A woman arranges fried snacks on her street food cart the Pratunam district of Bangkok on April 18, 2017. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

The World Capital of Street Food Is Banning Street Food

Bangkok’s bustling, roadside food stands are legendary. But with Thai government’s new decree to shut down street food — in an attempt to improve safety and cleanliness — outrage is growing.

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A woman arranges fried snacks on her street food cart the Pratunam district of Bangkok on April 18, 2017. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman arranges fried snacks on her street food cart in Bangkok's Pratunam district on April 18.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
People go shopping for food from street stalls in the Phayathai district of Bangkok on April 18, 2017. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

People shop for food from street stalls in Bangkok's Phayathai district on April 18.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
A man sells drinks from a street cart in the Pratunam district of Bangkok on April 18, 2017. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A man sells drinks from a street cart in Bangkok's Pratunam district on April 18.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows a man making food at a street stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A man makes food at a street stall in Bangkok's Phrakanong district on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows a woman working at a street noodle stall as a customer eats in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman works at a street noodle stall as a customer eats in Bangkok's Phrakanong district on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows a woman selling fruit at a street stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman sells fruit at a street stall in Bangkok's Phrakanong district on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows people walking past a street noodle stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

People walk past a street noodle stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
A man carries a dish at his street food stall the Pratunam district of Bangkok on April 18, 2017. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A man carries a dish at his street food stall in the Pratunam district of Bangkok on April 18.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows a street food vendor talking to a customer in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A street food vendor talks to a customer in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows people waiting to pick up food from a street stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

People wait to pick up food from a street stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
This photo taken on April 17, 2017 shows a family preparing food for customers at a street food stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok. Street food stalls will be banned from all of Bangkok's main roads under a clean-up crusade, a city hall official said Tuesday, prompting outcry and anguish in a food-obsessed capital famed for its spicey roadside cuisine. / AFP PHOTO / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA (Photo credit should read LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images)

A family prepares food for customers at a street food stall in the Phrakanong district of Bangkok on April 17.

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images
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The World Capital of Street Food Is Banning Street Food

Bangkok’s bustling, roadside food stands are legendary. But with Thai government’s new decree to shut down street food — in an attempt to improve safety and cleanliness — outrage is growing.