Thai desserts in Bangkok: mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream and sweets to try

Thai desserts are eaten at any hour: at the exit of the metro, in a market, after a bowl of noodles or at dinner. Sticky rice, coconut milk, tropical fruit, fragrant syrups, tapioca pearls: the basics are simple and varied. This guide presents the sweets to try in Bangkok, where to look for them and how to order. Street prices vary from stall to stall: we give pointers, not exact prices, and addresses change quickly.

Mango sticky rice (khao niao mamuang)

Fresh mango on sticky rice with coconut milk, served in Bangkok

The most famous: slices of ripe mango on sweet sticky rice, topped with salty-sweet coconut milk and sometimes toasted soybeans or crispy mung beans. Mango is at its best during the hot season, roughly from March to June; outside this period, quality is more uneven. You will find it in restaurants, shopping malls, night markets and specialist shops, such as in the Thong Lo area, on Sukhumvit. To learn it yourself, see our Thai cooking classes.

Ice creams and frozen desserts

Coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell with pink pearls

Coconut ice cream

Coconut milk ice cream, served as a scoop in a small brioche bun, in a cup or in a coconut shell, with toppings: peanuts, sticky rice, tapioca pearls, sweetcorn. It is the best cool break between two visits. You will find it around many markets, such as Chatuchak.

Tub tim krob and bua loi

Tub tim krob combines pieces of water chestnut coated in starch and dyed red, coconut milk and crushed ice. Bua loi is a dessert made of small coloured sticky rice balls in warm coconut milk, sometimes served with an egg; you will find it at street stalls, including those of Chinatown.

Street crêpes and pastries

Roti sai mai

Roti sai mai is a thin sweet crêpe rolled around strands of spun sugar, reminiscent of candy floss; vendors prepare it to order, often in the evening and at markets.

Khanom krok and other small bites

Khanom krok is a small bite of rice and coconut cooked in a dimpled pan: crisp outside, creamy inside. Other sweets are sold in boxes at cake stalls: bean pastes, coconut jellies, pandan cakes.

A stall of Thai sweets on a Bangkok pavement

Traditional egg yolk sweets

Several traditional Thai desserts made from egg yolks and sugar, such as foi thong (golden threads) or thong yip and thong yod, are of Portuguese origin and are traditionally offered at ceremonies and festivals. You will find them in boxes at traditional cake shops and at some markets; they make gifts to take home. See our guide to souvenirs from Bangkok.

Where to taste

Where	What	When
Night markets and street markets	Roti sai mai, coconut ice cream, khanom krok	Evening
Or Tor Kor Market	Mango and sticky rice, desserts of the day	Morning
Chinatown	Bua loi, Chinese desserts, ice creams	Evening
Shopping malls	Mango sticky rice, desserts in cups	All day

See also our guide to Bangkok's markets.

Practical tips

Ordering

Point at what you want. Say "not too sweet" (mai wan mak) if sugar bothers you. For other street dishes, see our guide to street food in Bangkok.

Hygiene

Choose busy stalls, where turnover is high. Avoid ice of unknown origin if you have a delicate stomach; for health problems, see our guide to emergencies and health in Bangkok.

Budget

Street desserts generally cost little, more in a restaurant or shopping mall. For the rest of the budget, see our guide to the cost of a trip to Bangkok.