having just returned, the best mistake to avoid is eating in high end western restaurants.. for example we ate at a steakhouse which was average and with wine, paid £70 a head..... we ate at local Thai restaurants for £6/£7 inc drinks and the food was superb
When I go to SE Asia the very first thing I do is to go to a pharmacy and get Ercefuryl (Maybe Erfuzide in Thailand). If you feel that “knife in the gut” feeling (it will be very familiar to anyone who’s done a lot of traveling where sanitation practices are a bit more lax), don’t wait, just take it immediately. Of course it won’t help if it’s food that has already actually spoiled and all the toxins are in it, but more common is an unfamiliar bacteria running amok in your gut till your system learns to deal with it. There’s no need to just suffer through it; it will keep things at a low simmer till your system catches up.
We Singaporeans, regardless of race, all take Chinese medicine Po Chai Pills. My friend, who's a true blue Singaporean ethnic Indian, brought along a few packets with him when he visited India.
Excellent video. You have a great format and presentation and you speak very clear and concise. You don’t make the same mistakes that most Thai bloggers make and that is too much personal exposition and too much camera time on themselves. I know Bangkok fairly well and it’s great to see you walking around some of my favourite places. A video about markets and where to buy the best quality clothing, accessories etc would be awesome. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the kind words! It’s much appreciated. Haha I think people prefer to see the city rather than look at my mug for too long. Great idea for a video. I will cover that soon. Cheers
I'm Thai. I love this video. You have covered all local tricks most Thai people know and are aware of. One thing I want to add is to be extra careful not only water (bottled water is fine) but also ice. Some street food vendors often use unhygienic ice and that's one the main reasons my foreign friends got bangkok belly.
We were in China for a month but we did not get sick. We were extra careful. Europe and US even local restaurants we got sick overconfident food are clean. How about the kitchen and the food preparers? Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, I have to take precautions to enjoy my travel.
Good Advice. I always do that, everything cooked in front of you, no fresh vegetables, salads and prepared fruits, no drinks prepared except bottled water or other flavored drinks. You have zero to very slim chances of getting sick. You will enjoy your travel more. For fresh mangoes and papaya I will buy them whole, wash and eat in the hotel room.
I have only made one mistake over the last 37 years going regularly to Thailand. That was eating raw oysters! I have never been so sick!! I managed to get over it by eating a few IMODIUM!! I should probably have gone to a hospital, but sitting on a toilet with a bucket between my knees makes that a bit difficult!! Never eat anything RAW!! The normal street food has never made me sick.
I had a bad oyster out of a package of 12, bought at a reputable fish seller in Italy....I ate 6, my dad ate 6....I puked for about 2 days, he was perfecty fine. And since then I feel queasy even looking at oysters (I used to love them).
Cal: "Cooked rice should not be left out for more than one hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Signs of spoiled rice include a strange look or smell, changes in texture, or an undesirable taste. Eating spoiled rice may lead to food poisoning. " I ran afoul of this from eating some Italian Risotto from a downtown restaurant in Saigon. I had eaten the same dish there before. My first clue was that it tasted a little off. Within an hour, my stomach started getting upset, and with two hours, I was running at both ends every 15-20 minutes for almost 36 hours. It smelled very similar to what I had eaten. I have been a cook in the US Navy and in civilian life for over 55 years, and this was a new one on me. It's caused by the bacterium Bacillus cereus. BTW, I've lived in SE Asia for 23 years and 4 countries, so you know I've eaten a lot of rice. This was the only time I ever got food poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. Symptoms usually start 0.5 to 5 hours after eating contaminated food and last for 6 to 24 hours.
I think I have to settle for fried rice, noodles, Pad Thai no bean sprouts and cooked in front of me. Clean plastic containers or bring my own plus my own utensils.
I ate anything I wanted in Thailand on the street prawns ,chicken kabobs with hot peanut butter sauce etc... got sick once and was hospitalized for 2 days due to eating in a high end resort. Your video is spot on. Hospital cost $2 US so used it as a learning experience 😂
I’ve been to Thailand quite a lot over the last decade as my girlfriend lives there, the one time I got really sick from anything digested was actually on Ko Samet and the ice I had in my drink, I was on the toilet for a good 24 hours. When leaving the island a day later I noticed a truck delivering bags of ice to another restaurant and noticed the bags were dirty they obviously recycle the bags and I’m guessing that’s where I got it from as I was the only one who had ice in my drink the night I got sick and had the same food as everyone else.
You easy can see from the ice itself where its coming from, in order to save money and max profit. The licensed and monitored ice manufacturers all produce an ice cube that has a hole in the middle; their own production is only ice cube (without a hole) :)
Great tips! I visit Thailand at least 1-2 times a year and have never gotten food poisoning from street food, esp. if you see locals buying. I've found plenty of gems by just spotting the local crowds. Be more careful in touristy areas. Also too much spicy food will give you the runs sometimes. It's not food poisoning, great way to clear the system :)
I was in Bangkok 2 weeks ago. I had a craving for pizza, so I found the highest rated pizza vendor on Grab. The mushroom pizza I ordered gave me horrendous food poisoning for 2 days. It was a terrible experience.
Thank you, new sub, your video is amazing! Im experiencing Thailand now and Im soooo blown away by the streetfood :) I also tried the sky rooftop restaurants serving western food, its amazing too but loving the streetfood more :) I also tried raw oysters both in street and in high end restaurants and Im good yayy, no belly issues, thank goodness :)
I found the best way to get a gauge on food from different places including here in Australia is to order the Pad Thai. You can see how each restaurant or food place is with Thai food just by having the Pad Thai. And it is not generally a spicey dish so you can brave it if you don't like hot spices.
Good information. But also in Thailand there are a lot of “fast food -bakeries “ .Usually found in food courts,BTS, and MRT stations , they have a good selection of baked breads and pastries at very reasonable prices. 14:17
LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS, IM GOING TO THAILAND IN FEBRUARY FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND YOUR VIDEOS HAVE HELPED ME SO MUCH. VERY KNOWLEDGABLE, HONEST, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH!
Great new video dude. Getting my flight from England in 7 hours... Will be in Bangkok by 4pm tomorrow. Taking the train and MRT to my hostel, the straight into Chinatown for tasty food. Can't wait.
I love connecting to BTS by the Airport Link from Suvarnabhumi.I never seen airport transportation at such a low price and as convenient anywhere else I’ve ever been.
