Chinatown Bangkok: 8 Indulgence Food To Eat In Yaowarat Road
March 13, 2016
Yaowarat Road (Chinatown Bangkok)
Yaowarat Road, also known as Chinatown Bangkok, is the home of Bangkok’s Chinese community. By day, it doesn’t look any different from other parts of Bangkok, but this big street has some hidden gems waiting to be explored. When night falls, the neon signs blazing with Chinese characters are turned on and many eateries spill out onto the streets filled with foodies. There are many articles about Yaowarat but mostly are just on the surface. We decided to go in depth to explore a few hidden gems, sat down with the owners to hear their stories.
Eia Sae 益生老店
Address: 103-105 Phat Sai, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
No trip to Chinatown Bangkok is complete is you haven’t visit Yi Sheng coffeeshop. THIS IS MY BEST KEPT SECRET. Opened since 1927, this is one of the oldest coffee shops around Chinatown and even the princess of Thailand came here to make coffee as well. To be recognized by the palace is really something (just like the pad thai I have previously written).
Every morning, the coffee shop is very crowded with old uncles having their morning break, reading newspapers while sipping coffee. Some of them gathered here for a small gamble. This time round, we decided not to fight with the morning crowd and arrived after lunch, where it’s quieter and good for small talks. Rich and aromatic traditional coffee is what they are good in, have it together with some toasted kaya bread slices and watch the world goes by.
Interestingly, each uncle loves to have a table of their own but they would just converse with each other by speaking Teochew really loudly across the shop. Just a few units down the same street, there is another Yi Sheng coffeeshop which is owned by the brother. Well, I don’t dare to ask if they are on good terms.
P/S Totally not appetizing to say this, but it is kinda cool that their male cubicle is just a corner behind the wall.
Nai-Ek Roll Noodles
Address: 442 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
There are a lot of kway chap shop in Chinatown Bangkok. This is the famous one that everyone loves visiting. But…
We prefer the one at the junction of Yawarat Road and Yaowa Phanit (opposite White Orchid Hotel, beside 馬利興金行).
Its kway chap in mixed organ soup is peppery, but not overly peppery as compared to the famous one that everyone was raving about. Fresh and bouncy offal and thinly sliced sio bak make it good. The aromatic garlic oil adds the depth. They also sell pig trotter and double-boiled soup.
Watch the video on my Instagram!
Yaowarat 9 Dessert
Address: Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Just beside the kway chap shop, there is a dessert shop selling all the traditional dessert. Juan learnt from her aunty and eventually set up her own dessert shop. Speciality? Well, they mix sticky rice and tau suan, drizzle some coconut cream and eat it together!
Thai Rong Jie Kueh
Address: 461 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
This shop sells traditional kuehs made with turnip and chives. They also have very good chee cheong fun flavoured with mushroom broth.
Fresh Fruit Juice
Address: 469 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Just a few units down from chee cheong fun stall, there is a stall selling fresh fruit juice. Well, there are so many fruit juice stalls in Yaowarat, why did I pick this to feature?
While I was having my plate of chee cheong fun beside this fruit juice stall, I sat there for a good 30 minutes and watch her squeeze the orange juice. At her age, she is really swift while doing this. She said she has been doing this for 20 years, that explains the quick movement. We bought a bottle of pomegranate juice and orange juice. I love their pomegranate juice because it was so sweet. She said to me proudly,”I don’t add any sweeteners, unlike other stalls.” I guess it is because of her belief in real good juices that’s why she can have a physical shop in Yaowarat (most fruit juices here are push carts).
Plaeng Nam Shark Fin-Bird's Nest(義福巷燕窩)
Address: 47 Plaeng Nam Rd, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand