In this article, we cover the twenty best local cheap eats in Bangkok up to 100 THB. What does this mean? We selected what we believe are the best dishes of the best local eateries that do not exceed the price of 100 THB per plate and are either one-of-a-kind dishes or are among the best in their category. With these twenty tasty, cheap eats, we guarantee you will have an extraordinary local food experience that let every foodie’s heart beat faster. All the recommended cheap eats are Thai dishes.
The best cheap eats in Bangkok are:
1. Mackerel in Dried Red Curry (100 THB) – Soei Restaurant
Soei Restaurant is top-listed in our article about the best local Thai restaurants in Bangkok as the quality of this local eatery is simply outstanding. Each dish that’s served to its guests is personally checked by the chef, so the level of detail on presentation, as well as flavour is much higher than in other local restaurants. Among their best-sellers is the Mackerel in Dried Red Curry (100 THB), which is incredibly creamy and nicely spicy. In my personal opinion, the combination of fried fish and red curry is the best combination you can get when it comes to red curry and is perfectly executed.
If you are in an adventurous mood, we recommend you try their Fried Mackerel Mouth with Garlic (100 THB) as well. The mouth of the mackerel is crunchy and as the fish bones are small and deep-fried, you can eat these crunchy bits safely. Other highly recommended dishes are the Stir-Fried Soft-Shell Crab in Curry Powder (400 THB), Grilled Prawn Salad with Lemon Grass (500 THB) and the Shrimp in Fish Sauce (200 THB), but these are all above the 100 THB maximum.
Relevant food article: Must-try restaurants in Bangkok.
2. Khao Moo Grob (60 THB) – Nakhon Sanook
Khao Moo Grob is a popular Thai meal with Chinese influences made with crispy baked-out pork that is covered in a sweet gravy-like sauce. This non-spicy treat can be found throughout Bangkok, although your highest chances are in and around Yaowarat (Chinatown). Nakhon Sanook is a small local eatery that is famously known for its Khao Moo Grob and is located just outside Chinatown. The grandfather of the current owner opened Nakhon Sanook in the 40s and the restaurant has now been in business for more than 70 years and, over the years, they refined their recipe to perfection. What makes Nakhon Sanook so good, apart from the super crunchy pork, is the Chinese Siu Haau sauce. A plate of this heavenly Khao Moo Grob only costs you 60 THB.
Relevant food article: Best restaurants in Chinatown Bangkok.
3. Coconut Ice Cream (30 THB) – Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream
Simply put this way, Natthaphon serves the best coconut ice cream in town and with only 30 THB per scoop, it deserves a spot in this list of cheap eats in Bangkok. Natthaphon is located near Dinso Road in the older parts of Bangkok where you can find several amazing local restaurants that serve some of the best food in Bangkok. Natthaphon does not look like a restaurant or shop at all, but more like a house with a few seats in front of the door. But inside, an older lady is making these fantastic, one-hundred per cent pure ice creams without any artificial flavour enhancers or extra sugars. This formula did not get unnoticed as you can see from all the awards and press mentions hanging on the wall. Besides coconut-flavoured ice cream, there are also other flavours available such as mango, green tea, Thai tea and black bean.
4. Tom Yum Braised Beef Boat Noodles (15 THB) – Toy Kuay Teow Reua
Boat noodles are small bowls of aromatic noodle soup that have their origins in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Back in the days, when most of the transport went by river, vendors on canoes prepared, served and got paid for the boat noodles while sitting in their small boats. Because they did not have much space, the only option to perform all these handlings was by using tiny bowls. Nowadays, boat noodles are not served by boat anymore but the size of these bowls is the same. You can find the best boat noodles near Victory Monument at the Boat Noodle Alley, which was a harbour before. In our opinion, the tastiest boat noodles can be found at Toy Kuay Teow Reua and their Tom Yum Braised Beef Boat Noodles are out of this world! For more than 70 years, this family-run business serves boat noodles and the recipe makes hungry locals come back every day. A bowl only costs 15 THB and is the cheapest food on this list.
5. Crispy Oyster Omelette (100 THB) – Nai Mong Hoi Thod
Another one of our favourite cheap restaurants in Bangkok, Nai Mong Hoi Thod serves the absolute best crispy omelettes in Bangkok. Crispy Omelette (Hoi Thod) is a greasy, crispy-fried omelette usually served with oysters. The oysters do get heated up, so you don’t eat them raw. It’s the combination of crispiness and greasiness that makes this dish so delicious and at Nai Mong Hoi Thod you can find the most crispy oyster omelette in the city. The omelette is served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce.
Relevant food article: Famous food in Bangkok.
