Shop 1 Where: Face Robinson Bangrak shopping mall. Shop is first vendor on the street to the right of the mall, at the corner of Soi Charoen Krung 46 and Charoen Krung Road. Locals come to this makeshift vending spot for the Thai gang som soup—a family recipe passed down over three generations and more than 50 years. The soup has a distinctive sour twang thanks to the use of tamarind and fish, prawns, and sliced Moringa pods bobbing at the surface.

Thai gang som soup Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany Leigh

Shop 2: Kaefe (Cafe) Boran Where: You’re looking for an alley off of Cha Roen Krung Road. Keep an eye out for a yellow sign with red and blue writing that reads “Talad Sod, selling all fresh & dry stuff, grocery, clothings, and food made to order dishes”—this is the entrance to the alley. The café is in front of a beauty salon called Sermsuay Ting. Get a cup of lod chong—a popular Thai dessert with thin green rice jelly strands (made from a combination of arrowroot, rice, and mung bean flours) submerged in a sweet liquid of coconut milk and palm sugar. The color is derived from adding pandan juice to the dough before it’s transformed into noodles.

Noodle shop Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany Leigh

Shop 3 Where: On Charoen Krung Road between Soi Charoen Krung 46 and Charoen Krung 44 Alley. Come here for packets of mouthwatering dumplings. The kao kriab paak mor golf-ball–size bites have the color of a robin’s egg due to the use of butterfly peas when creating the dough. Inside is a mixture of minced chicken, prawn, turnip, crushed peanuts, fish sauce, salt, and palm sugar. The saku sai moo dumpling is created with tapioca flour and filled with a combination of minced pork, crushed peanuts, chili, and sugar. It is consumed like a lettuce wrap along with coriander and a bite of red chili pepper.

Noodle shop Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany Leigh

Shop 4: Noodle Shop Jay Li Where: 1387 Charoen Krung Road, Khwaeng Silom. Try the yen ta fo, aka pink noodle, dish (the distinctive pastel pink hue is due to the use of tomatoes to create the broth). In addition to in-house chicken and pork broths, this shop is prized for the array of homemade toppings on display beside the hot, steamy bowls of noodles. Order your bowl with the works, which features deep-fried wontons, pork blood pudding, fish and shrimp balls, squid, garlic, and morning glory.