Bangkok’s Most Meaningful Cooking Experience

Cooking with Poo and Friends isn’t just a cooking class — it’s a window into real Bangkok life that most tourists never see. Founded by Saiyuud “Poo” Diwong, a local woman from the Klong Toei community who turned her cooking skills into an award-winning social enterprise, this class has been featured in international media and inspired a published cookbook.

What makes this experience unique is its authenticity. You’re not learning in a polished commercial kitchen — you’re cooking in Poo’s home, surrounded by the community she’s helping to support. Every baht you spend goes directly back to local families, making this one of the most socially impactful experiences available to visitors in Bangkok.

The class has earned consistent top ratings for its deeply personal, culturally immersive approach. You’ll leave with more than recipes — you’ll leave with a genuine connection to the people and flavors of Thailand.

Quick Facts:

• Location: Klong Toei community, Central-East Bangkok
• Zone: Near Sukhumvit, accessible from BTS Phrom Phong
• Price Level: ฿1,800 per person (4 dishes)
• Hours: Daily at 9:00 AM (single session)
• Meeting Point: BTS Phrom Phong (free transport provided)
• Class Style: Community-based, culturally immersive

What You’ll Learn

Poo teaches authentic Thai home cooking — the dishes that Thai families actually make every day. Menus rotate daily and typically include 3-4 dishes such as Green Curry Chicken, Pad Thai with Prawns, Spicy Beef Salad, Tom Kha Gai, and Mango Sticky Rice.

The emphasis is on technique and flavor rather than presentation. You’ll learn to pound curry paste by hand, balance the essential Thai flavor profiles, and cook with the confidence of a Thai home cook.

The Market Tour

The experience begins with a personal guided tour of Klong Toei fresh market — one of Bangkok’s largest and most authentic wet markets. Poo walks you through the stalls, explaining ingredients, haggling customs, and the role of the market in daily Thai life. It’s a vibrant, sensory-rich introduction to Thai food culture.

The Kitchen & Facilities

The cooking takes place in Poo’s home in the Klong Toei community. Facilities are basic compared to commercial cooking schools — this is a real home kitchen, not a showroom. There’s no air conditioning, and seating is informal. What you lose in polish, you gain tenfold in authenticity and cultural connection.

For Medical Tourists & Recovery Visitors

This class requires moderate physical fitness. The market tour involves walking through a busy, sometimes crowded local market, and the community setting has uneven terrain and basic facilities. It’s best suited for patients who are further along in recovery (week 3+) and fully mobile.

That said, for adventurous patients who are feeling good, this is one of the most rewarding experiences available in Bangkok. The cultural depth and personal connection are unmatched.

Hospital Proximity

• Bumrungrad International Hospital: 15-20 minutes by taxi
• BNH Hospital: 15 minutes by taxi

Visitor Tips

• Meet at 9:00 AM sharp at the “PRADA” sign outside Emporium Store, BTS Phrom Phong
• Free transport is provided from the meeting point to the class and back
• All bookings must be made online in advance via the website
• Private classes available for groups of 5+ (give 3 weeks notice)
• Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking through a market
• Bring an open mind — this experience is about culture as much as cooking