On Khao San Road itself
From late afternoon, carts line Khao San Road: pad thai fried to order, skewers, cut fruit, banana pancakes, fresh juices. It is handy for tasting the classics without sitting down, but prices are higher than in neighbourhoods used by locals and are rarely displayed: ask the price before you order.
The terrace restaurants along the street mostly serve a "something for everyone" menu (pad thai, curry, burgers, pizza) and beer promotions. You will eat decently in a pinch, but it is rarely the best Thai food in the city. The fried insects and scorpions on the stalls are more an attraction than a meal.
Soi Rambuttri: the quieter parallel street
Two minutes on foot away, the small Rambuttri lane curves around Wat Chana Songkhram. Its shaded terraces are nicer for sitting and talking than those on Khao San, with a comparable menu, from simple Thai dishes to Western food. It is a good choice for a late breakfast or a dinner without the music from the neighbouring bars.
Phra Athit and the riverside
Ten minutes' walk west, Phra Athit Road and the pier of the same name have cafés, small restaurants popular with students from Thammasat and Silpakorn universities, and terraces on the water. The mood is more local, the food often spicier, the hours more reasonable. Some places close around 10 or 11 pm.
Further east: Tanao, Chakrabongse and the old town
Around Tanao and Chakrabongse roads, which run alongside Khao San, small shops open all day sell rice noodles, soups, chicken or pork rice and iced drinks. Neighbourhood residents eat there, and a dish usually costs clearly less than on the backpacker strip. For the same area, our Bangkok street food guide explains how to order and what to try.
For a famous pad thai, Thip Samai on Maha Chai Road, about twenty minutes' walk from Khao San, is a long-established address; there is often a queue in the evening, and it is worth checking its hours before you go.
Breakfast, coffee and vegetarian
Cafés are multiplying around Rambuttri and Phra Athit: eggs, toast, iced coffee and smoothies for those who want a Western breakfast. Vegetarian options are plentiful in the area; in Thai restaurants, say "jay" (เจ) for strictly vegetarian food, with no fish sauce. See also our guide to Bangkok cafés.
Traps to avoid
- Unmarked prices at stalls: ask first, or point at what you want while keeping the price in mind.
- Beer promotions and cocktail buckets: alcohol is regulated, see our rules on alcohol in Bangkok.
- Touts calling you in: the people at the entrance often announce a "happy hour" whose terms are questionable. Compare before you sit down.
- Tuk-tuk drivers who "know a good restaurant": say no, it is one of the classic scams in the area, described in our Bangkok scams guide.
- Water and ice: pick busy places (fast turnover of ingredients) and drink bottled water.
When to come
In the morning the street is quiet and the cafés almost empty: the best time for breakfast. In the evening, from 6 to 11 pm, the atmosphere peaks. During Songkran (13–15 April) the street is packed and some places close early.
Getting there and around
No BTS or MRT station serves Khao San. The easiest way is the Chao Phraya Express boat to Phra Arthit (N13), then a ten-minute walk. See Banglamphu and the old town for the area and our transport in Bangkok guide for options.