I've been to Thailand many times, and have become ill twice. Once from eating at the airport, once from a smoothie. My best advice is to mainly eat stir fried foods, such as Pad Thai. The high temperatures used in stir frying will usually kill (or weaken) any bacteria that might be present. I would also suggest taking Activated Charcoal capsules at the first sign of a problem. Activated Charcoal will absorb toxins quickly if it's taken soon after the ingestion of said toxins. Thais themselves will look for food service that has a high percentage of Thais as customers.
I had Pad Thai brought to me at a beer bar from a restaurant nearby. It looked fine but it d Didn't have much of a smell. You didn't smell it and say "wow that smells great!" I ate it, didn't feel right, went back to my hotel, and about 2 hours later it was coming out from both ends. 🤮 Something in it was "old" but I don't know what. 🤪
I've been visiting Thailand regularly for the past 30 years - I used to live in HK and now in the Philippines so a trip to Thailand was/is convenient. I have only had food poisoning once - grilled chicken from a street stall on the road from Bangkok to Phetchabun. I put that one down to bad luck since the family and our travelling companions were fine. As for favourite cuisine, I have always had a soft spot and indeed a hankering for Isaan food.
Did a guided walking tour of the Yaorwarat Rd, a few years ago which was interesting. Saw the old movie theatre, an early department store, a market area etc, which was great, and then we stopped for an included meal/snack; a prawn cocktail. I am not really big on prawns and this had me bed ridden in my nice hotel room for about 2.5 days, Love your channel. Thank you.
Great advice! This advice is even more critical to follow, when roaming outside of Bangkok, where food & water safety can be more problematic. I would wash any fruits, which are to be consumed unpeeled, with filtered water, not tap water. And, as a general rule, I would also wash any vegetables, esp. those which are to be consumed raw, with filtered water, as well. When cooking at home, I am of the opinion that only filtered water should be used, even for dishes where you are not actually consuming the water, such as washing/cooking rice, boiling pasta, etc. I would also rinse the dishes with boiling hot, filtered water, after washing them with soap & tap water, and then allow all dishes, utensils, pots & pans to thoroughly air dry, before putting them away.
@@stepchicken3238 Ha, ha! So true! The proliferation of empty bottles has actually happened to me in the past, while living overseas. I learned to repurpose those bottles, to store food staples such as rice, flour, sugar, etc. as well as use them as planters to start seedlings. Bangkok has a lot of filtered water stations, which you can use to refill those bottles, so this is less likely to be a problem. But, I will probably invest in a gravity-fed ceramic water filter system, too.
Had a lot of smoothies in Thailand when i was there last January . I had them made with coconut water . Although i must say the best ever one i got , was the Thai Tea smoothie at the dairy queen stand , in the bottom level of the Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok
I lived in Thailand for over 30 years and never had food poisoning. The mere change of climate or food diet is the most probable cause of upset bowels in the first days of a stay. It goes both ways: when I go back to France, I enjoy stomach ache. Regarding deep fried food: the vendors sale the used oil at about half the price to be processed to make bio diesel. This is a good incentive to change the oil often enough. One problem with fired food is fried insects, many enough people may have an allergy to one type of insects (or shrimps) and as the same oil is being used to fry everything, everything can trigger the allergy: it happened to enough Thai people I know to make it a rule to beware fried insects.
30 years is quite the record. I agree though... the adaptation period is tough, and it catches most travelers. I agree with you on the reused oil and it's a good point on how it's used to cook all kinds of foods. Thanks for your input!
For someone who adores mangoes, papaya and fresh coconut, would you recommend buying whole from foods stalls and washing in hotel rooms?? How would that work for coconut? If you go to a bar for a drink, do you avoid ordering anything with ice??
It’s definitely better to buy the whole fruit if possible, but in busy areas most vendors should be okay as they probably sell a lot of fruit quickly. But still always a small risk from contamination. Fresh coconuts are opened on the spot, so they are fine. Most ice is made from distilled water as well, though the packing and transportation can add some risks.
Thanks for info and I always queue up behind a local and copycat to what he/she orders and amend accordingly to my spiciness tolerance level ...very simple
Enjoy your videos Cal. Question : after all your years in Thailand, where have you settled and called home ? Which city ? Keep up the excellent content. There’s so many rubbish so called content creators living in Thailand, it’s nice to see your channel because it’s so well done. Greetings from Vancouver
Great video Cal. I actually bumped into you in the backstreets of Chinatown whilst you were making this video. It was great to meet one of my favourite UA-camrs. It gave a real insight into just how much effort goes into creating great content. This video contains lots of really useful advice about food in Thailand. As a fellow cat lover, I also carry a few pouches of cat food with me when I'm out and about. Keep up the good work sir!
I went to one street market and there were a lot of Thais lined up at one stand . They were buying what looked like a vegetarian dish that was deep fried . So i joined the queue and when i finally got to the front , i actually got just 70% of the serving that the locals got and for the same price. It was a really nice dish but i felt ripped off
Great video. I plan on being in Thailand in a little over 2 weeks. Very excited. But I am always cautiously excited when it comes to foreign foods. I do want to try lots of Thai food, including street food. Can you please tell me, what is the best medication that I can buy in their pharmacies for food poisoning? I am sure it will probably be different than what might be found in the US.
I was in Bali, really hungry and went to a street food vendor a few years ago. The stall had without a joke had about 100 flies swarming and landing on the food. No surprise I walked away. The Balinese people I was with ordered it and ate it. I couldn’t believe it.
9 yrs in Bangkok- wow, I can barely last a few days there without panic attacks. Just tooooo much. And oh yes, I'd love to order lots of different things and share.. but travelling alone.. not so easy
Hi there, Today is the first time I've watched your channel. I would really love to come to Thailand for just this one reason. That is Soi Dog in Phuket. I love dogs and how this organization started and the amazing work they have done. Have you ever heard of then or maybe ever been there ? How safe is it for a woman to travel alone in Thailand ?
I'm familiar with the organization. They do very good work. Thailand is actually a very safe country, especially for female travelers. Just exercise normal caution, but I'd rank it as safer than many western countries in terms of crime. Cheers!
@@thebangkokguide Please. Just one more question. I take pain medication which is considered and Opiate "Naloxone". I saw that might be a big problem with that. Right?
