Rung Rueang Pork Noodles (รุ่งเรือง) is one of those Bangkok restaurants that people talk about the way they talk about certain football clubs. There’s loyalty, mild tribalism, and a surprising amount of passion for a bowl of noodles. But when that bowl has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for years running, the passion may make sense.
This place started as a humble food cart and is now a bona fide institution on Soi Sukhumvit 26 in Khlong Toei. It gets a steady stream of both locals and tourists making the pilgrimage for a bowl of spicy tom yum pork noodles.
Pork Noodle Fued
Here’s the thing nobody warns you about when you arrive at Rung Rueang: two shops with the same name, owned by two feuding brothers, sit directly across the road from one another. Both claim to be the original and serve the same dish. Some diners have a very strong preference for one over the other. Many will tell you both taste identical (we disagree; buy to each his own).
We have a favourite, and ours is the larger store on the left as you enter. We’ll leave the rest of that argument for the internet.
How to order
The menu is straightforward but more customisable than it first appears. Ordering works in stages.
Step 1: Choose your base.
There are four options: Tom Yum (with soup), Tom Yum No Soup (dry), Clear Soup, and No Soup. For a first visit, get the Tom Yum with soup. It’s what this place is known for. This packs a real punch, and you can always customise the heat with the condiments on the table.
Step 2: Choose your noodle.
Egg noodles, glass noodles, thick rice noodles, thin vermicelli. We tend to go with glass noodles, which are soft, smooth, and work beautifully with the tom yum broth. They’re also super slippery, which is satisfying to eat. Not for everyone, though!
Step 3: Choose your protein.
The standard order here is minced pork with fishballs. We actually order ours with minced pork only, minus the fishballs. The mince is the star of the show and doesn’t need supporting acts. Bean sprouts are included, and they add a nice crunch. Fishball fans: the fishballs are homemade.
Step 4: Choose your size.
Small (around 60 THB) or medium (around 70 THB). Fair warning: the small can really be quite small. It’s a snack-sized bowl, not a meal. If you’re planning this as lunch, go medium, or order two. But if you’re looking for a mid-morning snack, then the small is perfect.
Once your bowl arrives, the real fun begins: the condiments. Every table is stocked with crushed peanuts, fish sauce, sugar, and MSG. Bangkok isn’t ashamed of MSG, and Rung Rueang isn’t any different. The dish is built to be adjusted to taste, and it’s better for it.
The food
The tom yum broth is the heart of everything here. Spicy, sour, aromatic, it delivers exactly what you’re hoping for when you sit down at a place like this. The heat from this signature soup builds, and if your spice tolerance is on the lower end, the sugar on the side will be your best friend.
The minced pork is what earns this place its reputation. It’s cooked before assembly and arrives soft and soaked in all the broth’s flavours. The mince has a subtle sweetness that keeps you coming back for more.
For sides, order the crispy fish skin. It’s a crowd favourite, perpetually raved about, and for good reason. Thin, airy, and gone in minutes if you’re sharing. Pair it with the longan juice (nam lam yai), which arrives in a beer mug loaded with ice. It’s sweet, cold, and absolutely necessary in Bangkok’s heat. More ice-to-drink ratio than you’d expect, but you’ll need it when you’re sweating your way through the tom yum soup.
The verdict
Pros
- Michelin Bib Gourmand quality at street food prices
- Minced pork is exceptional
- Fully customisable with the soup base, noodle type, protein, condiments
- Crispy fish skin is a must-order
- Longan juice pairs perfectly with the spice
- The brother rivalry adds an entertaining dimension to the visit
Cons
- Can get busy, especially around lunch
- Cash only or scan and pay
Rung Rueang Pork Noodles reminds you why Bangkok is one of the world’s great food cities. Go for the spicy tom yum. Customise it. Order the fish skin. Get the longan juice. And if someone asks which side of the road you went to, act like the question doesn’t matter.
Rung Rueang Pork Noodles Details
Address: 10/3 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
Price Range: 60–100 THB
Payment: Cash only