Bangkok Street Smarts

With a pair of seminal cookbooks and two restaurants—Michelin-starred Nahm, in London, and its Bangkok outpost (Metropolitan Bangkok, 27 S. Sathorn Rd.; 66-2/625-3388; dinner for two $110)—Thai-food guru David Thompson knows his way around town. Here, his top street-food haunts.

Or Tor Kor Market: “This is one of the great markets of the world,” Thompson says. Look for exotic produce (custard apples; sour snakeskin pears), green curries, fish dumplings, and fermented sausages with sticky rice. Thanon Kamphaengphet.

Yaowarat Road: At night, this Chinatown alley fills with vendors selling Sino-Thai specialties including roast duck, grilled river prawns, and Thompson’s favorite: sweet black-sesame-seed dumplings. “The food here is prepared to order, and everything’s fresh.”

Sukhumvit Soi 38: When he’s in town, Thompson is a regular at this popular, evenings-only spot near the Thonglor sky train station. Classics such as pad thai, chicken satay, peppery pork wontons, and egg noodles are served until 2 a.m. —Howie Kahn