@thebangkokguide I will. I also saw your video at the airport, I will be careful especially with taxi drivers. I have a question: for New Year's Eve are there places where you can see the fireworks for free? I read about iconsiam and aquatique, but I ask you since you have lived there for 9 years, you will surely be able to advise me
Good video. I am sensitive to MSG which can be a problem in Thailand especially in the food courts. For some reason they seem to load up dishes there, which is a shame as I love Thai food and Thai food courts. I actually got food poisoning after asking for no MSG in a dish. I heard the cook berating the her son, when he passed on my order and I got a very quickly made and, in hind sight, undercooked chicken dish was served to me. I was down for almost a week. Not the first time I have had an cook upset after asking for no MSG. I know to just cancel the order now if I get even a slight negative reaction to this request.
Mostly I agree, except for the Western fast food. The times I have eaten at McDonald's was the best McDonald's food I have ever had; it actually looked like the advertisements and tasted great! And the only 2 times I ever had stomach issues in Thailand were both when I had eaten at KFC. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm not eating there again. .
The thing about food poisoning is it’s not always easy to determine what caused it. Different pathogens and toxins have different effects. It could have been anything you ate within the last two days, not necessarily your most recent meal.
@thomashobbs1498 : Google Bacillus cereus. The effects start within 1-2 hours. I know, read my comment above. You can get it from cooked rice, and it ain't pretty!
@Admiral: cereus Bacillus. "Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. Symptoms usually start 0.5 to 5 hours after eating contaminated food and last for 6 to 24 hours."
My advice. Avoid any food places where a man does the cooking. From my observation, 90% of Thai men do not wash their hands after using the toilet. I observed this even during COVID. Thai women do wash their hands, according to my girlfriend.
The problem is that in many restaurants the cooks are nearly always men. Obviously with street vendors you can see who is cooking. But some or all preparations may have taken place elsewhere.
I've never seen any Thai men not washing their hands after using toilets before but some Europeans. You migh have seen ethnic minorities. Most Thais are quite concerned about personal hygiene, especially in the big cities like Bangkok.
Hey Cal, I'm visiting thailand next month, and staying at Berkeley pratunam. I wonder would you recommend me to take a taxi from hotel directly to soi 57 or by MRT to hua mak station? It's 2,3 km to walk from hua mak to my destination
Depends how much you like walking! Taxi or Grab might be easier. Just make sure the driver uses the meter and should be alright! Cheers and safe travels!
Luckily in all the years of coming to Thailand I have never gotten food poisoning. Only once in Vietnam did I feel a little queasy after eating a bowl of pho. After a long night of drinking I have drank the tap water in BKK and Pattaya and no problems…
I had a friend who lived off tap water for 6 months to "test it'. He was fine. We got some interesting folks running all the tests over here lol. Cheers!
I've found Bangkok to be quite reliable. I'd be a bit more cautious in the islands and just keep an eye on how sanitary the area around the stand is. Don't worry too much! Once in 9 years isn't too bad. Cheers!
Street food is a bit of a lottery. The hot climate is a factor such as not keeping chicken & meats refrigeratored to the correct temperature or the vendor using street water to wash pans & utensils. As Cal said, follow the masses to the tried and true vendors is probably the best advice
I totally agree with the content. One more think to look at is cross contemination. I think you did mention it at one point. Thai often like their food 'rare' where for tourists it's best to have their food 'well done' to speak in 'steak terms'. Don't feel shy to order 'well done'. Don't expect you can eat things raw that you can eat raw in your own country. The quality is not the same. For instance oysters can be eaten raw in my country and it's a delicacy. The quality control is high. Not in Thailand. Cook your oysters. Raw salads are often an problem. Avoid them. This is not just about Thailand but it's advice for all over the world. Your system is just not ready.
I agree. The cutting boards can be a big issue… even using the same utensils for handling meat as it’s put on a grill and taken off. That one is a hidden one that’s hard to avoid! Thanks for your input!
@@Arcgurren For sure. But we don't know who the food suppliers are. At home I use raw prime salmon and even raw prime beef to make sushi myself. I like my steak rare or medium rare. But not on holiday because I don't know the quality control of the food. Better safe than sorry.
Some really useful tips for new travellers to Thailand. I would add to be really careful when using "nit noy" if you want your food to not be too spicy. What means "a little" spicy to us isn't the same as what means "a little" spicy to Thai people. For them, a little spicy will still feel quite spicy to westerners. For those who struggle with spices, "mai pet" is the safest option. We've been vegan for years and always grateful to have made that choice but even more so when we are in Thailand. First because there are so many vegan or "J" places to eat where it's delicious and cheap but also because we don't have to worry about food poisoning. It would be extremely rare if not impossible to get food poisoning from veggies, tofu and plant based foods. If I wasn't already vegan, those markets with meat and fish sitting there in the heat for hours without any refrigeration would have done it lol I'm definitely a cat lady and proud of it so thank you for showing the kitties at the end. There's a cat cafe in Asoke which is has a cat rescue on the first floor with adoptable cats. One of the volunteers explained to me that a lot of the roaming cats aren't strays; they are usually fed by the community and I have seen it many times when walking around. All the best 🙂
Thanks for your added tips! I will checkout the cat cafe. Big cat person as well. Most of the cats are fed by the community and there are bowls normally left out. I like to walk around sometimes and feed the cats. Cheers!
You can get all sort of diseases from contaminated fruits and vegs, from listeria to salmonella, passing via various parasites and even hep A. I used to work in a food microbiology lab, and what grew out of vegetables, especally raw ones, was often more "interesting" that the usual suspects from eggs and meat.
[1] Live Parasites in the meats at street market stalls and restaurants are common in Thailand as the meats are not cooked long enough and the parasites will nest in your stomach. So takes drops of "black walnut wormwood complex" immediately before and after eating meat to unalive live parasites [2] asking for non spicey food or unsweet drinks (especially coffee) does not always mean that there will be no spice or sweetness as the ingredients often have spice and sugar in them
The most thing that makes you sick is ice. If you can see how Thai people delivery ice from the ice vendors to each street food vendors, you will be stunned.
@@thebangkokguide HAHA, once it was Chinese food for me as well. With street food you can pretty much guarantee that it's fresh that day unlike a restaurant that doesn't store their food properly.
Western fast food in Thailand is generally high quality as well compared to Australia. Actually get Burger King like the pictures, awesome pizza etc. A complete food Mecca with something for all
Hygiene from my experience is a big concern rats and bugs lot of the vendors are poor and they don't throw food out they sell it the next day be extremely careful I got sick and crapped for 3 days
That can definitely be a risk.. it's much more common in the tourist areas due to the one-time business model that exists there. Local vendors are much less likely to risk getting their customers sick as they will go out of business quite quickly.
