Our Favourite Local Places to Eat in Yaowarat
Street food in Bangkok Chinatown is one of the highlights of visiting Bangkok. In the evening, Yaowarat Road turns into a busy food street, packed with small carts, local restaurants, and smoky woks. Some stalls have been around for decades and are still run by the same families, cooking just one or two dishes the same way every night.
We’ve explored many of them over the years, famous places like guay jub (peppery rolled rice noodle soup), grilled squid with seafood sauce, fresh oyster omelettes, pad Thai with prawns, mango sticky rice, and even simple Chinese doughnuts. Some are easy to spot with long queues, but others are hidden in backstreets or tucked behind old shophouses.
This page shares all the places we’ve personally visited and tasted in Bangkok Chinatown. Nothing here is sponsored or copied from other blogs. We try one restaurant at a time and add new names as we discover more, especially in the small lanes around Yaowarat and the night markets nearby.
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.
Cuisine: Noodles
Phone: 081 640 4750
Hours: 4:30 pm – 9 pm
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
Hagow Yaowarat
Hagow Yaowarat is a well-known restaurant in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Its bright red LED lights and unique exterior make it stand out along Yaowarat Road. Whether you’re just passing through or searching for delicious dumplings or Chinese food, this place certainly attracts you.
Cuisine: Chinese
Phone: 063 956 2752
Hours: 8 am – 10:30 pm
Price: Reasonable
Map: Click Here
Ba Hao Tian Mi
Ba Hao Tian Mi is a tiny little dessert bar tucked inside Soi Nana, just off Yaowarat Road. You’d probably walk right past it if you didn’t know what it looked like. The exterior has a low-key, cosy vibe with warm lighting and vintage Chinese decor. We dropped in after dinner one night, mostly out of curiosity because we’d heard people rave about their desserts. And yeah, now we get it.
Cuisine: Thai/Chinese Dessert
Phone: 097 995 4543
Hours: 10 am – 10 pm
Price: Moderate
Map: Click Here
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
| Former 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.
Cuisine: Thai/Chinese
Phone: 02 226 4651
Hours: 8 am – 12:30 am
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
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.
Cuisine: Thai Seafood
Phone: 086 514 5328
Hours: 3 pm – 2 am
Price: Reasonable
Map: Click Here
Tanbo Chicken Rice
Tanbo Chicken Rice is a small and humble restaurant right on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok Chinatown, next to the famous Hua Seng Hong. It’s easy to miss, but locals and visitors line up for their chicken rice, especially in the evenings.
Cuisine: Chicken Rice
Phone: 065 058 5505
Hours: 7 am – 11 pm
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
Pornchai Rice Noodles
Right in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Pornchai Rice Noodles is one of those Bangkok street food spots that locals never stop going back to. No frills, no hype, just solid flavours that have stood the test of time. Known for their classic kuay teow lord, this place quietly does one thing really well, and nails it.
Address: Yaowarat Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100
Hours: 2 pm – 12 am (Closed on Monday)
Phone: 081 903 9151
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
Krua Porn La Mai
Right in the middle of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Krua Porn La Mai is one of those places everyone seems to know, and it’s popular for a reason. They’ve got three branches just along Yaowarat Road: an open-air spot for that classic street-side buzz, a quick street stall if you’re on the go, and an A/C one if you want to chill out and escape the heat. Same menu, just different vibes.
Cuisine: Thai/Chinese
Phone: 099 249 5414
Hours: 11 am – 2 am
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
Yoo Fish Ball Noodle
Right on the main road of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Yoo Fish Ball Noodle is one of those low-key street food spots that’s been quietly feeding locals for generations. No gimmicks, no over-the-top menus, just handmade fish balls, familiar flavours, and a few golden fried snacks on the side.
Cuisine: Noodle Soup
Phone: 089 782 7777
Hours: 8:30 am – 11 pm
Price: Cheap
Map: Click Here
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