Bangkok: Boat Noodle Alley

Through the years, I’ve put my friend and serial travel buddy AC through a lot. Most recently, I made her eat pork blood in Bangkok, and I’m not sure if she has forgiven me yet, or if she is working on revenge. Actually, it wasn’t as bad, as it sounds. I just made her eat Kuai Tiao Ruea,  Thai boat noodles.

We went to Boat Noodle Alley just behind Victory Monument, at lunchtime, and the entire street was bustling. The common advice of picking the best restaurant based on how busy it is, didn’t work down Boat Noodle Alley, as all the restaurants were packed. Instead we chose the restaurant, with the most enticing pictures in the laminated menu, Ruathong Noodle.

The usual Thai flatware consist of a spoon and a fork, and noodles are one of the only things you eat with chopsticks, At Ruanthong Noodle, chopsticks were available on the tables along with different seasonings and sauces to spice up your soup.

The noodles were served in small bowls for 10THB each and you could have them with or without soup. Sprinkle some chili flakes, a little sugar and a dash of fish sauce on top, and you’ll have one of the most exquisite street food treats to be found in Bangkok.

Ok, there’s pork blood in it, but it’s not a lot, and if you don’t know it’s there, you probably wouldn’t be able to taste it, but just wonder what gives the broth this very distinct, delicious flavor. My mistake was telling AC about the blood before we arrived.

AC fought courageously and almost managed to finish her bowl with noodles and soup, before she gave up, but there’s in fact no need to fight the blood soup, if it’s not for you, as there are many other variants to choose among.

I’m quite sure that the noodles without soup didn’t have any blood added to it, as they looked like ordinary Thai noodles, much like the ones you get at Rung Reung, and most of the restaurants at Boat Noodle Alley also offer a good selection of non-noodle small dishes.

My Bangkok Blog