Have you eaten at the food stands / stalls in Thailand? Did you have stomach problems afterwards? Was the food good? Thanks.

I have rarely eaten from a food stand. I'm sure the food is very good. I just don't want to take the risk. My time is too valuable to be sick for a couple of days. No food experience is that important to me.

Yes, I have. The food is fantastic and cheap too. So far no problems. Suggest that you hold the temptation till the end of your trip before indulging.

I agree with the last comment. I have eaten in a couple and they were clean and authentic. Usually they specialise in a couple of things. Much cheaper and worth the risk in my opinion. Of course a quick look first will establish if they look clean or not. You can at least see what is going on which you can't in a restaurant.I like to mix it between upmarket places, mid rate restaurants and markets and street stalls.

I have to agree with Gloria- you have spent thousands on your vacation- do you really want to roll the dice and hope it does not come up snake eyes when it comes to these stands? Even if you wait till the end of your trip- that flight home could then be spent in the plane's toilet- is it worth the risk?

I also agree with gloria. I've gotten sick in Thailand and I can tell you, it ain't pretty! You are taking a risk that can potentially ruin your vacation. The water they wash the utensils with may not be clean or at the right temperature to get rid of bacteria and food may be washed in water that is not pure. Food in Thailand at restaurants is great and cheap. there are plenty of listings on this forum of great restaurants that many others have eaten at with no problems. No meal is worth ruining a vacation over.

I have eaten in food stands in Thailand selectively. Basically I'll have a quick check on the hygiene condition and I only have cooked food. So far no problem, and the taste is good. That gives a different flavour to the journey. I do sometimes have stomach problem - because of over-eating during the trip as Thai food is simply too delicious and cheap. But if you don't want to take so much risk, at least venture out of 5-star hotels' restaurants to some good places for meal - there are many and it will be a shame not to have dined outside hotels.

OK two points to be aware of regarding these outdoor food stalls:

1) There is no refrigeration of the meats.
2) There is no hot water to wash the utensils they use to cook and serve the food.
3) The weather is very hot and humid

why would you risk getting sick on your vacation? WE NEVER EAT AT FOOD STANDS FOR THAT VERY REASON...period

The only thing I ever ate from a stand was a coconut something that my guide at the time assured me was safe and one or two other things during that same trip probably 15 years ago. I was fine. I was also a lot younger and had a guide who urged me to do it. I'm with Bob now and would not do it again.

Remember that many of the "bugs" that cause upset stomachs among travelers are simply bacterial "flora and fauna" that you are not accustomed to. So locals may eat at a stand with no problems but you may have gastro-intestinal symptoms. Also, the dangeous organisms that make people sick (hepatitis A and typhoid, for instance, but also E.coli) are caused by contamination in food handling. This is something you can't assess by looking at a food stall (or a restaurant, for that matter).

I have eaten at selective stands, and had no problem. (knock on wood) I ate a chicken satay at a stand near Pantip, and regulary indulge in honey pork at a certain stand at Chatuchuk market.
Carol

MORE FOR ME.. I know some stall food that will beat any of your lux resteraunt food.. for starters they don't skimp on the seasaining, oils. and BANG hot peppers.

yep last week I had some squirl with basel and pepper (not stall food) and some seafood yaam (spell hot super spicy saload (stall food). Well YES one of those bad boys tore my gutts up..
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actually your best bet is too go too a food court wich is basicly stall food not covered in bangkoks finest polution. MBK mall has a real good food court.

Hi Kywood,

Go for it...be selective but by all means eat from the street. Look out for food that is hot and freshly prepared, and a stall that is doing brisk business and more than likely you'll be fine.

In most cases the food is so cheap that you can afford to buy it, take a bite...and discreetly dump it if you don't like it or trust it.

But if you do like it you'll be delighted to experience a little of what the local people enjoy and it may just increase your understand of what it is to be 'of' the place that you are in.

Try the street food such as phad thai in the side streets off Khao San road in Bangkok or the markets of Chang Mai.

Have some yoghurts as soon as you arrive in the country as these can give you a gentle introduction to the local flora and also long term expats in Thailand have told me that ice is fine as long as it is neatly shaped like the ice at home as this ice is factory produced with sanitised water. If the ice looks like it was hacked from a block...start running

Have a great trip and do try some food.

Note that Bob and Gloria are veteran BKK visitors- I would trust their advice here.

I have eaten at food stalls all over SE Asia and have never had a problem. If you stick to upmarket restaurants and hotels you will be missing out on some of the best and most authetic food the region has to offer. Stick to stalls that are busy and used by Thais. I would much prefer to have my food freshly prepared & cooked in front of me, rather than delivered from the kitchens of even 5* hotel where you have no way of knowing what the hygeine standards are like and where the food is often a bland interpretation of what Thais belive that westerners enjoy .

On a related topic, has anyone tried taking acidophilus (sp?) before/while travelling? I recently spoke to someone who said he takes it and is able to eat all the local, street food in places like Asia & Mexico.

On the other hand, I would trust the advice of people who actually eat at the stalls. The only possible advice you could get from the others is DON'T since they don't!!

We eat selectively...No meat and only eat cooked foods at stalls that look good.

Best advice I ever got was from my doctor..take one Pepto Bismol capsule a day when travelling. HE said research has found it actually does prevent travelers stomach.

Since we started doing this, no one in our family of four has never gotten sick, except once in Japan when I didn't take it for a few days.

I always carry lomotil and cipro as well- just in case. ;-)

Acidipholus is something I take often -- especially if I'm doxcy for malaria prevention. I've never gotten sick in my 30 plus years of traveling -- neither when I have taken it nor when I haven't. I'm still a believer that the surest way to prevent stomach problems is to be as safe and careful as possible in terms of what you eat and drink and that definitely doesn't mean you only eat in hotels.

Amazing!
1) Thais are used to the common backeria that exists there - farangs may not be- so no matter the conditions you may still react in a negative way.
2) Most restaurants will have refrigeration and hot water to wash the dishes- I have yet to see a food stall that can make that claim.
3) One person's experience does not mean that you are safe.
4) Apply common sense!