When most people think of Michelin-recognized restaurants, they think of tiny portions of haute cuisine served over several courses and slapped with a hefty price tag. That’s not always the case. Even expensive destinations like California have a surprising number of relatively affordable Michelin-starred restaurants, but when it comes to Michelin-caliber meals priced as low as American fast food joints, it’s hard to beat Bangkok’s food scene’s bang for your buck.
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Eat at This Michelin-Recognized Noodle Shop in Bangkok for Less Than $2
Take Longleng Lookchin Pla, a streetside noodle shop in the Thai capital that serves Michelin-recognized meals for just a couple of American dollars.
@foodwtf This noodle shop in #Bangkok #Thailand was awarded a #MichelinStar 😍 📍Longleng Lookchin Pla 🎥 @bangkokfoodie #michelinguide #bangkokfoodie #thaifood #foodtravel #streetfood ♬ Food – Densky9
Longleng Lookchin Pla is located on a popular street food stretch in Bangkok known as Banthat Thong Road. It’s appeared in multiple Michelin guides under a specific category that’s designated for exceptional street food, notably in Thailand.
According to the Michelin guide, “the best way to experience the heart of Thai food culture is to savor hawker fare. For that, there’s the symbol of a two-wheeled cart with a little roof. This denotes the physical characteristics of the establishment rather than the quality of the food.” As for the food at Longleng Lookchin Pla, the guide specifically lauds its Yentafo, or “pink noodle soup” with egg noodles and fish balls that are made fresh daily.
Fortunately for travelers on a budget, Longleng Lookchin Pla is one of many affordable Michelin-rated restaurants in Bangkok and Asia at large. Of the 11 cheapest Michelin-starred restaurants in the world last year, five were split between China, Hong Kong, and Japan. Bangkok also has a Michelin-starred street stall called Jay Fai that was awarded a single star in 2018 where you can get a plate of stir-fried noodles for a little more than $10 — one of several Michelin-starred restaurants serving meals under $30. You could have to wait as long as five hours to get a taste of Jay Fai’s creations, but we all know it’s worth it. 