My top 5 mobile food stalls in Bangkok

Those who know me well will realise that I have been participating in many major exhibitions because of my new business venture selling King Koil Mattresses and Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors. But don't worry, this is not going to be a post telling you how to choose a mattress, that is reserved for a better day.

My frequent visits to BITEC Bang Na, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre have given me the revelation that food in convention centres in Thailand (just like in most other countries) are mostly overpriced and taste horrible. Therefore, I have been determined to find salvation for our hungry tummies, whether we are exhibitors or visitors, at major trade fairs. If you can't find decent food outside the shows (in the food courts/cafeterias), why not try your luck inside the show instead?

In this post, I am going to list down my 5 best mobile food stalls in Bangkok. By calling them mobile food stalls, I mean they are mostly found moving from event to event earning their living selling food without permanent locations. Aside of trade shows (big and small), they can sometimes be spotted during special events in different shopping malls.

Khao Mok Gai, or what I call Nasi Briyani with Chicken from a mobile Muslim stall

Before I formally go into my top 5, I would like to clarify that because I cannot read Thai properly, I am not able to tell you the full names of the stalls, but I will do my best to teach you how to identify them.

Stranger in Bangkok's 5th Best Mobile Food Stall: Strawberry Shake with Yoghurt

They sell assorted fruit drinks, focusing mainly on strawberry shakes

My favourite drink during trade shows

It was a huge struggle to include a drink into my top 5, but I believe this beverage deserves my accolades. Since I came to Thailand, I've drank at least 20 cups of this if not more, at different locations, mostly during some local food festivals at Paradise Park. The mixture of fresh yoghurt with deliciously tangy sweet strawberry ice gives this drink the right balance to refresh anyone in the sweltering heat.

Stranger in Bangkok's 4th Best Mobile Food Stall: Croissant Bistro

One of the only stalls that I can read the name. 

Gourmet Croissants

If I were to be brutally honest, I feel that Croissant Bistro should really not be on this list, because with the quality and price of the gourmet croissants they churn out, they can easily hold their own with their own stall in a major shopping mall.

I have spoken to the owner before regarding this, but it seems like she hasn't found a suitable location yet, so croissant lovers, please feel fortunate when Croissant Bistro still takes the trouble to come to a location near you, because I do not think it will last very much longer.

Stranger in Bangkok's 3rd Best Mobile Food Stall: Yaowarat Fish Ball

Remember how the stall looks, with its bright red steamers

It only sells 3 kinds of fish balls, and always steamed, never fried

I am a lover of fish balls in Singapore, and it's difficult to find similar ones in Bangkok. Instead of going to Foodland to buy those really expensive imported ones from Singapore, I have found my solution in this mobile fish ball stall. Aside of them being a little too salty, which I will solve by blanching them in hot water before cooking, there is really nothing bad to say about these fresh springy balls. Even Noah can chomp down a few of them at one go.

Stranger in Bangkok's 2nd Best Mobile Food Stall: Red Pork Noodles

Hey, I can read the name! Literally translates as Yaowarat Food Stall

You cannot miss it if you see the glut of hanging red pork or the mountain of noodles

Or even simpler, the sight of this bald uncle who is always there flamboyantly selling his noodles

I was sceptical at first when I saw the heap of pre-cooked yellow noodle. I am a firm supporter of cooked-to-order noodles and for me, this could never be good. However, there was always a long queue at the stall wherever I went, so out of curiousity, I took a plunge.

Noodles nicely Al-Dente and all ingredients extremely fresh, and the fried shrimp balls are an absolute delicacy!

It seems like they have proven me wrong. Not only do I have to eat it everytime I see it, I now rank this as the 2nd best mobile food stall in Bangkok.

Stranger in Bangkok's BEST Mobile Food Stall: Pad Thai

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that I am just missing food back home, because 4 of my top 5 are not traditional Thai food. They are either Chinese food, French pastry or a childish cold drink.

You are not completely wrong, but I think I redeem myself by presenting to you a pure Thai dish as my number 1...... Pad Thai!!

The Pad Thai is usually served on 3 medium-sized white oval trays

This is an absolute must-try if you see it, especially if you love Pad Thai in the first place. The uncle you see in the picture only cooks them in small batches of perhaps around 10 servings per time. If you observe him cook, you will see how meticulous he is. He never looks flustered even though he's always busy, and the heaps of dried shrimp, chives and beansprouts ensure that his Pad Thai is not only tasty but healthy as well, and because there is a perpetual queue for his noodles (especially during mealtimes), you are almost certain to get your bowl piping hot. If you are not sure which of the 3 variants to choose, I recommend the spicy flat noodle without shrimp, because it saves you the trouble of peeling, and it gives you more noodles to enjoy for the same price.

Trust me, it tastes better than it looks.

So there you go, my top 5 mobile food stalls that will never disappoint you if you are lucky enough to see them during a tiring shopping trip in Bangkok. Don't say I didn't tell you!


PS. These opinions are purely mine, and I would like to hear from you! Do you agree with me? If not, do you have other mobile food stalls that you would like to recommend to me and all my readers? Feel free to leave comments!