How to identify what a street cart is selling before you arrive, and what to expect when you get there.
Often Chinese-Thai vendors — roast meats (char siu, roast duck), wonton soup, khao man gai; look for the hanging meats.
A cart with a roaring gas flame and wok smoke is frying something — pad thai, khao pad, pad krapao; the smoke is the sign of quality.
A case of prepared dishes (kaeng, stir-fries) means rice-and-curry style eating — point at what you want; usually 3 choices for 70–100 THB.
Moo ping (pork skewers), gai yang (chicken), satay — charcoal grills smell like everything you want for breakfast or a snack.
Breakfast carts: 6–10 AM; lunch carts: 11 AM–2 PM; dinner carts and night markets: 5 PM onwards; some dessert carts run until midnight.
