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.
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 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.
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
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
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’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.
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
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.
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 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.
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!
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 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 :)
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.
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.
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
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."
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!
@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
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.
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'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!
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
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!
Like you said, the best advice is eat where the locals eat, you can't go wrong. Found many unexpected gems just wandering around in Bangkok, looking for places with lots of locals. Street food scene is brilliant there
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.
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!
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.
@@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.
[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
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.
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.
Western food is certainly more expensive. And quality is a hell of lot lower quality in fast food chains. Restaurants are all good for the most part but expect to pay western prices if not more
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
Street food hygiene has come a very long way since the government wisely decided that unregulated street food causing food poisoning to tourists is very bad for business. Most street food is pretty safe nowadays. Freshly cooked food that you buy and take home or snack on the go are pretty safe. If you sit down to eat street food, like bowls of noodles, a bit more precaution is needed. Some food carts have no access to running water. If the bowls they are going to put the food in look clean AND DRY, it's probably safe. As the day goes on and you see the vendors washing bowls and utensils in big tubs of soapy water, that should be a red flag.
As far as eating in restaurants, if I eat in a restaurant I will go to one that is frequented by expats. You can get excellent Thai food in a restaurant run by an expat, and the kitchen staff will understand Pad Nit Noi better than in the street stalls. That being said, I enjoy eating street food in Thailand and I have never had a problem with it.
Ouch. I find bigger shops with employees can be much more questionable. Vendors own and operate their businesses and are much more personally invested. Cheers
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!
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 !"
@@thebangkokguideThank you. I was sick just once during my month in Thailand in 1995. It was right after eating in a Koh Samui resort run by an American, but who knows the exact cause. An ex-pat said not to worry about street food meat because, without refrigeration, the animal was slaughtered that day. That worked for me. I’ll be back in a year or two, so thanks for your video guides!
Something important you missed in this great video is that some dogs are said to have RABIES (I heard it's 10% of the stray dogs) so you do NOT want to interact with them. Even a huge dog lover like me got bitten by one at the beach and I had to get vaccinations for a week or two. I'm not sure about the stray cats but I am assuming they are just as dangerous, not to mention the monkeys in some areas that can be VERY vicious.
That's a good point. I discuss this at length in a longer guide for Thailand shortly, but you are correct... both dogs and monkeys can be dangerous. The cats are generally alright though. Thanks for sharing.
Inlaws have been discussing plastic eggs and plastics in the food, so curious if this youtubber ignores it. Pretty common in the news and hard to identify
Definitely an issue… although it’s a problem that is global. Micro plastics are sadly in most food in the west as well. But yes definitely could have added it!
@@thebangkokguide Its big in the news now due to the proximity to China. Saw how they make some of those plastic eggs. (yoke, whites, all 100% non-organic) The in-laws think they can identify the animal correct meat that they eat, but they joked they may need to look in the toilet to see if the eggs were real or not. lol
Even with Crohns disease I eat sushi. It's sort of "cooked". They also do have salads made with real raw prawns...sushi is basically OK. It's not really raw
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
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.
As a Thai person
I totally agree with your content:)
Thank you for the kind words! Cheers
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!
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.
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!
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
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
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
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!
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
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’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.
That was an awesome bunch of info. Thank you!
I’m glad it’s useful! Cheers
Thai person here, first tip, after you arrive, don’t take a Taxi from the airport. It’s extremely overpriced even for among Thai people.
Good advice. The taxi drivers target everybody. Cheers
I've never had problems with a taxi, just tell them use meter, or do a deal...but I've had some dodgy cars.
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
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
Good Video! Clear and concise, very informative about the things I wanted to know. Thank you.
I’m glad it’s helpful! Cheers
Excellent video. Thank you Cal!
Thank you for the kind words!
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.
Helpful pieces of information. Thank you for sharing.
I’m glad it’s helpful! Cheers
Street food vendors take great pride...in their food prep
I agree!
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 video…thanks
Great vid...very useful info...thanks!!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Cal...Your videos are TOP NOTCH!!!
thank you
Thank you for the kind words!
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!
Thumbs Up 👍Cal
Thank you so much for your info!
Cheers!
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!
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!
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 😅
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.
Thank you for more great tips!
I’m glad they are helpful. Cheers
one of the most beneficial videos for traveling to Thailand thank you❤
Thanks for the kind words! 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.
Next month , we are going to have a trip in Thailand and you made me very anxious , because We have very picky GI systems
Excellent advice, man.
Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Good advice,he knows from experience!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
14 days and a wake up to 🇹🇭
Excited! Thanks for your tips!
Glad they are helpful! Safe travels!
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
Ohhh ... i recognise Sampheng...love that place
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
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
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.
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
Coming next month and I'm scared already😊.
Don’t be scared. Haha now you know what to eat.. kindof 😅
Great video no matter what I've done I always get ill at some point. I never get ill only in Thailand. Does my head in
It will happen… part of the process lol
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 😅
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
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!
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!
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.
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
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
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
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!
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!
11 years in Thailand and have never been tempted to eat street food. Also ice can be dangerous.
The street food is great tho! To be fair, your stomach is probably doing better haha
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 😊
Like you said, the best advice is eat where the locals eat, you can't go wrong. Found many unexpected gems just wandering around in Bangkok, looking for places with lots of locals. Street food scene is brilliant there
Definitely the way to go… just wander around and you’ll find great places, while enjoying the experience. Cheers!
