Thailand is well-known as “the land of smiles.” Thais are friendly and well-known as “food lovers.” Many say “Thais love to eat. Thais eat several meals per day.” In Thailand, it is so easy to find food. Street vendors are everywhere. If there are people, there are food. One of the greatest joys of living or traveling in Thailand is the abundance and variety of food.

Street vendors, street food, roadside stands, food stands, food stalls or whatever you would like to call it, simply involves something mobile that allows an owner (or a cook in most cases) to push them around, from home and back. Many people may think that street food is not clean, but in fact with many vendors it is clean. And many of the owners are unpretentious. The owners push a cart from home to their selling location and then back home and clean the cart every night. Street food offers an incredibly cheap price and some offer incredibly good taste. Sometimes it is even better than a famous restaurant.

Some street vendors offer such good food that you will have to wait for a table along the street. Particularly in these cases, street food is not only for poor or middle class people – you will often find a businessman or wealthy people ordering the street food. Do not expect a menu from a street vendor because there are not any

The following are the top 10 street food dishes that it is better than what restaurants have to offer. In other words, you should buy the following food from a street vendor rather than from a restaurant.

1. Som Tum – Spicy shredded green papaya salad with peanuts and tomatoes
2. Larb – Spicy minced meat with chopped shallots, onions, chilies and coriander
3. Khao Mun Gai – Steamed chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock and garlic
4. Jok – Rice porridge with ground pork, fresh ginger and green onion (some may add egg)
5. Lad Nah – Stir-fried thin or wide rice noodles with light gravy bean sauce and Chinese kale
6. Hoi Tod – Fried oysters in batter with egg on a bed of beansprouts
7. Pad Thai – Stir-fried medium rice noodles with egg, dried shrimp and fried bean curd sprinkled with peanuts (served with beansprouts)
8. Satay – Slivers of chicken or pork grilled on a stick, served with sauce and cucumber
9. Khao Moo Daeng – Chinese-style red pork with rice, boiled eggs and cucumber
10. Khao Tom – Rice soup with a selection of meat and vegetable side dishes

Street food can be as good as restaurant food. It is fresh, cheap and good. Part of the fun of living in Thailand is the chance to find street food that is even better than food in restaurants. Some street food may not be as clean, but in many cases, vendors do a good job of making sure the food is clean. There is certainly food for working class people, and food can be found in a wide variety of locations. Next time when you smell some mouth-watering food, stop by and give it a chance. You will not only experience good food, but friendly people as well.