This can definitely be an issue. Often there is a tap area and washing area around the vendor. That is a good point on something to keep an eye out for! Cheers
I had 1 bad experience in 38 years : small crabs fried in oil that I bought in Silom. That's 250+ trips. It's not always about the Bangkok food itself, but the types of food, and your health and immune system. Some people are always sick 😂. I avoid sugar in food, and fried foods. " Mai tong sai namtan !"
having just returned, the best mistake to avoid is eating in high end western restaurants.. for example we ate at a steakhouse which was average and with wine, paid £70 a head..... we ate at local Thai restaurants for £6/£7 inc drinks and the food was superb
Som nom naa !
£6-7 for a full family, ok.
£6-7 a head, robbed
I find a lot of the western food places can be overpriced and quality isn’t always matching compared with Thai food. Cheers
@@john32703 So you expect to pay £2 a head for a starter, main, rice and a couple of beers? Where are you eating? From a dumpster?
Yes good advice
When I go to SE Asia the very first thing I do is to go to a pharmacy and get Ercefuryl (Maybe Erfuzide in Thailand). If you feel that “knife in the gut” feeling (it will be very familiar to anyone who’s done a lot of traveling where sanitation practices are a bit more lax), don’t wait, just take it immediately. Of course it won’t help if it’s food that has already actually spoiled and all the toxins are in it, but more common is an unfamiliar bacteria running amok in
your gut till your system learns to deal with it. There’s no need to just suffer through it; it will keep things at a low simmer till your system catches up.
Good advice! Thanks for your input!
We Singaporeans, regardless of race, all take Chinese medicine Po Chai Pills. My friend, who's a true blue Singaporean ethnic Indian, brought along a few packets with him when he visited India.
Is this by any chance related to Erceflora? This is a probiotic that works for me when I have diarrhea. Much better than something like Imodium.
@ no, it’s not a probiotic.
@@sazji You're right, I just looked it up. The one I brought up was a water-like liquid that you twist and pour into your mouth.
As a Thai person
I totally agree with your content:)
Thank you for the kind words! Cheers
Excellent video. You have a great format and presentation and you speak very clear and concise. You don’t make the same mistakes that most Thai bloggers make and that is too much personal exposition and too much camera time on themselves. I know Bangkok fairly well and it’s great to see you walking around some of my favourite places. A video about markets and where to buy the best quality clothing, accessories etc would be awesome. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the kind words! It’s much appreciated. Haha I think people prefer to see the city rather than look at my mug for too long. Great idea for a video. I will cover that soon. Cheers
I'm Thai. I love this video. You have covered all local tricks most Thai people know and are aware of. One thing I want to add is to be extra careful not only water (bottled water is fine) but also ice. Some street food vendors often use unhygienic ice and that's one the main reasons my foreign friends got bangkok belly.
Thanks for the kind words! Good advice on the ice as well. Cheers
We were in China for a month but we did not get sick. We were extra careful. Europe and US even local restaurants we got sick overconfident food are clean. How about the kitchen and the food preparers?
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, I have to take precautions to enjoy my travel.
Good Advice. I always do that, everything cooked in front of you, no fresh vegetables, salads and prepared fruits, no drinks prepared except bottled water or other flavored drinks. You have zero to very slim chances of getting sick. You will enjoy your travel more. For fresh mangoes and papaya I will buy them whole, wash and eat in the hotel room.
Definitely much nicer to travel on a good stomach! Good advice. Cheers
Thank you again Cal. This is one of the best food guides i have seen lately about Thai.
Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated!
I have only made one mistake over the last 37 years going regularly to Thailand. That was eating raw oysters! I have never been so sick!! I managed to get over it by eating a few IMODIUM!! I should probably have gone to a hospital, but sitting on a toilet with a bucket between my knees makes that a bit difficult!! Never eat anything RAW!! The normal street food has never made me sick.
I avoid any raw foods… could have added the oysters specifically as well! Thanks for your input!
No raw food is the best policy.
mussels from last week that are sold to you mostly on the beach are also a death wish
No raw seafood even though how good and delicious it looks during travel.
I had a bad oyster out of a package of 12, bought at a reputable fish seller in Italy....I ate 6, my dad ate 6....I puked for about 2 days, he was perfecty fine. And since then I feel queasy even looking at oysters (I used to love them).
Cal: "Cooked rice should not be left out for more than one hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Signs of spoiled rice include a strange look or smell, changes in texture, or an undesirable taste. Eating spoiled rice may lead to food poisoning. "
I ran afoul of this from eating some Italian Risotto from a downtown restaurant in Saigon. I had eaten the same dish there before. My first clue was that it tasted a little off. Within an hour, my stomach started getting upset, and with two hours, I was running at both ends every 15-20 minutes for almost 36 hours. It smelled very similar to what I had eaten.
I have been a cook in the US Navy and in civilian life for over 55 years, and this was a new one on me.
It's caused by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
BTW, I've lived in SE Asia for 23 years and 4 countries, so you know I've eaten a lot of rice. This was the only time I ever got food poisoning.
Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. Symptoms usually start 0.5 to 5 hours after eating contaminated food and last for 6 to 24 hours.
I got sick from rice like that in Canada before… definitely agree. Thanks for your input!
I think I have to settle for fried rice, noodles, Pad Thai no bean sprouts and cooked in front of me. Clean plastic containers or bring my own plus my own utensils.
I ate anything I wanted in Thailand on the street prawns ,chicken kabobs with hot peanut butter sauce etc... got sick once and was hospitalized for 2 days due to eating in a high end resort. Your video is spot on. Hospital cost $2 US so used it as a learning experience 😂
Yeah the high end spots can be iffy. Hospital costs are very inexpensive if you opt for a public hospital! Cheers
Thanks again Cal, I really appreciate your knowledge and info as I will definitely be trying the street foods but with caution lol..
Thanks for the kind words. Plenty of great food to enjoy but just need to warm up the stomach haha
I’ve been to Thailand quite a lot over the last decade as my girlfriend lives there, the one time I got really sick from anything digested was actually on Ko Samet and the ice I had in my drink, I was on the toilet for a good 24 hours. When leaving the island a day later I noticed a truck delivering bags of ice to another restaurant and noticed the bags were dirty they obviously recycle the bags and I’m guessing that’s where I got it from as I was the only one who had ice in my drink the night I got sick and had the same food as everyone else.
