Bangkok: Chinatown Food Tour & 10+ Tastings with Secret Dish

Summary

Bangkok’s tangled streets, sizzling food stalls, and secret flavors await

You’ll wind through Bangkok’s Chinatown & Nahm district with a local guide who knows every shortcut and food stall worth stopping for. Taste at least ten different dishes—from spicy basil chicken to warm pandan doughnuts—and end with something sweet (and secret). Expect laughter, sticky fingers, and maybe even a new favorite flavor.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect to sweat this much just walking through Bangkok’s Chinatown, but somehow the heat made every bite more intense. Our guide, Nok, had this way of weaving us through alleys I’d never have found alone. First stop: spicy basil chicken over jasmine rice. The steam hit my glasses and the basil was so sharp it almost stung my nose. Nok grinned when I coughed — “Good sign,” she said.

We tried at least ten things (maybe more? I lost count after the shrimp dumplings). There was this grilled pork with sticky rice that left my fingers sticky for ages — totally worth it. At one stall, an older woman handed me a pandan custard doughnut still warm from the fryer. She winked when I hesitated, and honestly, I still think about that soft green center. It’s funny how everyone seemed to know Nok; she’d wave or chat in Thai and suddenly we’d be ushered behind a counter or handed something extra.

The light changed as we wandered into Talat Noi — everything got quieter except for the clatter of woks and someone playing old pop music from a phone. We ended up sitting on plastic stools with bowls of black sesame dumplings in ginger tea. The ginger burned just enough to make me pause between sips. Oh, and there was some “secret dish” Nok insisted we try — I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it’s not what you expect from a day trip food tour in Bangkok.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bangkok Chinatown food tasting tour

• Walk through Chinatown streets
• Taste spicy basil chicken with rice
• Try Issan-style grilled pork and sticky rice
• Eat shrimp dumplings and steamed pork buns
• Sample papaya salad and pork knuckle with rice
• Enjoy pandan custard doughnuts and Thai pancakes
• Discover family-run food stalls
• Taste exclusive secret dish
• End with black sesame dumplings in ginger tea

Top questions

How many tastings are included on the Bangkok food tour?

The tour includes more than 10 authentic tastings along the route.

Does the Bangkok Chinatown food tour include pickup?

No hotel pickup is included; the tour is a walking experience starting at a central location.

Are vegetarian or dietary requirements accommodated?

You should contact in advance for any dietary requirements so they can try to accommodate you best.

What areas does the food tour cover?

The tour covers Chinatown (Yaowarat), Hua Lamphong, and Talat Noi districts in Bangkok.

Is there a secret dish on this Bangkok food tour?

Yes, all tours include an exclusive secret dish as part of the experience.

Is lunch included on this Bangkok day trip food tour?

The experience includes multiple tastings that together make up a full meal during the walk.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult's lap.

Can pets join the Bangkok Chinatown food tour?

No pets are allowed on this walking food tour.

What’s included

Your day includes guided walks through Bangkok’s Chinatown, Hua Lamphong and Talat Noi with over ten authentic tastings like spicy basil chicken or pork satay (depending on the day), shrimp dumplings, steamed buns filled with red pork, papaya salad, crispy Thai pancakes, black sesame dumplings in ginger tea and even an exclusive secret dish—all led by a local guide who’ll share stories along every stop.