China Town

About China Town

Bangkok's Chinatown centres on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong, one of the largest Chinese districts in the world and the historic home of the city's Chinese community for more than 200 years. By day it is a maze of gold shops with red signage, wholesale alleys and temples. After dark the main road glows with neon signs and fills with carts, smoky woks and crowds.

Most people come to eat. From around 6 pm the famous stalls set up and run late, serving guay jub rolled-noodle soup, oyster omelettes, dim sum, seafood and durian. A simple stall dish is about 50 to 120 baht and seafood 150 to 300 baht, so 200 to 400 baht covers an evening of grazing. By day you can visit Wat Traimit's Golden Buddha, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat and the Sampeng Lane market.

Sharing plates from several stalls while walking under the neon makes an easy, playful date that does not cost much. Arrive around 6:30 pm, before it gets packed after 8 pm, and avoid Mondays, when many stalls stay closed for street cleaning. Take the MRT to Wat Mangkon, bring cash and wear comfortable shoes.

Why it works for a date

• Huge choice of street food
• Neon-lit night atmosphere
• Cheap eats from long-running family stalls
• Temples and markets within walking distance

Good to be aware of

• Very crowded and hot after 8 pm
• Many stalls closed on Mondays
• Cash only; driving is not advised because of evening gridlock

Don't miss

Yaowarat Road night food stalls About 50-300 THB per dishFrom about 6 pm the road fills with carts selling oyster omelettes, dim sum, seafood and desserts, so you can graze your way down the street.

Wat Traimit Golden Buddha About 100 THBHome to the world's largest solid-gold Buddha, about 5.5 tonnes and 3 metres tall, with a small museum on Chinatown's history.