The islands are always a bit tricky... especially with ice. Thanks for sharing.
Some bags were used for other things like meat.
You easy can see from the ice itself where its coming from, in order to save money and max profit. The licensed and monitored ice manufacturers all produce an ice cube that has a hole in the middle; their own production is only ice cube (without a hole) :)
Pretty good advice to be fair, I've lived here for 33 years and I see many blogs that are off the mark, this one was good advice.
Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated especially from a long term expat! Cheers
Great tips! I visit Thailand at least 1-2 times a year and have never gotten food poisoning from street food, esp. if you see locals buying. I've found plenty of gems by just spotting the local crowds. Be more careful in touristy areas.
Also too much spicy food will give you the runs sometimes. It's not food poisoning, great way to clear the system :)
Totally agree. Local spots are the easy winners… I avoid any tourist restaurants.
I was in Bangkok 2 weeks ago.
I had a craving for pizza, so I found the highest rated pizza vendor on Grab.
The mushroom pizza I ordered gave me horrendous food poisoning for 2 days.
It was a terrible experience.
Sounds about right 😅 Hopefully wasn’t too rough.
what was the place? im having a trip soon so ik who to avoid
From experience Pizza and western fast food chains are the worst culprits.
@@FlashInThePan-q5u seriously? you'd expect famous joints to practise food safety for brand reputation.
You ate the not well cooked mushrooms. How about the drink?
Thank you, new sub, your video is amazing! Im experiencing Thailand now and Im soooo blown away by the streetfood :) I also tried the sky rooftop restaurants serving western food, its amazing too but loving the streetfood more :) I also tried raw oysters both in street and in high end restaurants and Im good yayy, no belly issues, thank goodness :)
Sounds like your testing out everything! So many places to visit here. Enjoy your travels!
I found the best way to get a gauge on food from different places including here in Australia is to order the Pad Thai. You can see how each restaurant or food place is with Thai food just by having the Pad Thai. And it is not generally a spicey dish so you can brave it if you don't like hot spices.
That’s fair. Pad Thai is normally very mild.. easy on the system. Good approach!
Street food vendors take great pride...in their food prep
I agree!
Thx for the video Cal! Super helpful! Love hearing tips and recommendations from a fellow Canadian haha
Glad it's helpful! Always good to get a compliment from Canadians as well. Cheers!
Love the information ❤
Thanks! Cheers
Good information. But also in Thailand there are a lot of “fast food -bakeries “ .Usually found in food courts,BTS, and MRT stations , they have a good selection of baked breads and pastries at very reasonable prices. 14:17
Definitely have some nice pastry spots! Cheers
Terminal 21 food court near Asok. Best meal for 3 dollars or less - if you can find a seat.
Definitely. Used to be my go to spot but these days it’s just way too busy 😅
An it has a view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge too! Isn't that right?
I'll be in the area in February, always wanted to check the food court. This time I will
LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS, IM GOING TO THAILAND IN FEBRUARY FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND YOUR VIDEOS HAVE HELPED ME SO MUCH. VERY KNOWLEDGABLE, HONEST, AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH!
I'm glad they are helpful! Safe travels and enjoy your holiday!
Great new video dude. Getting my flight from England in 7 hours... Will be in Bangkok by 4pm tomorrow. Taking the train and MRT to my hostel, the straight into Chinatown for tasty food. Can't wait.
Sounds like a great plan! Have a safe flight!
amazing bro✈️😎
Heading there tomorrow too, from Australia 🍻
I love connecting to BTS by the Airport Link from Suvarnabhumi.I never seen airport transportation at such a low price and as convenient anywhere else I’ve ever been.
@@thebangkokguide Can i ask what camera you used for filming this video? Thanks.
Was just there for xmas and new year's and got sick from a smoothie. We were very careful about what we ate but this one got me for a couple days.
Sorry to hear that. Hope the rest of the trip went well!
I've been to Thailand many times, and have become ill twice. Once from eating at the airport, once from a smoothie. My best advice is to mainly eat stir fried foods, such as Pad Thai. The high temperatures used in stir frying will usually kill (or weaken) any bacteria that might be present. I would also suggest taking Activated Charcoal capsules at the first sign of a problem. Activated Charcoal will absorb toxins quickly if it's taken soon after the ingestion of said toxins. Thais themselves will look for food service that has a high percentage of Thais as customers.
I agree with your advice. The high heat is generally the best protection. Cheers
I had Pad Thai brought to me at a beer bar from a restaurant nearby. It looked fine but it d
Didn't have much of a smell. You didn't smell it and say "wow that smells great!" I ate it, didn't feel right, went back to my hotel, and about 2 hours later it was coming out from both ends. 🤮
Something in it was "old" but I don't know what. 🤪
That was an awesome bunch of info. Thank you!
I’m glad it’s useful! Cheers
GR8 VLOG! I've been working & living in Bangkok since 1988. Cheers! 🍻
Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated esp from long time expats like yourself. Cheers
This video came at the right timing for me. I was wondering about the street food there. Thanks for the valuable information.
I'm glad it's helpful! Cheers
Thanks Cal you're the man. I'm gonna follow you and the important information I need to know. Lvu for that, brother. Keep it coming .😊
Thanks for the kind words and support. Cheers
Great information. Thai food in Thailand is world-class, and I love spicy foods, but I always have Imodium in my pocket at all times.
I agree with everything you said 😅 Cheers
I've been visiting Thailand regularly for the past 30 years - I used to live in HK and now in the Philippines so a trip to Thailand was/is convenient. I have only had food poisoning once - grilled chicken from a street stall on the road from Bangkok to Phetchabun. I put that one down to bad luck since the family and our travelling companions were fine. As for favourite cuisine, I have always had a soft spot and indeed a hankering for Isaan food.
Big fan of Isaan food as well! Probably my favorite here. One case of food poisoning in 30 years of visits is a solid record. Cheers!
Did a guided walking tour of the Yaorwarat Rd, a few years ago which was interesting. Saw the old movie theatre, an early department store, a market area etc, which was great, and then we stopped for an included meal/snack; a prawn cocktail. I am not really big on prawns and this had me bed ridden in my nice hotel room for about 2.5 days, Love your channel. Thank you.
