Bangkok street food phenomenon

Abstract

In 2016, Bangkok was voted as the world’s best destination for street food for 2 consecutive years according to CNN. It shows that street food is very popular among both local and international tourist, a s i t i s d elicious, e asy access, and cheap. Its contributions to urban life go beyond their own informal employment, as it generates demand and supply for a wide range of services provided by other informal and formal workers: (1) as fast food providers, for low to middle-income workers, (2) as an economic activity, which generates income for urban poor, and (3) as a social connector for the variety of its consumers.Accordingly, This research aims to study on the phenomenon of Bangkok street food by examining the history and relationship between street fooddistribution, location, and other urban activities.Din Daeng, NongKhaem, Rat Burana, and Samphanthawong are four cases that were chosen for analysis in terms of ‘self-made’ public space and spatial identity. With this study, the well-planned and managed street food can be part of the city, which captures and responds to Bangkok’s urban contexts.And it will help to find solutions for s treet f ood t o b e included in policy terms as economic assets to cities, while endure in the city within the contemporary urban context.