5 Thai dishes that will send you running to the bathroom... then running back for more

Visitors to Bangkok are always warned to stock up on anti-diarrhea meds and cautioned to avoid shady looking street food. Some even wince at the thought of eating in the city's critter-frying street markets, fearing both the strange taste of the fiery exotic dishes and the near certainty that they will end up clocking hours of bathroom time.

But not every case of Bangkok belly is the result of dirty, unpalatable food. On the contrary, being plagued by a case of tong sia (literally: "broken stomach") is not only a regular occurrence for many locals, but residual evidence of a noteworthy feast.

Hold on to your porcelain, here's our tribute to the five most dangerously delicious Thai concoctions -- available all over Bangkok in pretty much any city market.

1. Som tum boo balad

Delicious. Notorious. It's not uncommon to hear Thais bragging about a memorable episode of tong sia after sitting down to another plate of this popular favorite. Say hello to papaya salad with fermented crab, the reigning tong sia champ.

2. Kha gai super

Allow us to call your attention to the word super, suspending any meaning it may have in Thai. Just think of this as a super hot and sour chicken soup loaded with spices and all those under-appreciated parts of the chicken, like the feet. Don't be surprised if the other versions of this popular soup are as fiery red as they taste.

3. Hoy khaeng luek

Warning: To eat this blood cockle dish without the spicy sauce that accompanies it is reprehensible and may offend nearby street food lovers. Go for fresh ones and avoid any shells you're served that aren't open. Credible sources tell us these seasoned and boiled shells are messy before and after digestion, so you've been warned.

4. Gop kratiem pad kra pow

There's nothing out of the ordinary about ordering kra pow, the spicy basil dish you can find at almost any restaurant. Change things up and earn the respect of your local friends by ordering it with onion fried frog. An honest street vendor will not deny you any spice and may even throw in a complimentary roll of toilet paper once you've finished your dish.

5. Som tum hoy dong

Fiery. Vindictive. If you've already mastered som tum boo balad, your tummy may be ready to step up to this plate of pure heat. Mention the papaya salad with fermented mussels and remark at how people cringe and salivate at the same time.

If you're brave enough to try all of these in one sitting, an itemized receipt is as useful as a doctor's note to prove to your boss you weren't faking that stomach ailment.

Many other dishes could be included on this list. Leave a comment below and tell us what we missed.