Which area to stay in Bangkok to try a lot of good, cheap food?

if you hate traffic and crowds but want cheap food, stay near ari bts. it's a chill neighborhood with tons of tiny sois full of local places, like the soi ari night market or a small shop on phahon yothin 7 that does killer khao man gai for 40 baht. you're one stop from saphankwai to switch to the airport link at phaya thai, and the whole vibe is way more relaxed than chinatown or ekkamai

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Skip the Chinatown crowds and base yourself around Phra Khanong or Ekkamai on the BTS Sukhumvit line. The street food near Phra Khanong market is insanely cheap, like 20 baht for a bowl of boat noodles at Khao Tom Jae, and it's mostly locals eating there. You're also right next to the airport link at Ramkhamhaeng station, so it's a quick 20 minute ride to Suvarnabhumi without dealing with traffic.

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honestly just stay near yaowarat (chinatown) and walk around the backstreets, you can eat for like 30 baht a plate and it's all good. charoen krung area has a bunch of street stalls that are super cheap and not touristy at all. it's near the mrt too so you can hop to the airport line pretty easy

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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