A question about all this good thai food. How hard is it on the stomach. Mines kid of sensitive. I'll eat it anyway but just wondering how much I'll suffer. LOL

Please stop this thread now.....I am getting so hungary!!!! Must have thai food for lunch.....

none bothers my stomach....some bothers my mouth and the top of my head...like the famous soup--tom yam...i can't drink it...

What is your stomach sensitive to? Hot spice? then ask them to tone it down.

Is the food safe to eat? I know you can't drink tap water, so if the food is washed with tap water, how do I know I can eat it without getting sick? Is it safe to buy food from street vendors?

Also, since I don't understand the language and the names of the dishes, can you help me figure out how I will determine if I will like what I'm eating?!?!

I feel stupid, but this is my first trip to Bangkok. Thanks for your help.

There are several theories on hygiene. The most cautious is no street food, drink only bottled water, brush teeth with bottled water, always have disinfectant wipes available, don't eat fresh fruit or vegetables, ice only at upscale hotels and restaurtants. We've been five times. We eat street food from OK looking vendors, eat lots of fruit and veggies and ice wherever available. No problems at all. Follow your own comfort level. In Bangkok, many establishments are dependent on tourist trade and take every possible step to ensure that the food and drink is safe. Don't let your anxiety make you a prisoner.

I do drink only bottled water, brush my teeth with bottled water. I don't buy cut fruit from street vendors. I don't usually eat street food in Bangkok, but have had something sizzling hot from a vender (like satay) from time to time. I do eat lots of fresh fruit at places I trust, and likewise eat salads and other cold foods from places I trust. I've been to Bangkok some twenty times and I've never gotten sick from the food.

Kathie -- the leaves for mieng kham are betel leaves (bai cha plu)

Artatsea -- depends on the street vendor and also what you like to eat. Tell us and the posters here can recommend a lot of great restaurants.

I've gotten bangkok belly from eating tamarind from a street vendor -- serves me right for trying to eat everything in sight my first visit.

We've gone to Thailand annually since then and each time we'll eat at the food courts in the big shopping malls or at big or small restaurants all over the city.

If you want to experience traditional and hearty Thai food, try Seefah - the menu is all in Thai but they have pictures and the prices are inexpensive. It's a local tradition and they have several locations -- we go to the one at Siam Square. I've never seen a farang in there though but that should not stop you.

What are prices like in an average priced restaurant for dinner for two people?

I'm afraid to ask, what is Bangkok Belly?

Bangkok Belly = Delhi Belly = Bali Belly = Montezuma's revenge = the runs, etc., etc.

Lonely Planet publishes a handy small guide to Thai (and other) cuisines, including pictures, menu translations, culinary history, etc.

The one thing I would really think twice about is the suggestion above for raw seafood dishes....particularly from a street vendor this could = a hepatitis risk

prices are all over the place....you can have a decent dinner at a good place for $20-25 for two with no wine but with beer...wine is very very expensive....

the least i have ever paid at a restaurant for a nice meal for two is about $12....the most i have ever paid at a very upscale place (the metropolitian hotel) was about $135....i'm talking about bkk only...

a really nice dinner at the biscotti rest. in the 4 seasons might run $75 with one glass of wine each and 3 courses....

dinner at harmonique, a thai favorite, is about $18-25 for two and you will be stuffed, with beers and waters....3 courses...

hotel meals are always more expensive, but way cheaper than in usa or the west....

our take on eating/drinking is the following:

you are on vacation and have limited time for this.....you have spent lots of money to get there....why risk ruining your vacation...

for this reason we eat very cautiously and only eat in "quality" places, many of which are local places....we only drink and brush with bottled water...we take showers but keep our mouths closed....we swim in the pools...we are cautious about the sea...pattaya---no.....samui---yes....
we eat NO street food....we eat only things that are recently cooked, and usually cooked for us....we avoid many buffets---food sits around too long--remember how hot it is there....we eat breakfast buffets however...fruit: best to eat only what you wash and peel...
no raw anything!!! veggies, salads, meats, FISH/seafoods....on our last trip we did start to eat some sushi, but only a little...

ice---we never take ice at restaurants, except 4 and 5 star hotels, and never in local places...over reaction

we get plenty of variety and try tons of local things but always with common sense ruling...

in 10 trips to thailand, the only problem we ever have had was my wife was sick (BB) from eating an hors d'ouvres on a flight on thai airways...stupid thing to do....pig in a blanket....

go, relax and enjoy what you eat but use common sense...

Bob, april and I were happy to read that you and K take showers while in bkk! We thought you both smelled rather nice when we met up last trip!

As for our favorite foods, I like pad prik king,my wife will eat about anything, but ALWAYS says mai ped before she orderes, no matter what it is!
We also like pineapple with that sugar,salt, and chili dip stuff.

Thanks so much again everyone. Good suggestions.Thanks for the restaurant recs. rkk. I have gotten both Hep A and B shots as a precaution as did my friend Robin. Not sure about the other gals. Very excied, just over 2 weeks to go, never been anywhere in Asia, hope my camera doesn't blow up from over usage.

What does 'mai ped' mean?

How would I say 'no fish, I am allergic"?

mai pla for no fish.

bkk95, where do you get your raw shrimp with garlic from? sounds yummy.

bkk, thanks for the info on the leaves. I'm going to try again to find them in Seattle.

mai ped (pet) = no spicy

I will check to see how to say I am allergic, unless hanuman or some one else beats me to it.
and actually my wife says it mai pad ka, to be polite :)