A culinary tour of Bangkok is a guided walking or driving tour past street stalls and traditional family businesses. It typically lasts three to four hours and includes ten to fifteen tastings. The guide handles ordering, waiting in line, and explanations. Most group tours cost between 1,700 and 2,900 baht per person, roughly US$59 if billed in dollars. Food is included. Three providers are consistently mentioned in the reviews, blog lists, and Reddit threads I read.

There are several tour operators, such as A Chef's Tour with its short evening stroll through Chinatown, Bangkok Food Tours with its midnight tuk-tuk tour and many other routes, and Expique, whose evening tuk-tuk tour starts on the other side of the river in Thonburi. For your first evening, I would recommend a walk through Chinatown, and if you prefer to ride rather than walk, a tuk-tuk tour after dark.

Where to stay in Bangkok

This route ends in Bangkok. Search for hotels in Bangkok for your travel dates or narrow your search to a specific region. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.

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My picks in Bangkok in every price category

  • Millennium Hilton Bangkok · Luxury · 5 stars · 4.6 (12,976)
  • Centara Watergate Pavilion Hotel Bangkok · Mid-range · 4 stars · 4.5 (4,456)
  • Old Capital Bike InnCheap · 3 stars · 4.9 (386)

    • Key facts

    1,700 to 2,900 Baht per person

    Bangkok Food Tours offers its tours for 1,700 to 2,900 baht, Expique's evening food tour costs 2,650 baht, and A Chef's Tour costs US$59. Food is included in all tours, and children usually pay less.

    Three to four hours

    Most tours last three to four hours. The canal and market tours in the morning last longer, about five hours.

    Most start in the evening.

    The walks through Chinatown and the tuk-tuk tours begin in the late afternoon and continue until about 7:30 pm, when the heat subsides and the stalls in Yaowarat open. Day tours take place between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm.

    Small groups

    Chef's Tour and Expique's Food Tour are designed for up to 8 people, while Bangkok Food Tours' midnight tuk-tuk tour accommodates up to 16 people. Each of the providers listed here also offers private tours.

    Ten to fifteen tastings

    On the evening tuk-tuk tours, you can expect 10 to 15 or more tastings with water or another beverage, as well as a beer at one stop. Just plan on having a light lunch beforehand.

    Please observe the dietary guidelines.

    Most routes are based on pork and seafood and offer no alternatives. Bangkok Food Tours offers a vegetarian and a halal tour, and Expique arranges the "Night Lights" tour for vegetarians instead of the regular food tour.

    Bangkok Food Tours Compared

    Prices are per adult for a group tour and are listed by the respective tour operators on their websites. Some routes offer group tours only on certain days and private tours on the remaining days. The price per person for private tours increases for one or two people. Booking portals offer the same tours under different names and sometimes at different prices.

    The culinary tours, which have received consistent reviews.

    The ranking is based on how many independent reviews, ranking sites, and Reddit threads recommend each provider.

