Eating Thai street food is a culinary experience like no other. These simple Thai kitchens line the streets in many places, typified by a small stall or cart, some cheap plastic chairs and folding tables. Don’t let this rather ramshackle image fool you, the presentation may be somewhat lacking but the food can be as good if not better than a restaurant charging ten times as much.

Street food vendors can be found on almost any Thai street, operating from the early hours of the morning and on into the night.

The smell of fried chilli and garlic can be quite overpowering at times, and if you enjoy Thai food you will find your mouth watering as you pass by.

Many Thai dishes are cooked on the street, including Thai staples such as Som Tam (spicy papaya salad), Gai Yang (BBQ chicken) and Kaoh Neow (sticky rice). However, one thing that Phuket street food vendors seem to do very well is prepare the locally caught seafood.

Overall, street vendors are a fantastic, inexpensive way to try some real Thai cooking. To find the very best available there is a simple trick. Watch where the Thai people eat and eat at the same street stalls.