Prawn cocktail sounds about right.. guided tour straight to food poisoning 😅
Just back 2 weeks ago from Thailand and had the Thai belly from bad mango sticky rice at Chatuchuk market...Charcoal pills help immensely...🙂
The mango sticky rice can definitely do it if as it can sit out for a while. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Good information. I haven't had any problem on my two trips to Thailand, I eat mainly street food and you are spot on with your advice.👍
Sounds like your doing well with your food choices! Cheers
Great advice! This advice is even more critical to follow, when roaming outside of Bangkok, where food & water safety can be more problematic.
I would wash any fruits, which are to be consumed unpeeled, with filtered water, not tap water. And, as a general rule, I would also wash any vegetables, esp. those which are to be consumed raw, with filtered water, as well.
When cooking at home, I am of the opinion that only filtered water should be used, even for dishes where you are not actually consuming the water, such as washing/cooking rice, boiling pasta, etc.
I would also rinse the dishes with boiling hot, filtered water, after washing them with soap & tap water, and then allow all dishes, utensils, pots & pans to thoroughly air dry, before putting them away.
Definitely sound advice. I think your more cautious than me but definitely a safe approach! Cheers
So, you'd better buy a water filter machine while out there, or you'll soon be up to your ears in empty bottles!
@@stepchicken3238 Ha, ha! So true!
The proliferation of empty bottles has actually happened to me in the past, while living overseas. I learned to repurpose those bottles, to store food staples such as rice, flour, sugar, etc. as well as use them as planters to start seedlings.
Bangkok has a lot of filtered water stations, which you can use to refill those bottles, so this is less likely to be a problem. But, I will probably invest in a gravity-fed ceramic water filter system, too.
Most sensible advice I’ve seen. Good job.
Thank you!
Nice video. I'm from Manila and i'll be travelling to Bangkok. Thanks for the tips. the streetfood here in Manila have a huge difference.
Thanks for the kind words. Definitely a different street food culture there!
Had a lot of smoothies in Thailand when i was there last January . I had them made with coconut water . Although i must say the best ever one i got , was the Thai Tea smoothie at the dairy queen stand , in the bottom level of the Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok
I shall check it out. Thanks for the tip!
Excellent video. Thank you Cal!
Thank you for the kind words!
Helpful pieces of information. Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad it’s helpful! Cheers
You make great videos Cal. Thank you again!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers!
Thanks for this. I have only had food poisoning a few times - it's always undercooked chicken. I hadn't even considered fresh fruit!
Undercooked chicken is a problem too. Had to bin chicken from bigger chains before due to undercooking
Good Video! Clear and concise, very informative about the things I wanted to know. Thank you.
I’m glad it’s helpful! Cheers
Cal...Your videos are TOP NOTCH!!!
thank you
Thank you for the kind words!
Next month , we are going to have a trip in Thailand and you made me very anxious , because We have very picky GI systems
You should be okay. Just avoid the uncooked foods or foods that sit out. Cheers!
Super scary. I have a sensitive stomach as well
I lived in Thailand for over 30 years and never had food poisoning.
The mere change of climate or food diet is the most probable cause of upset bowels in the first days of a stay. It goes both ways: when I go back to France, I enjoy stomach ache.
Regarding deep fried food: the vendors sale the used oil at about half the price to be processed to make bio diesel. This is a good incentive to change the oil often enough. One problem with fired food is fried insects, many enough people may have an allergy to one type of insects (or shrimps) and as the same oil is being used to fry everything, everything can trigger the allergy: it happened to enough Thai people I know to make it a rule to beware fried insects.
30 years is quite the record. I agree though... the adaptation period is tough, and it catches most travelers. I agree with you on the reused oil and it's a good point on how it's used to cook all
kinds of foods. Thanks for your input!
14 days and a wake up to 🇹🇭
Excited! Thanks for your tips!
Glad they are helpful! Safe travels!
Nice Compilation! Some people skip the street food all together and stick to box restaurants. They truly are missing out! Keep having fun!
Thanks for the kind words. I agree. Love exploring and trying the street food! Cheers
@@thebangkokguide 100 percent, I keep finding so many spots during my walks around here! My google maps is full haha.
Great video! Im a subscriber now! 😊
Thanks for the kind words and support!
Love your deep voice. Great content.
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
For someone who adores mangoes, papaya and fresh coconut, would you recommend buying whole from foods stalls and washing in hotel rooms?? How would that work for coconut? If you go to a bar for a drink, do you avoid ordering anything with ice??
It’s definitely better to buy the whole fruit if possible, but in busy areas most vendors should be okay as they probably sell a lot of fruit quickly. But still always a small risk from contamination. Fresh coconuts are opened on the spot, so they are fine. Most ice is made from distilled water as well, though the packing and transportation can add some risks.
Thank you so much for your info!
Cheers!
Great advice again. What’s your thoughts on the msg thing, Cal? I heard some say they don’t want it and some say it’s harmless.
I try to balance my eating by cooking as well… msg is definitely prevalent here but I don’t overthink it.
one of the most beneficial videos for traveling to Thailand thank you❤
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Washing fruits with tap water or bottled water?
And do you use any kind of cleaner or soup to wash the fruits?
I usually use tap water with white vinegar. Vinegar or banking soda are good for removing any pesticide residue.
@@thebangkokguide thank you Cal, Good info 👍
Thanks for info and I always queue up behind a local and copycat to what he/she orders and amend accordingly to my spiciness tolerance level ...very simple
Good plan! Cheers
Useful information!
Thank you!
Thank you for more great tips!
I’m glad they are helpful. Cheers
I love thailand... delicious but affordable foods
Agree! Cheers
Great vid...very useful info...thanks!!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Good advice,he knows from experience!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Best food stands are usually the ones located by the busy BTS stations.
True. Lots of customers!
Enjoy your videos Cal.
Question : after all your years in Thailand, where have you settled and called home ? Which city ?
Keep up the excellent content. There’s so many rubbish so called content creators living in Thailand, it’s nice to see your channel because it’s so well done.
Greetings from Vancouver
Thanks for the kind words. I'll add this one to an upcoming Q&A video as it's a great question! Cheers
Ps how would you rate bakery foods or packaged snacks for safety??
I haven’t had any issues personally. I think normally fairly safe.
Great video Cal. I actually bumped into you in the backstreets of Chinatown whilst you were making this video. It was great to meet one of my favourite UA-camrs. It gave a real insight into just how much effort goes into creating great content. This video contains lots of really useful advice about food in Thailand. As a fellow cat lover, I also carry a few pouches of cat food with me when I'm out and about. Keep up the good work sir!
