Winning tip: Prehistoric seafood at Chopstick Mountain, Hua Hin

In Thailand there are many places to eat good seafood but, for me, one of the best and cheapest and freshest is a small active fishing village at the foot of Khoa Takieb (Chopstick Mountain) in Hua Hin, with the native macaques looking on. There are many small restaurants along the town’s main street, with tanks of live fish, prawns and crabs, shellfish. For me, the real draw is the horseshoe crab, a prehistoric creature that scientists call a living fossil as it’s over 450 million years old. The Thais prepare this as a typically spicy salad, made with the eggs of the crab, and serve it in the alien-like shell. To order in Thai , ask for yam meng da or yam meng da talay. If the crab isn’t to your taste there are many other great things on offer, such as grilled scallops with garlic.
Ben Hann

‘Stir-fried’ ice-cream, Phuket

For a dessert with a difference, head to Thailand and try stir-fried ice-cream. Wander along any street in Phuket and you are likely to come across a street-food vendor, super-chilled pan at the ready, to create whatever concoction your heart desires. Milk is poured into the pan where it is stirred and mixed as it freezes, with your choice of flavourings, such as green tea, nuts, syrup or chocolate thrown in. You’ll be presented with a perfect frozen cone of ice-cream in under a minute; delightfully different and delicious!
charlotte54

Street food in Korat, Nakhonratchasima

Each province in Thailand has its speciality dish, and Nakhonratchasima is known for its hot and spicy palate. The classic green papaya salad, som tam, is made in Korat with a taste that can’t be found in any other province. Bla pow (salted fish) is a typical sight at street-food vendors, and you can get the region’s own take on pad thai, known as pad mee Korat.
wyeowye

Guay Teaw Ruer Nai Ngork boat-noodle cafe, Bangkok

Avoid the main hub of Sukhumvit Road and head to Phra Khanong to this renowned boat-noodle cafe. Boat noodles are pork and beef-topped noodles in a thick, simmering broth. The ramshackle wooden shop in a non-descript mall doesn’t look like much – but it’s a delight. The locals chow down on this and I had seconds. Make sure you get the pork crackling, too.
W District, Sukhumvit Road
Justin Lim

Thai food for vegetarians in Bangkok

Worth the hair-raising walk down unlit, pavement-free Soi 81 is the relocated On Nut night market, and right by the entrance on the left is a street-food stall serving a tangy, steaming tom yum goong soup full of lemongrass, galangal and, importantly for me, oodles of vegetables. All of the flavour, none of the meat. The stall also serves a veggie green curry which is equally delicious, and chicken/shrimp for meat eaters. Curry and rice for under £1.20!
Beanster87

Secret chicken, Bangkok

I remember being upset on the days when this street food kitchen was not open (Sundays and Mondays). It’s been two years since I left the land of smiles and this is what I miss the most. Go to the very end of Sukhumvit Soi 11, look for the homemade barbecues, grab a beer and grab a seat. Here, £1.20 buys the most succulent pieces of chicken marinated in the chef’s secret sauce, which he refuses to share (trust me, I tried), barbecued until the meat simply falls off the bone. Combine this with a green papaya salad and their daughter’s own dipping sauce and you have a true Thai street-food experience leaving you searching for their kitchen the next day.
PerryvitC

The pad thai lady of Pai

Between the biker bars, long-haired ex-pat dives and hemp-scented hippies on Pai’s main drag, a small, bamboo lean-to serves perhaps the best pad thai in the country. Ready in seconds, the food is cooked up by a crooked granny with a perennial smile. Noodles toss and sizzle in the pan and the smells of fresh lime, crushed peanut and chilli waft into the night market air. When it’s ready, retire to one of the laid-back gardens lining the Pai river, with swinging hammocks and tropical birds – the perfect soundtrack to a perfect Thai meal!
Bolkonsky

The best massaman in Thailand, Ao Nang

Just feet from a quiet corner of Ao Nang beach, in Krabi province, the Seahorse is the perfect place to unwind after a day diving in search of its namesake. The tiny restaurant serves authentic homemade food with a smile. Settle among the cushions with a Chang beer or a fresh fruit smoothie. If you’re looking for the best massaman in Thailand, look no further: the flavours are rich and the spices perfectly balanced. When you find yourself back again the next day, try the chicken sandwiches.
JenniUK

Troy’s pad thai restaurant, Ao Nang

In a side street of Ao Nang, we found a real hidden gem. Troy’s Pad Thai Thaifood Restaurant is a small venue with only four tables. It’s not spectacular at first sight but, as soon as you’re served your dinner, you will know better! The food here was some of the best we have tried in Asia! Even simple dishes, such as sweet-and-sour chicken, become a true revelation. Guests from all over the world have written their appreciation on the walls.
Khlong Hang Road, Ao Nang, Krabi
Isadyl

Fruit salad from Addy’s Happy Smoothies, Chiang Mai

Addy’s Happy Smoothies looks like somewhere a gap-year backpacker would go to discuss ukulele strings. And it is – but it’s also the home of the loveliest lady in Chiang Mai and her team of teenage helpers. Go for the delicious smoothies, by all means. But don’t leave before trying her criminally under-famous fruit salad: a medley of mango, dragon fruit, banana, strawberries, watermelon, passion fruit and avocado – all from Somphet market, directly opposite. She’ll then dollop over a pot of natural yoghurt, add a few handfuls of muesli, and top it all off with a generous drizzle of honey. Heaven – for about 50p.
facebook.com/AddyHappySmoo-thiesChiangmai
Mish Slade