6. Egg Noodles with Prawn, Pork, Wonton and Roasted Pork (50 THB) – Bamee Kon Sae Lee
Similar to many other cheap eats in Bangkok, this restaurant is in business for decades and refined its recipes to the best flavour possible. For Bamee Kon Sae Lee, it’s their roasted duck, crispy pork and homemade egg noodles that have been formed to perfection. The Egg Noodles with Pork, Prawn, Wonton and Roasted Pork, you get all the deliciousness in one bowl and it only costs you 50 THB. The restaurant is located close to Thonglor BTS and is one of the few restaurants where you can eat cheaply in this area. I would recommend you order a plate of Roasted Duck or Crispy Pork as well, although they do cost 150 THB per plate.
7. Panang Curry (60 THB) – Khao Gaeng Jake Puey
Street food at its finest. At Khao Gaeng Jake Puey, which is located in Chinatown, hungry locals are waiting in line until this street food vendor starts serving their famous curries, which is at three o’clock in the afternoon. Once you select your curry, you can take one of the red plastic chairs on the street and start eating with the plate resting on your leg. That’s right, this local eatery does not even have tables! This unique food experience is perfect to combine when you want to explore Chinatown during sunset. We would highly recommend the Panang Curry (60 THB), as it’s in our opinion, by far the tastiest curry they serve.
Relevant food article: Best street food in Yaowarat Bangkok.
8. Kuay Teow Neau (100 THB) – Wattana Panich
This local restaurant in Ekkemai is famous for its noodle soup, which is prepared in a huge pan and the aromatic smell that comes from this enormous pan can be smelled from a distance when you walk through Ekkemai Road. For more than 40 years, this soup is sold and this restaurant even got recommended in the Michelin Guide. Although there are other options available too, we recommend you to try their famous Kuay Teow Neau, which is a beef noodle soup and a large bowl of this heavenly broth costs you 100 THB.
9. Crispy Pork (55 THB) – Kuayjup Mr. Jo
Mr. Jo is a famous restaurant as it serves arguably the best crispy pork in Bangkok and with 55 THB per portion, it belongs most definitely in our cheap eats in Bangkok list. Similar to the many other cheap restaurants in this article, Mr. Jo has all the typical local looks, such as aluminium tables and seats, half of the walls covered in white tiles, fans secured on each corner of the roof and food that is served on these typical plastic plates. Obviously, we recommend you order the Crispy Pork, which is super crunchy on the outside, beautiful tender on the inside and served with a sweet thickened soy sauce. You can also try their Clear Chinese Soup with Chinese Pasta and Crispy Pork (50 THB).
Relevant food article: Best Crispy Pork in Bangkok.
10. Sticky Rice with Mango (100 THB) – Kor Panich
One of Thailand’s most popular desserts is mango sticky rice, which is especially popular among foreigners. In our article about the best mango sticky rice in Bangkok, we did a ton of research to find the best versions of this delicious treat. Kor Panich is one of them and is already famed for its delicious, juicy mangos and their Sticky Rice with Mango can be seen as one of the best in town. A plate of mango sticky rice cost you 100 THB.
11. Hot and Sour Noodle Soup (60 THB) – Tee’s Yen-Ta-Fo
Yen-Ta-Fo is a soup based on fermented beans and has a distinctive, easy-to-recognize red colour. Although it’s a hot and sour soup, it’s usually not as spicy as tom yum soups. One of the best places to get this noodle soup is at Tee’s Yen-Ta-Fo. Although you can also order a dry version of this delicious soup, we recommend you order the Hot And Sour Noodle Soup and the Red Tofu Spicy Noodle Soup for only 60 THB.
12. Broiled Field Crab (79 THB) – Ong Thong Khao Soi
This restaurant, located in Ari, is the second branch of a similar-named branch in Chiang Mai and offers a small variety of Northern Thai dishes, including their signature Khao Soi. But for the purposes of this article, I would recommend an even better and more unique dish they serve here, namely Broiled Field Crab. The claws of this field crab which is a common species in the Northern parts of Thailand are broiled until the crab claws are turned into a dip. Now, the key part of this dish is to order this with sticky rice, where you use humps of sticky rice to dip in the claws. The result is a flavour you’ve never experienced before in your life. Unusual, savoury and slightly bitter but most important: delicious!
Relevant food article: Best Northern Thai restaurants in Bangkok.
13. Fried Noodles with Chicken and Runny Egg (50 THB) – Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai
Chinatown is a fantastic place to go on a food adventure, once the restaurants and street food vendors start opening their doors around sunset, which why explain in our article about the best Chinatown food in Bangkok. Although located a bit outside Chinatown, Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai is one of these restaurants. Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai’s signature chicken fried noodles, which are also recommended in the Michelin Guide, are the reason why you should visit the place. A bowl of these savoury noodles only costs you 50 THB. For an extra crunch, make sure to order their Crispy Fried Chicken Skin (50 THB) as well.
