Tingly Thai Cooking School is a small school in Bangrak, on Soi Phrachom off Silom Road, and its morning class is one of the most reliably popular cooking experiences in Bangkok. The format is simple and well judged: a guide takes the group to a nearby market to learn about the fresh ingredients of Thai cooking, then back at the school each student cooks four dishes at an individual station, with an English-speaking instructor demonstrating each step first. The sample menu on the booking page includes tom yam kung, the hot and sour prawn soup; pad Thai kung; and khao neeaw mamuang, mango with sticky rice, and reviewers also mention red curry. The class lasts about three and a half hours, groups are limited to twelve, and the price covers ingredients, equipment, the instructor, a recipe book and a lunch of the dishes you have made, with vegetarian options. The meeting point and end point are the same. The school also offers separate afternoon and evening classes as different products, and only the morning class includes the market visit, so choose the morning if the market matters to you. The class is appealing because it is practical: you leave with a menu you can really cook at home, and a better understanding of the balance of sour, salty, sweet and spicy that underpins Thai food.
Why choose a school over a restaurant class: smaller groups, a proper work station and an instructor who has taught the same dishes many times. The first hour at the market is the best part for food lovers, because it explains ingredients that look unfamiliar in a Western kitchen, from galangal and kaffir lime to the different types of chilli and basil.
After the market, the cooking itself is paced so that beginners keep up and confident cooks still enjoy it. You eat what you cook at the end, so arrive hungry and skip a heavy breakfast.
Practical points
The school is a short walk from the Silom area, which is convenient from Silom, Sathorn and Bang Rak hotels. Wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting splashed, closed shoes, and sun cream for the market. Tell the school about allergies and dietary needs when you book, and note that the booking page says transportation is not included.
Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before. If you cannot do a morning, the afternoon and evening classes cover the cooking without the market, and are good for people who want to combine a class with a sunset or dinner plan.
Who it suits
Couples, friends and solo travellers who like food, and families with older children who can safely use a knife and a hot wok. Compare it with the Blue Elephant class if you prefer a more formal and polished setting. The school here is more relaxed and informal, with a focus on getting your hands busy. A good way to use the class is early in a trip, so you can order more confidently and recognise ingredients at the street stalls for the rest of your stay.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group morning class with a market visit, then four Thai dishes cooked at your own station, followed by lunch of what you cooked and a recipe book.
Best time
The morning class, which includes the market visit. Afternoon and evening classes are separate products without the market.
How long
About three and a half hours.
Tips
Arrive hungry, wear closed shoes, tell the school about dietary needs in advance, and note that transport is not included.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Food lovers who want a practical class and a market visit in a small group.
- Families
- Good for older children who can handle knives and hot woks safely.
- Couples
- A fun, shared activity that ends with a good lunch.
- Pair with
- A river cruise, Wat Pho or the Silom area, which is close to the school.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
Where is the school?+
In Bangrak, Bangkok, on Soi Phrachom off Silom Road. The meeting point and end point are the same.
What will I cook?+
Four Thai dishes. The sample menu lists tom yam kung, pad Thai kung and khao neeaw mamuang (mango with sticky rice).
Is the market visit included?+
Only in the morning class. The afternoon and evening classes are separate products.
How big is the class?+
The group is limited to twelve travellers.
Are vegetarian options available?+
Yes. The operator lists vegetarian options; tell the school when you book.
