6 Thai Desserts Worth Stopping for in the Middle of the Street

Sweets wait on the street, not in the restaurant

In Thailand the best dessert is not at the end of a meal. It stands on a cart on a street corner, with a plastic bag and a wooden spoon. Most desserts rely on coconut, rice, tropical fruit and palm sugar, a flavor that is hard to forget.

This guide gathers six desserts that are easy to find and order, with a short note on what each one actually is. The payoff is a good chance of flying home with a new favorite.

Mango sticky rice: the classic

Khao niao mamuang is sweet sticky rice with coconut sauce, served next to slices of ripe mango. It is sweet, rich and cool all at once, and for many people it is the one Thai dessert not to miss. Mango season is usually spring and early summer, and the rest of the year the fruit is less sweet and less juicy.

You can find it at stalls, night markets and restaurants, often in a small box that is easy to eat on the move. At markets like the ones in Chiang Mai it is worth comparing stalls, since mango quality varies a lot.

The dish is usually vegetarian, but check that the sauce has no additions you did not expect.

Coconut ice cream, khanom krok and tropical shaved ice

Coconut ice cream is sometimes served in a coconut shell or a bun, with toppings like peanuts, sweet corn and jelly. It is a strange and wonderful experience. If you have a peanut allergy, remember to ask for no peanuts.

Khanom krok are small coconut-rice pancakes baked in a special pan with round hollows. They are crisp outside and creamy inside, and sometimes come with corn or spring onion. They are cheap and great as a snack between meals.

Tropical shaved ice, with syrup, fruit and condensed milk, is the real rescue on a hot day. Read our tropical fruit guide first so you know what to add.

Banana roti and grilled bananas

Banana roti is a thin dough fried on a griddle with banana slices, then drizzled with condensed milk and sometimes chocolate. These stalls are scattered across every tourist area, and in the evening they have a line.

Bananas grilled over coals are a simpler, warmer and more natural dessert, sometimes served with a coconut coating. They suit anyone who wants something less heavy.

Note that roti dough usually contains egg and butter, and condensed milk is a dairy product, so if that matters to you, ask.

Where to find them, and what about vegetarians

Desserts are easiest to find at night markets, near train stations and in shopping malls. Bangkok has an enormous selection, and for a general view of street food you can read our street food guide.

In general, many Thai desserts are vegetarian by nature because they lean on coconut and rice. But do not assume: some contain egg, milk or honey. For more on vegetarian and vegan eating, see our vegetarian and vegan guide.

If it matters, ask for no milk or no egg, using a simple sentence you show on your phone.

Summary: how to get it right

Have one sweet a day, look for stalls with a line of locals, and ask for a taste before ordering a big portion. If you are planning a trip, add food stops to the trip itinerary planner the way you would add sights.

Most of all, do not wait for the end of a meal. The best dessert is the one you stumbled across on the street.