit at the beginning of Yaowarat Road, just before the symbolic red gate. This beautiful multi-level white and gold Thai temple shelters the world’s biggest gold Buddha image.
The whole of Chinatown is a maze of lanes and old shops, and it is easy to get lost, not remembering from which side you came in and ending up at the complete opposite of your destination. If you have an iPhone, maybe you should mark your starting point! Just past Chinatown, you will enter Phahurat, known as Little India, which is easy to recognise for its large number of fabric shops. If you like Indian food, don’t miss a chance to try some small local Indian restaurants, which are usually cheap and good.
Where to Eat on Yaowarat Road?
Chop Chop Cook Shop
Chop Chop Cook Shop occupies the ground floor of a beautiful Art Deco building that once housed goldsmiths. This casual diner serves traditional Hainanese and Teochew cooking. The retro fifties interior features bold colours, cosy booths, and an open kitchen. The roasted duck with five-spice glaze, longan honey, and pickled ginger is outstanding, as is the duck noodle soup.
Lim Lao Ngow Fishball Noodle
| Michelin Restaurant |
Lim Lao Ngow is one of our favourite street food stops in Bangkok’s Chinatown, and even though it’s not right on the main Yaowarat Road, it’s just a short 150-metre walk into a small side street. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, but the Michelin Bib Gourmand sign hanging out front is a good clue — they’ve held the title for nine years in a row.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
| Michelin Restaurant |
Nai Ek Roll Noodle (ร้านนายเอก ก๋วยจั๊บน้ำใส) is a small but very popular restaurant on Yaowarat Road, in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. It started as a simple food cart in the 1960s and moved into a permanent shop in 1989. Since then, it has become one of the busiest places to eat, attracting locals and tourists. The restaurant received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2018 and 2019.
Lek Seafood
Lek Seafood (Lek & Rut) is one of those iconic places in Bangkok’s Chinatown that many travellers remember long after their trip. It’s loud, it’s busy, and it feels slightly chaotic—but that’s what makes it special. Sitting right at the corner of Yaowarat Road and Phadung Dao (also called Soi Texas), this street seafood spot has been attracting locals and tourists for years with its fresh seafood and fast-paced service.
What to Do on Yaowarat
On Yaowarat Road, you can explore Wat Traimit and its famous Golden Buddha, stop at the Kuan Yim Shrine of the Thian Fa Foundation for a look at Chinese religious traditions, and wander Ong Ang Walking Street to enjoy street art and nightlife. Sampeng Market is a favourite for wholesale goods. The street also offers endless stalls serving Chinese-Thai dishes, unique cafes, and gold shops, making it a lively stop day or night.
Kuan Yim Shrine of Thian Fa Foundation
The Kuan Yim Shrine of the Thian Fa Foundation, located on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok Chinatown, was founded in the early 1900s to offer free medical care. The shrine features a 900-year-old teak statue of Kuan Yim, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Known for combining spiritual and medical healing, it draws worshippers seeking health and blessings. Visitors bring offerings and observe quiet reflection. The shrine is near Chinatown Gate and Wat Traimit, with a hospital operating beside it.
Wat Traimit
Wat Traimit, officially called Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan, is one of my favourite places to start a walk through Bangkok’s Chinatown. It’s located right where Yaowarat Road begins, not far from Hua Lamphong Station, and makes a good first stop before diving into the busy streets and food stalls that Chinatown is known for.
Song Wat Road
Song Wat Road transformed from a forgotten trading street into one of Bangkok’s coolest neighbourhoods. Named after King Rama V, who “drew” its path following a 1906 fire, this 1.2-kilometre riverside stretch once housed rice and spice warehouses for major Thai companies like CP Group and Bangkok Bank. After decades of decline when container ports made its piers obsolete, Song Wat experienced a renaissance starting in 2016 with street art and the Made in Song Wat community initiative.
Today, it features speciality coffee shops, restaurants, and restored Sino-Portuguese shophouses alongside century-old establishments. Thanon Song Soem, Thailand’s shortest road at 20 meters, branches off Song Wat to end at a Chao Phraya River pier. Time Out ranked the area as the world’s 39th coolest neighbourhood in 2023.
Ong Ang Walking Street and Night Market
Ong Ang Walking Street or Khlong Ong Ang Night Market is a popular shopping and dining destination located at the end of Bangkok’s Chinatown. The market is situated along a canal and is known for its lively atmosphere, bustling stalls, and delicious food. In case you don’t know, ‘Khlong’ means canal in Thai, and Bangkok has a lot of Khlongs.
Talad Mai
Tucked between Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Roads, Talat Mai (ตลาดใหม่) is one of those places that feels like it hasn’t changed in decades. Locals call it the “New Market,” but it’s been around for over 200 years. This narrow alley, barely wide enough for two people to pass comfortably, is a sensory overload of Chinese herbs, dried seafood, incense, and tea leaves.
Mega Plaza Saphan Lek
Mega Plaza Saphan Lek is a massive shopping mall in Bangkok. It is located in Bangkok Old Town and very close to Chinatown. It is the prime destination for gamers and toy collectors. The mall offers anything from action figures, art toys, electronic gadgets, trading cards and anime merchandise. It has a very lively atmosphere, a beautiful shopping mall for tourists and locals who are interested in collectables.
Yaowarat at Night
Goldsmith Bar
Hidden above Chop Chop Cook Shop on the second floor, Goldsmith Bar transports you to 1920s Shanghai meets modern Chinatown. Opening in May 2025, it has become Bangkok’s best new bar of 2025. The space takes its name from the building’s past as a goldsmith’s shop, evident in the glimmering gold detailing throughout.
Widdershins Hidden Bar
Widdershins is one of those places that people walk past every day without realising it’s there. Right in the middle of Yaowarat Road, in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, it’s hidden in plain sight — not down a back alley, but directly above the busy Laoteng dim sum restaurant that shares the same building. Because it sits above a restaurant, most people just walk past without ever noticing.
Where to Stay on Yaowarat Road
Shanghai Mansion Bangkok
| 4-star hotel |
Shanghai Mansion Bangkok is an award-winning hotel located right in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowaraj Road. The hotel pulses boutique heritage in a 130-year-old historic building with its original structure, bringing together modern luxury and 1930s Shanghai elegance. At the atmospheric Red Rose Restaurant, guests can relax with live jazz music, among other rejuvenating offerings at Spa Burasari with its traditional treatments. Once part of the rich cultural scenes of Bangkok, the building today keeps its charm alive, giving modern comfort to its guests.
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Hotel Royal Bangkok@Chinatown
| 4-star hotel |
Hotel Royal Bangkok@Chinatown is a modern luxury hotel offering an oasis of serenity in the heart of Bangkok’s historic Chinatown district and right in the heart of vibrant Yaowarat Road. Among its many amenities and services, the hotel comprises a fabulous rooftop saltwater pool, a well-appointed fitness centre, and the Royal Sky Lounge, offering Thai and international cuisine. Designed conceptually from the very start as a modern urban retreat, this hotel has a unique and dynamic feel to it.
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How to Get to Yaowarat Road
To reach Yaowarat Road in Bangkok, the easiest way is by MRT. You can take the MRT Blue Line and get off at Wat Mangkon Station, which is a short walk from the heart of Chinatown through Soi Plaeng Nam. Taxis and tuk-tuks are also available citywide and can drop you at any of Chinatown’s main entrances, but traffic can be heavy.
Photos of Yaowarat Road
Map of Yaowarat Road
More About Bangkok Chinatown
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