10 Must-Try Foods In Thailand!

best thai foods
Rofiq
Rofiq 
Updated
| 3 min read

Fresh, elegant, appetizing are three relevant words to describe Thai cuisine. It’s one of the reasons why travelers want to extend their stay in Thailand. From fancy tom yum to cheap pad tai, they take joy in every bite. Their smile, showing how incredible the taste is, is a clear hint that Thai dishes are everybody’s finest pick.

Here are 10 best Thai foods to try for your preference:

1. Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum Goong
Source: Pixabay

Everybody must agree that the legendary Tom Yum Goong deserves to be the top-rated Thai dish. The aromatic blend of spices like galangal, chili, lemongrass, and lime leaves, along with the fish sauce and lime juice is incredibly sensational. You will never face a life problem when slurping the soup and chewing the fresh prawn.

Tom Yum Kung Restaurant

Address: Khaosan Rd, Khwaeng Talat Yot, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand

Opening Hours: 11 am to 12 am

Visited this place?

2. Gang Keow Wan

Thai green chicken curry and roti
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Takeaway used under CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the most flavorful Thai dishes, recommended for curry enthusiasts, is Gang Keow Wan or Thai green curry. The flawless combination of coconut milk, green chili paste and chicken matches with steamed jasmine rice. To eat this, you need some companions such as crispy fried fish and nam prik (Thai chili paste).

Krua Apsorn

Address: 169 Dinso Rd, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 8 pm

Website: Krua Apsorn

Visited this place?

3. Kaeng Som


Are you a veggie lover? Kaeng Som or Thai sour curry shouldn’t be missed. The clear tangerine soup has a blend of sour and sweet taste. The kaeng som curry paste is the key to why the soupy Thai dish is mouth-watering. It consists of palm sugar, various vegetables (carrots, string beans, and cauliflower), palm sugar, tamarind juice, and the most essential ingredient, the fish sauce.

Waterside Restaurant

Address: 13/16 Mu 9, Pradit Manu Tham Road, Bueng Kum, Bangkok, Khong Kum 10230, Thailand

Opening Hours: 5 pm to 1 am

Visited this place?

4. Pad Krapow

Minced Chicken with Basil with Rice - close-up - i Spicy AUD10
Source: Photo by user Alpha used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Pad Krapow is one of the widely spread fast food dishes in Thailand. It’s sautéed holy basil with minced meat (pork, chicken, and beef), spices, and fried egg. Some vendors also add some sliced onion and sweet bell peppers. The typical savory dish is absolutely tasty and goes well with the hot steamed rice.

Soul Food Mahanakorn

Address: 56/10 Soi Thonglor, Sukhumvit 55 Rd., Klongtunnua Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Opening Hours: 6 pm to 11 pm

Website: Soul Food Mahanakorn

Visited this place?

5. Khao Na Pet


Khao Na Pet is roasted duck slices on rice with spiced sauce. The Thai-Chinise fusion food is sweet, savory, crunchy and soft at the same time. Before being slow-roasted in a coal oven, the duck is marinated with Thai herbs like lemongrass and galangal. Meanwhile, the sauce is made of a mixture of water, herbs and flour.

Prachak Pet Yang

Address: Charoen Krung Road (across from Robinson Bang Rak), Bangkok

Opening Hours: 7 am to 9 pm

Traveler's tips

For truly authentic flavors, eat where the locals eat. Ask your tour guide or your hotel concierge for recommendations for local restaurants. Do not be afraid to sample the street food stalls either. Food is prepared fresh and is made to order in most places.

Visited this place?

6. Gai Med Ma Muang

Kai phat met mamuang himaphan
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Takeaway used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Gai Med Ma Muang refers to stir-fried chicken with roasted cashew nuts. The vibrant color on the dish along with the soft chicken chunks and the crunchy brown cashew nuts is indeed tempting. The sweet sauce, chilies, and onions are other highlights you shouldn’t skip. The blend of the taste, from sweet to savory, and the texture, from soft to crunchy, is incredibly good.

Thiptara at The Peninsula

Address: 333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan, Bangkok 10600, Thailand

Opening Hours: 6 pm to 10.30 pm

Visited this place?

7. Larb Moo

Lap mu isan
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Takeaway used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Larb Moo is a typical Thai Isaan food which has similarity with som tam (the papaya salad). You could call it a minced pork salad, seasoned with some aromatic herbs like chili flakes and lime juice. The fish sauce and khao kua (toasted sticky rice) are added to enrich the flavor. The tenderness of the pork and the crunchiness of the rice are the best parts.

Huen Phen

Address: 12 Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Opening Hours: 5 pm to 10 pm

Visited this place?

8. Khao Neeo Mamuang

Mango sticy rice (3859549574)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dennis Wong used under CC BY 2.0

Khao Neeo Mamuang or mango sticky rice is absolutely the top Thai dessert you must try. It consists of sliced fresh yellow mango, glutinous sticky rice, and coconut milk cooked with palm sugar. Eat the sweet dessert while it’s still fresh instead of keeping it in the fridge!

Boonsap Thai Desserts

Address: 1478 Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok, Thailand

Opening Hours: 7 am to 9 pm

Visited this place?

9. Som Tam

Som tam thai
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Takeaway used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Som Tam or Thai green papaya salad is very popular through the entire country. This tasty Isaan-style food has several different types. The common Som Tam Thai is a simple salad with sweet and sour dressing. Som Tam Boo Plara is a salad with crab and fermented fish sauce. Tam Ba consists of green papaya and fresh water snails.

Somtam Nua

Address: 392 Siam Square 11 Alley, Khwaeng Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand

Opening Hours: 10.45 am to 9.30 pm

Visited this place?

10. Khao Yam



Khao Yam or Thai rice salad is a typical southern dish which is very popular in Phuket and southern Thailand. It includes cooked rice, fermented fish sauce dressing, dried shrimp or fish and shredded coconut. The toppings are sliced lemon grass, lime leaves, and bean sprouts. To make this healthy food more spicy, you can add dried chili flakes to it.

Lan Ahan Puk Tai Dao Tai

Address: 508/26 Phran Nok Road, Bahng Koug Noy, Bangkok, Thailand

Opening Hours: 7 am to 8.30 pm

Visited this place?

Have an amazing culinary adventure with Thai food

The exotic Thailand is indeed the center of good Asian foods. The savory, sweet, and sour flavors combined with the aromatic Thai herbs and fish sauce are the reasons why the food tastes great. The Tom Yum Goong, and the Larb Moo, to the Khao Yam should be put onto your must-eat food list when vacationing in Thailand.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Rofiq, hailing from East Java, Indonesia, is a passionate explorer who thrives on discovering new places, encountering diverse people, and immersing himself in various languages and cultures. His...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Thailand
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.