One of the many reasons tourists flock to Thailand is its cuisine.

When you have gone shopping in Bangkok until your feet and legs hurt, our Bangkok Restaurant Guide below  will tell you all you need to know to find the best places to dine or eat at. Relax and experience the wonderful and exotic food of Thailand.

Food & cuisine in Bangkok

If you are yearning for a bite, be it day or night, you will always be able to make your wishes come true because there are so many places to eat in. From cheap but quality cuisine at food courts, tradition Thai dining in antique teak houses, eateries by the riverside, dinner cruises, trendy restaurants, to food markets. And if it is fast food you want, you will find all the big brand restaurant chains like MacDonald's here.

One of the many reasons tourists flock to Thailand is its cuisine. Not just because it is cheap but because it has a distinctive flavours you cannot get anywhere else in the world. In fact, many consider the fine culinary experience Thailand offers as unparalleled. To the Thais, food is as much a part of their culture as Thai massage, kick-boxing, tuk-tuks, and monks in saffron robes. Which is why, in Bangkok, you are never far from food; almost every street corner has a food cart, there are eateries on the pavements, and even on the most insignificant streets. Everywhere you go in this sprawling metropolis of over ten million people, delicious aromas follow you.

In fact, food is such an integral part of the Thai lifestyle, that instead of greeting you with a "How are you?" a Thai would usually say, "Gin khao ru yang?" which means "Have you eaten?" And it makes sense to the people here, for in the Land of Smiles, a full stomach makes for contentment. In Thailand, agriculture is the common way to earn a livelihood, which means that fresh vegetables and cereals are plentiful and available fresh. The Thais are known for their generosity and hospitality, and in days gone by it was customary to place a jar of water at the doorstep for thirsty travellers. So where there is generosity, a love for food, and a gift for cooking, can the world's finest culinary experience be far behind?

But there is more to Thai food and cuisine than the green, red, and yellow curries the West is familiar with. To begin with, there is an unbelievable variety to choose from and no part of anything edible (edible to the Thais, that is) is ever wasted. Do not be surprised if you come across some really bizarre dishes such as boiled chicken legs or deep-fried water roaches, grilled and skewered 'Parson's Noses' (chicken rear ends), or even pork intestines in a broth that looks like dirty dishwater. But most Thai food is delicious, exotic, and made with various fresh herbs and spices like sweet basil, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and always, chillies - lots of chillies. You might get to taste preparations that are so spicy-hot that they will make your eyes and nose run, but not all Thai dishes are that spicy. Besides, Bangkok restaurants usually keep in mind that you are a foreigner when they prepare food for you.

Thai people snack all the time between meals, which accounts for all the snack stalls and food carts you will find everywhere. And Thais take a special pleasure in turning food into a visual treat of colour and intricate shapes, beautifully presented. The way Thai cuisine looks has much to do with the culinary dexterity of even a humble street vendor who chops up fruit so fine and in such beautiful shapes that you will be amazed. In the restaurants food is garnished with delicately carved fruits and vegetables.

Thailand offers an unrivalled culinary adventure, so make sure you are ready for new and un-tasted experiences when eating out in Bangkok.

Bangkok Cooking Classes

You might be tempted to learn some Thai style cooking yourself. Not the sort you come across back home, but the authentic kind. And there is a way you can capture the real flavours of Thai food and cuisine -- take a one or two-day cooking class. You will find Thai cooking lessons easy to come by. The local cooking schools throughout the city, as well as most major hotels, offer these cooking lessons. You will also find out the importance of essential ingredients, how to get just the right blend of flavours and how to prepare 'tom yum goong' (hot and sour shrimp soup) the real Thai way. You will learn how to make basic Thai dishes, the types of ingredients used, and some cooking schools will even take you to the local market. What is more, after you cook a dish, you can eat it too.

Bangkok dinner shows

For a glimpse of Thailand's cultural heritage, attend a classical Thai dance show which comes with a Thai dinner served in the traditional manner. You will find a lot of other tourists at these shows, but the dancing is worth seeing. While some Thai dancing is very elaborate with mesmerising slow movements, Thai folk dancing has a lively rhythm.