Thanks for the kind words! I remember. Great conversation and very nice to meet you too. Look forward to seeing some of your videos as well. Cheers!
I went to one street market and there were a lot of Thais lined up at one stand . They were buying what looked like a vegetarian dish that was deep fried . So i joined the queue and when i finally got to the front , i actually got just 70% of the serving that the locals got and for the same price. It was a really nice dish but i felt ripped off
This can happen… usually the vendors won’t treat you differently, but unfortunately it can happen. Thanks for your input!
Great video. I plan on being in Thailand in a little over 2 weeks. Very excited. But I am always cautiously excited when it comes to foreign foods. I do want to try lots of Thai food, including street food. Can you please tell me, what is the best medication that I can buy in their pharmacies for food poisoning? I am sure it will probably be different than what might be found in the US.
I've taken azithromycin... but people have mixed opinions on antibiotics for food poisoning. Activated charcoal can be helpful! Cheers
@@thebangkokguide thank you
Great video…thanks
Thanks for the kind words!
I was in Bali, really hungry and went to a street food vendor a few years ago. The stall had without a joke had about 100 flies swarming and landing on the food. No surprise I walked away. The Balinese people I was with ordered it and ate it. I couldn’t believe it.
Yikes… I suppose the standards could differ. Always best to observe the surroundings a bit as well. Thanks for your input!
9 yrs in Bangkok- wow, I can barely last a few days there without panic attacks. Just tooooo much. And oh yes, I'd love to order lots of different things and share.. but travelling alone.. not so easy
It's definitely not for everyone. I love the hustle and bustle but it definitely can be overwhelming at times! Cheers
Hi there,
Today is the first time I've watched your channel.
I would really love to come to Thailand for just this one reason. That is Soi Dog in Phuket. I love dogs and how this organization started and the amazing work they have done. Have you ever heard of then or maybe ever been there ? How safe is it for a woman to travel alone in Thailand ?
I'm familiar with the organization. They do very good work. Thailand is actually a very safe country, especially for female travelers. Just exercise normal caution, but I'd rank it as safer than many western countries in terms of crime. Cheers!
@@thebangkokguide Please. Just one more question. I take pain medication which is considered and Opiate "Naloxone". I saw that might be a big problem with that. Right?
Thanks for these advices Cal. I'll be in Bangkok in a few days
Glad it’s helpful! Safe travels and enjoy the city!
@thebangkokguide I will. I also saw your video at the airport, I will be careful especially with taxi drivers. I have a question: for New Year's Eve are there places where you can see the fireworks for free? I read about iconsiam and aquatique, but I ask you since you have lived there for 9 years, you will surely be able to advise me
Good video. I am sensitive to MSG which can be a problem in Thailand especially in the food courts. For some reason they seem to load up dishes there, which is a shame as I love Thai food and Thai food courts. I actually got food poisoning after asking for no MSG in a dish. I heard the cook berating the her son, when he passed on my order and I got a very quickly made and, in hind sight, undercooked chicken dish was served to me. I was down for almost a week. Not the first time I have had an cook upset after asking for no MSG. I know to just cancel the order now if I get even a slight negative reaction to this request.
Yeah MSG is extremely common here.. some soups really get overloaded. Thanks for your added input!
Mostly I agree, except for the Western fast food. The times I have eaten at McDonald's was the best McDonald's food I have ever had; it actually looked like the advertisements and tasted great! And the only 2 times I ever had stomach issues in Thailand were both when I had eaten at KFC. Coincidence? Maybe, but I'm not eating there again. .
Always need a little bit of the western fast food in the mix! Cheers
The thing about food poisoning is it’s not always easy to determine what caused it. Different pathogens and toxins have different effects. It could have been anything you ate within the last two days, not necessarily your most recent meal.
I just wrote the same comment and then read your one haha
@thomashobbs1498 : Google Bacillus cereus. The effects start within 1-2 hours. I know, read my comment above. You can get it from cooked rice, and it ain't pretty!
@Admiral: cereus Bacillus. "Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and sometimes diarrhea. Symptoms usually start 0.5 to 5 hours after eating contaminated food and last for 6 to 24 hours."
its just bad karma 😂
That’s true. I agree. Thanks for your input!
My advice. Avoid any food places where a man does the cooking. From my observation, 90% of Thai men do not wash their hands after using the toilet. I observed this even during COVID. Thai women do wash their hands, according to my girlfriend.
That is probably good advice globally 😂
The problem is that in many restaurants the cooks are nearly always men. Obviously with street vendors you can see who is cooking. But some or all preparations may have taken place elsewhere.
I've never seen any Thai men not washing their hands after using toilets before but some Europeans. You migh have seen ethnic minorities. Most Thais are quite concerned about personal hygiene, especially in the big cities like Bangkok.
Coming next month and I'm scared already😊.
Don’t be scared. Haha now you know what to eat.. kindof 😅
Hey Cal, I'm visiting thailand next month, and staying at Berkeley pratunam. I wonder would you recommend me to take a taxi from hotel directly to soi 57 or by MRT to hua mak station? It's 2,3 km to walk from hua mak to my destination
Depends how much you like walking! Taxi or Grab might be easier. Just make sure the driver uses the meter and should be alright! Cheers and safe travels!
Luckily in all the years of coming to Thailand I have never gotten food poisoning. Only once in Vietnam did I feel a little queasy after eating a bowl of pho. After a long night of drinking I have drank the tap water in BKK and Pattaya and no problems…
I had a friend who lived off tap water for 6 months to "test it'. He was fine. We got some interesting folks running all the tests over here lol. Cheers!
I cant take this seriously without laughing out loud thinking holy shit the SHERMINATOR from American pie 🤣🤣🤣
Made it to Thailand. Living the dream lol
what are things to look for when ordering a smoothie :S going to Bangkok for 3 months and heavily rely on smooties and shakes post workout. thanks
I've found Bangkok to be quite reliable. I'd be a bit more cautious in the islands and just keep an eye on how sanitary the area around the stand is. Don't worry too much! Once in 9 years isn't too bad. Cheers!
Thanks! 👍👍
Cheers
I like you Exploring street food thai
I like it too! Always fantastic. Cheers!
Raw fish is also the easiest way to contract Hep A.