  • 1. Chef Tour of Chinatown (Yaowarat) – Top Pick: This evening walking tour begins on the terrace of the Shanghai Mansion Hotel on Yaowarat Road and lasts three and a half to four hours, winding through the alleys of Chinatown. It includes 15 or more tastings at seven or eight stops. The group size is limited to eight people, a point frequently noted by reviewers, as smaller groups have an easier time accessing stalls inaccessible to larger groups. The tour costs US$59 per person, with children aged 3 to 12 paying half price. The walk is entirely on foot, taking you through alleys inaccessible to tuk-tuks. Alternatively, there is a lunchtime tour of the old markets, which begins with a canal taxi ride (also starting at US$59). Both tours are not vegetarian; there is no beef, and pork and seafood are each offered in three or four dishes with no alternatives. Therefore, they are suitable for those who enjoy eating everything. The evening tour can be canceled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. Getting there: The Shanghai Mansion is located on Yaowarat Road, and the Wat Mangkon MRT station is also on Yaowarat Road. There is a separate meeting point for the daytime tour, which will be provided after booking. When: Evening tours start in the late afternoon, and the midday tour takes place in the morning.
  • 2. Bangkok Food Tours, Sam Yan, Chinatown, Bang Rak, and Thonburi: Best selection, also for vegetarians. Since 2011, this provider has offered the largest selection in the city. The most popular tour is the "Best Eats Midnight Food Tour" by tuk-tuk. The meeting point is at the Sam Yan MRT station in the early evening. The approximately four-hour tour takes you to an Isan restaurant, a noodle stand with flambéed woks, the flower market, and Banthat Thong Road. The tour concludes with a beer at a rooftop bar overlooking Wat Arun. At least ten dishes and drinks are served. Group size is between two and 16 people. Return transportation to your hotel in central Bangkok is included. The tour costs 2,500 baht, and 1,900 baht for children aged 6 to 12. It is suitable for vegetarians but not for vegans. More affordable options include the Yaowarat Street Food Tour for 1,800 baht starting at 6:00 PM and the Bang Rak Afternoon Walk for 1,700 baht. Longer tours include a morning at the Thonburi Canal and a motorbike tour through Bangkok's Old City. Vegetarian and halal tours are also available, both by tuk-tuk, starting at 2,400 baht. A 50% deposit is required, with the remainder payable in cash. The refund amount decreases as the tour date approaches, so please book only when your travel dates are confirmed. Getting there: The Midnight Tour departs from Sam Yan MRT station, and the Yaowarat Walk from Hua Lamphong MRT station. When: The Midnight Tour takes place every evening, while the group walks are offered on designated days.
  • 3. Expique, Thonburi to Chinatown: The best evening tuk-tuk tour. Expique's "Evening Food and Tuk Tuk Adventure" departs at 6:00 PM from the Krung Thonburi BTS station and takes you from Thonburi to Chinatown in four hours (two hours per tuk-tuk). The itinerary includes four seated tastings, at least one snack along the way, pork satay as an appetizer, a noodle stop, a beer at one of the stops, and dessert in Chinatown—plus a surprise or two. The group size is limited to eight people, and the price is 2,650 baht per person (minimum age: 10 years). This food tour is not suitable for vegetarians or people with food intolerances, as Expique themselves confirm. Instead, the company recommends the "Night Lights" tuk-tuk tour for 2,550 baht, which includes market snacks, dinner at a local restaurant, and dessert in Chinatown. Vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free options are also available. This tour is more of a sightseeing tour with dinner than a culinary tour, and Expique describes it as such. Getting there: Take the BTS to Krung Thonburi station (Silom line) on the other side of the river. The tour ends in Chinatown, where you will be dropped off by tuk-tuk within a limited area. When: Evenings from 6:00 PM. Changing the date within 24 hours costs 500 baht.

    • Other Bangkok food tours worth checking out

    Several other providers appear on booking pages and in Google Maps results, but are mentioned less frequently in the reviews I read. This says more about their frequency in reviews than about the quality of the tours. Secret Food Tours offers an approximately three-and-a-half-hour tour of Chinatown and Hua Lamphong with six stops for US$44.99 and has more Google reviews than the three providers mentioned above. Must Try Bangkok Tours offers a hidden Bangkok bike and food tour with street food and dinner, Jamming Thailand offers an e-scooter night tour with street food from Thonburi, and Bigcountry offers an approximately three-hour tuk-tuk tour with street food offerings based on Michelin Guide recommendations. Bangkok Vanguards offers a full-day “Ultimate Bangkok Food Tour” developed in collaboration with food journalist Mark Wiens, which includes at least 25 tastings and a boat trip through the canals of Thonburi. However, the website does not list any current dates. Therefore, I recommend checking whether the tour is taking place before planning.

    How to choose a Bangkok food tour

    Start with the time of day. Evening tours are the classic choice, as the heat subsides and the stalls in Chinatown are open, while morning tours are better suited if you prefer to spend the evening elsewhere.

    For a first night in Bangkok

    A short walk through Chinatown. The group size for Chef's Tour is limited to 8 people, and the Yaowarat walking tour from Bangkok Food Tours costs 1,800 baht if you prefer to spend less.

    For night owls

    A tuk-tuk tour. Bangkok Food Tours' midnight tour ends at a rooftop bar and then takes you back to your hotel. Expique's evening tour, on the other hand, covers a larger part of Thonburi and takes place in smaller groups. While you'll eat slightly fewer dishes than on a walking tour, you'll see significantly more of the city in between.

