The best way to explore a city in the most efficient way is through seasoned food tours, and if you want to do that 5x faster, getting around by tuk-tuk at up to 90km/hr by can do just that! Riding a tuk-tuk’s just as fun as it looks. A few minutes zipping through Bangkok’s traffic, and you’ve already forgotten how humid Bangkok is, with the wind blowing through your hair, and the sound of the motor speeding up to get you to your destination.
We were led by Expique on an all-inclusive food tour, hopping market to market by tuk-tuk. A local tour guide introduced us to 5 diverse stops throughout the night, and even took us to a flower market and to observe the temples at night!
Zipping around on a tuk-tuk is definitely a must to have on your Bangkok bucket list! And this tour was definitely the highlight of Bangkok, as we felt as though the evening was jam-packed with activities, and the 4-hour experience was very well spaced to allow us to relax, digest and enjoy!
In addition to leading tours, Expique also has a cooking school, named The Market Experience that is hidden within the Flower Market. Visitors can attend various Thai cooking classes to build their own confidence to cook Thai food at home – and of course, also garnish their dishes with edible flowers!
Scroll on for all of our discoveries of the night!
The tuk-tuk tour begins!
Because of its width, tuk-tuks can get through traffic almost as fast as motorbikes can!
Stop #1: Street Market
Our wander through the first market of two, introduced to the ingredients which make a tom yum soup! There’s nothing like the smell of fresh herbs.
Stop #2: Dee Moo Satay
Back onto our tuk-tuks, we went to our next stop – Dee Moo Satay (located at Tha Din Daeng, Khlong San, Bangkok). This is a legendary stop for satay sticks grilled on a 3-metre stretch, frequented by famous beings from all over (the wall of photographs prove it), a minimum order of 10 is required to enjoy the pork satay skewer, and we gladly did so as a group! After nibbling all of the meat, reach for a spicy picked onion or cucumber with the same skewer as a crispy finish. From the previous market, we picked up 4 ‘dips’, which were made of various ingredients, including fish! We would dip crispy vegetables, like cabbage and zucchini into the fragrant, and very addictive dips.
Stop #3: Thai-Style Hotpot
Enjoying a communal meal, tableside on a perched up terracotta pot. Bubbling away, we add pork and seafood, then vegetables and vermicelli.
Stop 4: Khanom Krok & the Flower Market
Chak Phet Road, the Memorial Bridge
Right outside the flower market, we make a pitstop for Khanom Krok, which is a coconut dessert that’s slightly runny/soft and has a beautiful crispy outer shell. The flavour is sweet, yet savoury, filled with either green onion or corn. This is definitely a favourite, and one dish I will continue to crave!
And just before heading into the flower market, we make a stop at a stall for chicken pieces to go, we each received a styrofoam bowl full of sweet chicken, skin included for a tasty snack on the tuk-tuk on our way to the next destination.
Walking through the 24-hour Bangkok’s Flower Market (Pak Klong Talad) is one of the markets in Bangkok which is a must to visit (just make sure you have a pair of shoes you don’t mind getting wet)! It’s incredible to witness the largest flower market with your very own eyes. There are all types of flowers here for purposes that go beyond gift-giving, Thailand is very big on ceremonies and tradition, so you will see ornaments used for prayer and monk ceremonies! The busiest time to attend the market is after midnight.
Stop 5: The Grand Palace At Night
We took a photo-moment stop and parked right outside the gates of The Grand Palace. The views of the surrounding temples are definitely prettier at night (maybe it also made it blissful to not be walking around in the daytime scorching heat, as well).
Stop 6: Kua Kai Suan Mali
Dropped off ahead of an alleyway, we arrive at an unsuspecting restaurant with an entire outdoor seating, we observe the quick action of flames going and eggs cracking, one by one. Shortly, we’ll be seated for the best bowl of noodles I’ve had in Bangkok yet, called Kuay Teow.
The open fire truly made this dish delicious, the fresh rice noodles become crispy and gummy. On top of the noodles is your selection between scrambled or sunny-side-up. Sunny-side-up is our favourite of the two.
Stop 7: Chinatown Desserts
We make our way through the bustling Yaowarat Road, weaving through long lines from street stalls, buskers and crowds. Finally, we arrive at a shop which serves herbal Chinese soups and dumplings and have a taste of the classic black sesame. But for me, I was longing for a dessert to cool down to, which the Thai Milk Tea pop did just that for me!