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!
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!
Raw fish is also the easiest way to contract Hep A.
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!
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!
I like you Exploring street food thai
I like it too! Always fantastic. Cheers!
Food poisoning is very dangerous especially for the older people if they don't want to cook it go another food stall😊😊
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.
Using either "period" or "time" alone typically suffices to express the intended meaning.
Been to Thailand a dozen times never had any issues with food poisoning.
That's quite a good record. 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.
I only got food poisoning once in 3 mi the in Thailand and it was in a fancy hotel on the way to the airport.
Sounds about right 😅
[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 👀
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
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.
Western food is certainly more expensive.
And quality is a hell of lot lower quality in fast food chains.
Restaurants are all good for the most part but expect to pay western prices if not more
I agree. Western fast food is basically luxury food here.
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!
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!
If any stall or or vendor has no running water-- walk away! They cannot clean themselves properly --never mind the utensils! 'Nuff said!
Good advice. Cheers!
Street food hygiene has come a very long way since the government wisely decided that unregulated street food causing food poisoning to tourists is very bad for business. Most street food is pretty safe nowadays. Freshly cooked food that you buy and take home or snack on the go are pretty safe. If you sit down to eat street food, like bowls of noodles, a bit more precaution is needed. Some food carts have no access to running water. If the bowls they are going to put the food in look clean AND DRY, it's probably safe. As the day goes on and you see the vendors washing bowls and utensils in big tubs of soapy water, that should be a red flag.
This is true. The utensils can be the main issue. Thanks for your input!
As far as eating in restaurants, if I eat in a restaurant I will go to one that is frequented by expats. You can get excellent Thai food in a restaurant run by an expat, and the kitchen staff will understand Pad Nit Noi better than in the street stalls. That being said, I enjoy eating street food in Thailand and I have never had a problem with it.
This is also true. Ate at plenty of great expat operated restaurants
Burger King chicken sandwich at BKK. didnt eat any plane food. 20 hours to home and 6 hours later seen the doc. Salmonella.
Ouch. I find bigger shops with employees can be much more questionable. Vendors own and operate their businesses and are much more personally invested. Cheers
Damn good Odds 3x Food poisonings in 9 years. I’m 36 and never had one.
Ya I think it gets blown out of proportion here… zero is definitely better tho! Cheers
@@thebangkokguide 🤣🤣🤣 Don’t eat that stuff. 😘
Experience Thailand without having it is almost impossible 😂. Eventually you will have it just hope it doesn’t happen on your way back home.
It is likely at some point... cheers
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!
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
Hospital fee is reasonable price even you are not insured, if you fell sick you should go
This is true. I will cover hospitals in a video very soon but could have added it here!
Never got sick from a smoothie. 30 years in Thailand.
For me it was just the once… zero is definitely better! Cheers
A ham and pineapple fried rice on Koh Phi Phi took me out for 24 hours!
24 hours isn't too bad at least! I'm always a little more cautious in the islands. Cheers!
Lived in thailand for 2 years and never got sick. Common sense!
Your doing better than mos! Cheers
I’m curious what the blurred captions are 🤷🏻♂️
Sadly the labels had typos and it was super confusing… not sure what happened and decided a blur was slightly less confusing 😅
@@thebangkokguideThank you.
I was sick just once during my month in Thailand in 1995. It was right after eating in a Koh Samui resort run by an American, but who knows the exact cause. An ex-pat said not to worry about street food meat because, without refrigeration, the animal was slaughtered that day. That worked for me. I’ll be back in a year or two, so thanks for your video guides!
Something important you missed in this great video is that some dogs are said to have RABIES (I heard it's 10% of the stray dogs) so you do NOT want to interact with them. Even a huge dog lover like me got bitten by one at the beach and I had to get vaccinations for a week or two. I'm not sure about the stray cats but I am assuming they are just as dangerous, not to mention the monkeys in some areas that can be VERY vicious.
That's a good point. I discuss this at length in a longer guide for Thailand shortly, but you are correct... both dogs and monkeys can be dangerous. The cats are generally alright though. Thanks for sharing.
Another excellent video, Cal. Well organized and filled with useful information as always. Excellent presentation style. Much appreciate your efforts.
Thank you for the kind words. This one was enjoyable to make! Cheers
Street food aging in the hot sun makes me avoid them. Stick to grocery stores or clean restaurants.
Fresh cooked is normally okay. The back room of a restaurant can actually be much worse! Cheers
Inlaws have been discussing plastic eggs and plastics in the food, so curious if this youtubber ignores it. Pretty common in the news and hard to identify
Definitely an issue… although it’s a problem that is global. Micro plastics are sadly in most food in the west as well. But yes definitely could have added it!
@@thebangkokguide Its big in the news now due to the proximity to China. Saw how they make some of those plastic eggs. (yoke, whites, all 100% non-organic) The in-laws think they can identify the animal correct meat that they eat, but they joked they may need to look in the toilet to see if the eggs were real or not. lol
Even with Crohns disease I eat sushi. It's sort of "cooked". They also do have salads made with real raw prawns...sushi is basically OK. It's not really raw
That's true. For the sushi, I'm mostly concerned when it sits out for too long.. I will normally avoid any food if it is sitting out. Cheers!
#Ciprofloxacin 500mg + 2 imodium stop a bad stomach. That combo have helped med out many times in Thailand.
Sounds about right. I used azithromycin once and it helped.
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