14. Cheng Teung Mhee (40 THB) – Aai Waan Yen
Aai Waan Yen is a local dessert shop in the middle of Chinatown where they serve authentic Thai-Chinese desserts. These rather unusual, yet tasty creations with longan juice, noodles and beans are hugely popular, although the desserts do not look appetizing at first glimpse. But when you are on a food adventure, you most definitely want these desserts out! We highly recommend you order either the Cheng Teung Mhee or the Cheng Teung Monsod, which both cost 40 THB. As most ingredients are natural ingredients, such as coconut milk, beans and juices, the desserts are not extremely sweet and are much more balanced compared to Western desserts.
15. Hoy Kraeng (80 THB) – Hoy Kraeng Luak Je Par
Koy Kraeng Luak Je Par is a famous and hugely popular street food vendor that serves … Hoy Kraeng, which are boiled blood cockles. The cockles are much different than you’re used to in Western countries and often the cockles are covered in blood, which gives them a bit of metallic flavour. Now, I know that not everyone is keen to try these kinds of dishes, but when you combine these perfectly boiled cockles with the signature homemade seafood sauce with peanuts, you will experience a delicious and unique flavour that you won’t forget your whole holiday. Besides the great taste, devouring a plate of cockles together with all the hungry locals next to you, who solely come for these shells, is quite a fun experience as well.
16. Khao Soi Chicken (50 THB) – Daradalay
Top-listed in our article about the best Khao Soi in Bangkok, we believe that Daradalay serves the best khao soi in town. The reason for this is the use of homegrown ingredients, which differentiates Daradalay from its competitors. Daradalay is not located near any of the tourist hotspots, so if you want to try Bangkok’s best Khao Soi, you must go on quite some trips. The benefit of this is that Daradalay still remains a local secret. We recommend you try their Khao Soi Chicken (50 THB), but there are other variations available under 100 THB as well, including vegetarian options.
17. Superb Pad Thai (90 THB) – Thip Samai
Bangkok’s most famous pad Thai can be found in Pad Thai Thip Samai, the oldest Pad Thai restaurant in the country. From the moment this restaurant opens its doors, the restaurant is packed with hungry guests and there is a line outside of even more hungry visitors. Luckily, an army of well-trained chefs are preparing Bangkok’s most famous Pad, Thai, within minutes and food is served quickly. Usually, we recommend the Superb Pad Thai with Large Prawns, which costs 200 THB, but for the purpose of this article, we suggest ordering the version with small prawns, which costs 90 THB. Flavour-wise there is no difference, except that the more expensive version has two large juicy prawns instead of the two smaller ones.
18. Roasted Duck (100 THB) – Prachak Pet Yang
Where the earlier mentioned Mr. Jo is specialized and famously recognized as the crispy pork specialist of the city, is Prachak Pet Yang the roasted duck specialist of the city. In front of the restaurant, on a display, you can see the freshly roasted ducks hanging and chopped by the chef. The roasted duck is served in slices while covered in its crispy skin. With the duck comes a sweet dipping sauce. A small plate of roasted duck costs you 100 THB. At Prachak Pet Yang, you can also choose between a variety of noodle dishes which are served with roasted duck, crispy pork and wontons. All of which are highly recommended.
Relevant food article: Best Roast Duck in Bangkok.
19. Green Curry (60 – 100 THB) – Sanguansri Restaurant
The green curry at the local restaurant Sanguansri can be seen as the best in Bangkok and for that reason, we listed Sanguansri Restaurant also in our article about the best curries in Bangkok. The curry itself is incredibly rich, and creamy and has plenty of herbs in it to get that real flavour explosion. The curry has also a decent amount of chillies in it to give it plenty of kick. Only on Thursdays, there is a Green Curry with Beef available, which is the most delicious version they serve and it costs you 100 THB per bowl. On the other days, there is only a Green Curry with Chicken available, which cost 60 THB.
20. Tom Yum Soup with Prawn, Mussels and Boiled Egg (60 THB) – Pe Aor
Highly listed in our article about where to find the best tom yum in Bangkok is this local gem, Pe Aor. Pe Aor specialized in one thing and that’s tom yum, or actually tom yum nam sai, the version where tom yum soup gets an extra dash of (coconut) milk in order to make the soup creamy. The tom yum soups that are served at Pe Aor are packed with every type of seafood you can imagine, from prawns to squid. Although in other articles I would recommend you to order the Lobster in Love, which costs you 450 THB per bowl and has the best value-for-money ratio, for the purpose of this article I would recommend the Tom Yum Soup with Prawn, Mussels and Boiled Egg, which costs 60 THB. The soup itself always tastes the same, but it’s up to the guests how exotic the food will be.
Relevant food article: Best Tom Yum in Bangkok.
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There you have it, the best cheap eats in Bangkok. We hope we’ve inspired you and that you will try several of these amazing local eateries that offer cheap eats in Bangkok!