One of the best parts about traveling in Thailand is the incredible street food. The sights, smells, and flavors are an essential part of the experience, and it’s something our family was excited to dive into on our trip to Phuket. However, when traveling with kids, especially younger ones, you want to be mindful of what and where you eat to ensure it’s safe and enjoyable for everyone. After all, you want to savor those authentic Thai dishes without any unpleasant surprises.
Here are a few tips we picked up along the way when choosing street food with children in Thailand:
Look for Busy Stalls
One of the golden rules we followed was to eat where the locals eat. If a street food stall is busy, with a constant flow of customers, it’s usually a good sign that the food is fresh and safe to eat. Local families will often frequent these places, which made us feel confident in bringing our son along.
A stall that’s busy means that the ingredients are turning over quickly, so you’re less likely to encounter food that’s been sitting out for too long. Plus, busy stalls often specialize in just one or two dishes, and they do them exceptionally well.
Check for Fresh Ingredients and Cooking Methods
When choosing street food with kids, it’s important to go for freshly cooked options. Look for stalls where the food is prepared and cooked in front of you. Grilled meats like Gai Yang (barbecue chicken) or freshly stir-fried dishes like Pad Thai are great choices because you can see the ingredients going straight from the wok or grill to your plate.
We always avoided stalls with pre-cooked food that had been sitting out uncovered, especially in the heat. Instead, we stuck to vendors who kept their ingredients covered and cooked everything to order.
Start with Mild Dishes
Thai food is famous for its bold flavors, but it can also pack quite a bit of heat! When traveling with kids, it’s important to ease them into the spice levels. Some classic dishes, like Pad Thai or Khao Man Gai (chicken and rice), are naturally mild and can be a great introduction to Thai flavors without overwhelming your child’s taste buds.
If your child is more adventurous, you can always ask the vendor to go easy on the chili. In our experience, street vendors were very accommodating when we asked them to tone down the spice for our son.
Stick to Well-Cooked Meats and Seafood
While Thai street food seafood is incredible, it’s essential to make sure it’s freshly cooked when eating with kids. Grilled seafood, such as prawns and fish, or stir-fried dishes are good options because they’re cooked at high temperatures, reducing the risk of contamination.
We were cautious about raw dishes like som tam (papaya salad) with fermented crab or any dishes with raw or undercooked meats when choosing for our son. These are delicious, but they can sometimes be risky, especially for kids with sensitive stomachs.
Avoid Ice and Tap Water
One thing we were strict about during our trip was avoiding tap water and any drinks with ice that could have been made from untreated water. While it’s tempting to grab a cold drink in the heat, it’s better to opt for bottled water, fresh coconut water, or drinks made with fresh fruit and served without ice.
We found that fresh fruit smoothies were a great option for our son—just be sure to check that the stall is using clean, fresh ingredients and no ice.
Choose Fruit from Vendors Who Peel on the Spot
Thailand’s tropical fruits are amazing, and we found ourselves grabbing fresh fruit from street vendors every day. However, we were careful to buy only from vendors who peeled and prepared the fruit on the spot, rather than those selling pre-cut fruit that had been sitting out.
Look for stalls with whole fruits like mangoes, pineapples, or papayas, where you can see the vendor peeling and slicing the fruit right in front of you. This way, you’re getting something fresh and clean, with less risk of contamination.
Bring Hand Sanitizer and Wipes
Street food is often eaten on the go, and while that’s part of the fun, it’s a good idea to carry hand sanitizer or wipes, especially when traveling with kids. Before digging into a tasty snack, we made sure to clean our hands, particularly after visiting markets or busy outdoor areas. It’s a small step, but it helps keep things hygienic.
Watch for Cleanliness and Hygiene
While the food itself is important, we also paid attention to the cleanliness of the stalls and the vendor’s preparation methods. Look for stalls where the vendor is handling food with clean utensils, using gloves, or maintaining a tidy work area.
We tended to avoid places that looked unsanitary or where we saw food being handled without care. As a family, we felt more comfortable sticking to vendors who took hygiene seriously.
Go for Grilled and Fried Snacks
Grilled and fried street food is not only tasty but usually a safer option for kids. High cooking temperatures kill off bacteria, so things like satay skewers, spring rolls, or banana roti (a fried pancake with banana) were some of our go-to snacks for our son. He loved the crispy, fried textures, and we loved that they were freshly cooked.
Try Street Food in Controlled Environments
If you’re still unsure about diving into the bustling street food scene, markets like Kata Night Market offer a more controlled environment with plenty of food options, including kid-friendly dishes. These markets tend to have cleaner setups, and you can take your time exploring different stalls without feeling rushed. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to the street food culture in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
Eating street food in Thailand was one of the highlights of our trip, and with a few precautions, it was easy to enjoy safely with our son. From the smoky barbecue skewers to the sweet fruit smoothies, there’s so much to try—and the flavors are unforgettable. As long as you stick to freshly cooked, well-prepared food from busy, reputable vendors, Thai street food is a fantastic experience for families.
So, next time you’re in Thailand, don’t shy away from the street food scene. With a little bit of caution, you and your kids can enjoy the vibrant, delicious world of Thai street food with confidence!