Good advice. Def best to avoid the raw fish. Cheers
D'oh! Sushi is out then
Street food is a bit of a lottery. The hot climate is a factor such as not keeping chicken & meats refrigeratored to the correct temperature or the vendor using street water to wash pans & utensils. As Cal said, follow the masses to the tried and true vendors is probably the best advice
That’s a fair assessment. You will sometimes get bad luck. Thanks for your input!
I totally agree with the content. One more think to look at is cross contemination. I think you did mention it at one point. Thai often like their food 'rare' where for tourists it's best to have their food 'well done' to speak in 'steak terms'. Don't feel shy to order 'well done'. Don't expect you can eat things raw that you can eat raw in your own country. The quality is not the same. For instance oysters can be eaten raw in my country and it's a delicacy. The quality control is high. Not in Thailand. Cook your oysters. Raw salads are often an problem. Avoid them. This is not just about Thailand but it's advice for all over the world. Your system is just not ready.
I agree. The cutting boards can be a big issue… even using the same utensils for handling meat as it’s put on a grill and taken off. That one is a hidden one that’s hard to avoid! Thanks for your input!
It's mostly the supplier of food company. As a Thai I prefer shrimp and salmon for undercook menu. The less of seafood is depends on the area.
@@Arcgurren For sure. But we don't know who the food suppliers are. At home I use raw prime salmon and even raw prime beef to make sushi myself. I like my steak rare or medium rare. But not on holiday because I don't know the quality control of the food. Better safe than sorry.
@@thebangkokguide Yep. And many people don't even notice.
Some really useful tips for new travellers to Thailand. I would add to be really careful when using "nit noy" if you want your food to not be too spicy. What means "a little" spicy to us isn't the same as what means "a little" spicy to Thai people. For them, a little spicy will still feel quite spicy to westerners. For those who struggle with spices, "mai pet" is the safest option.
We've been vegan for years and always grateful to have made that choice but even more so when we are in Thailand. First because there are so many vegan or "J" places to eat where it's delicious and cheap but also because we don't have to worry about food poisoning. It would be extremely rare if not impossible to get food poisoning from veggies, tofu and plant based foods.
If I wasn't already vegan, those markets with meat and fish sitting there in the heat for hours without any refrigeration would have done it lol
I'm definitely a cat lady and proud of it so thank you for showing the kitties at the end. There's a cat cafe in Asoke which is has a cat rescue on the first floor with adoptable cats. One of the volunteers explained to me that a lot of the roaming cats aren't strays; they are usually fed by the community and I have seen it many times when walking around.
All the best 🙂
Yea. " Pet nit noi" hot a only a little
If it's not a vegan only restaurant it's not vegan. In my view Thailand is not vegan friendly.
Thanks for your added tips! I will checkout the cat cafe. Big cat person as well. Most of the cats are fed by the community and there are bowls normally left out. I like to walk around sometimes and feed the cats. Cheers!
@@thebangkokguide it’s called the Asoke Pet House very close to Terminal 21. A lovely place to hang out with your wife and son 😊
You can get all sort of diseases from contaminated fruits and vegs, from listeria to salmonella, passing via various parasites and even hep A.
I used to work in a food microbiology lab, and what grew out of vegetables, especally raw ones, was often more "interesting" that the usual suspects from eggs and meat.
I have gotten food poisoning in Thailand before. It’s a terrible experience.
What’s the best cure?
I've taken azithromycin before but some people will prefer more natural remedies like activated charcoal.. and of course plenty of water!
I've had it twice in Phuket from eating raw shrimp. It wasn't nice. High fever, shills, running to the toilet. Still love the raw!
I've eaten the live raw shrimp as well. Didn't actually get sick from it...
[1] Live Parasites in the meats at street market stalls and restaurants are common in Thailand as the meats are not cooked long enough and the parasites will nest in your stomach. So takes drops of "black walnut wormwood complex" immediately before and after eating meat to unalive live parasites [2] asking for non spicey food or unsweet drinks (especially coffee) does not always mean that there will be no spice or sweetness as the ingredients often have spice and sugar in them
The parasites is definitely a rabbit hole 👀
Please go down that rabbit hole lol I may cancel my trip lol
@@Queen221-u3u just Google the story about Tess Swift: Aussie woman’s mystery illness diagnosed 7 years after holiday to Thailand
The most thing that makes you sick is ice. If you can see how Thai people delivery ice from the ice vendors to each street food vendors, you will be stunned.
Yeah I've seen it... though ice has never caused any issues for me. Cheers!
Another thing to avoid is "most" of random local Mhoo Krata shop, I'm Thai myself and shat myself almost to death everytime I go to one😂
Thanks for the advice! Cheers
I got sick a couple of times and it was from 'proper' restaurants not street food.
I think it’s more common… Chinese food that I ordered got me the worst 😅
@@thebangkokguide HAHA, once it was Chinese food for me as well. With street food you can pretty much guarantee that it's fresh that day unlike a restaurant that doesn't store their food properly.
Western fast food in Thailand is generally high quality as well compared to Australia.
Actually get Burger King like the pictures, awesome pizza etc. A complete food Mecca with something for all
I find the quality is fairly good overall... I eat it occasionally as well! Cheers
Hygiene from my experience is a big concern rats and bugs lot of the vendors are poor and they don't throw food out they sell it the next day be extremely careful I got sick and crapped for 3 days
That can definitely be a risk.. it's much more common in the tourist areas due to the one-time business model that exists there. Local vendors are much less likely to risk getting their customers sick as they will go out of business quite quickly.
How do street vendors that serve in dishware and silverware wash their stuff? That's as big a concern.
This can definitely be an issue. Often there is a tap area and washing area around the vendor. That is a good point on something to keep an eye out for! Cheers
I had 1 bad experience in 38 years : small crabs fried in oil that I bought in Silom. That's 250+ trips. It's not always about the Bangkok food itself, but the types of food, and your health and immune system. Some people are always sick 😂. I avoid sugar in food, and fried foods. " Mai tong sai namtan !"
I generally avoid the sugar and fried food as well. One bad experience in 38 years is definitely a win! Cheers
If the deep fried grasshopper is fresh, is it OK?
Anything fried is bad. Especially with their oil. Not the grasshopper itself.
Should be fine. Had a friend who was living off grasshoppers for like a year… then one day he got violently ill and quit 😅 He’s a strange guy.
@ confirm. That's odd. I vomited too
But it as my first and last time
Ohhh ... i recognise Sampheng...love that place
Great area! Cheers