    For vegetarians

    Bangkok Food Tours is the easiest solution: they offer a vegetarian tuk-tuk tour starting at 2,400 baht and a midnight tour specifically designed for vegetarians. Expique's "Night Lights" tour offers vegetarian, halal, and gluten-free options. Avoid Expique and A Chef's Tour, as both explicitly state that they do not offer vegetarian dishes.

    For families

    At A Chef's Tour, children aged 3 to 12 pay half price, while Bangkok Food Tours charges 1,900 baht for children aged 6 to 12 on the midnight tour. Expique's food tour is suitable for participants aged 10 and up.

    The best-rated hotels in Bangkok

    Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Bangkok. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you have already entered your travel dates.

  • #2 Shangri-La Bangkok 4.6 (11,460 reviews) Luxurious river hotel in Bang Rak overlooking the Chao Phraya River, with first-class service and comprehensive resort facilities. Check prices
  • #3 Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok 4.7 (6,977 reviews) The Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok solves the biggest problem in the Siam district – the lack of quiet places to sleep – with an idyllic resort garden featuring saltwater pools. Check prices
  • #4 Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok 4.7 (6,702 reviews) A legendary riverside hotel in Bangkok's Bang Rak district with elegant rooms, world-class dining, and a renowned spa. Check prices

    • DIY in Yaowarat

    You don't need a tour to eat well in Chinatown. Yaowarat Road is packed with stalls from around 6:00 PM, just a few minutes from Exit 1 of the Wat Mangkon MRT station. A stroll through the various stalls will cost you between 200 and 400 baht. Start with Kuay Jab, the peppery noodle soup with rolled noodles, at Nai Ek, try grilled seafood at T&K on the corner of Phadung Dao, and finish your meal with Kanom Buang, the crispy Thai crepes. A tour simply offers you the chance to place your order, learn the history, and snag a seat at the bustling stalls. What you'll miss out on, however, is skipping the lines. It's a bit quieter on Mondays, as many stalls are closed on that day.

    Booking tips

    Book several days in advance during the peak season from December to February, as small group tours are limited to 8 people. Book directly if you want to take advantage of the individual tour operator's refund policy, which varies considerably. A Chef's Tour website allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour. Bangkok Food Tours requires a 50% deposit, charges 10% for cancellations more than a week in advance, and 50% for cancellations two to six days in advance. The full price is due for cancellations within 48 hours or for delays of more than 10 minutes. Expique charges 500 baht for date changes within 24 hours. Tours run rain or shine, so pack a light jacket or umbrella during the rainy season rather than hoping for a refund.

    Eat a light lunch, wear comfortable shoes you can walk in for four hours, and bring small bills for drinks or tips. If you're also taking a cooking class, do the culinary tour first so you know which dishes you want to learn.

    Plan your remaining meals in Bangkok.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about the best culinary tours in Bangkok and how to choose the right one.

    Yes, for a first visit, especially on the first evening, a guide is recommended, as they will order and explain the dishes and secure a spot for you at the stalls with queues. If you prefer to point out dishes yourself, an evening in Yaowarat on your own will cost between 200 and 400 baht and offer a similar culinary experience.

    The evening Chinatown walking tour by A Chef's Tour is the tour recommended in most reviews, followed by the midnight tuk-tuk tour by Bangkok Food Tours and the evening food and tuk-tuk tour by Expique.

    Most group tours cost between 1,700 and 2,900 baht per person, including meals. A Chef's Tour costs US$59, and Secret Food Tours cost US$44.99. Private tours for one or two people are more expensive per person.

    Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, is best explored on foot from around 6:00 PM onwards. Bang Rak on the riverbank and Thonburi on the opposite bank are other districts covered on culinary tours.

    An evening tour, where you travel by tuk-tuk from one food stop to the next (usually two people per vehicle), takes about four hours. The midnight tour from Bangkok Food Tours costs 2,500 baht, and the evening tour from Expique costs 2,650 baht.

    Most aren't, as the routes are primarily based on pork and seafood. Bangkok Food Tours offers a vegetarian tuk-tuk tour starting at 2,400 baht and states that its midnight tour is suitable for vegetarians. Expique's "Night Lights" tour is also vegetarian.

    Three to four hours for evening walks and tuk-tuk tours, and about five hours for morning explorations of the canal and the market.

    Evening tours begin between late afternoon and about 7:30 pm, daytime tours between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm.

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