There are a plethora of reasons to visit Thailand. Stunning natural sceneries, glorious golden beaches, charming huts, legendary parties beneath the full moon, locations for a destination wedding, and of course, Thai cuisines are some of the alluring attractions that make tourists travel from far and wide to visit Thailand. The delicacy of Thai dishes results in a blend of freshness and fragrance, and irrespective of your reasons for visiting, an indulgence in the traditional foods in Thailand is something you must never resist. Thai cuisine has a reputation all over the world for being the most delicious and flavorful meal that you will ever have. Though the variety is immense, here is a look at some of the top traditional foods you must never leave Thailand without tasting.
1. Pad Kra Prao - chicken stir-fry
Pad Kra Prao is Thailand’s equivalent of fast food, being so quick and easy to prepare. This popular stir-fry dish is served both in a restaurant and as street food. Sometimes it’s served fresh, sometimes it’s pre-cooked but that doesn’t make the dish any less delicious.
Common ingredients include chicken, holy basil, soy sauce, vegetable oil, egg, and fish sauce. Being such a popular dish, there are many variations of pad kra prao including changing the meat from chicken to either pork, beef, seafood, tofu, or mushroom.
2. Yum Nua - beef salad
Yum Nua, aka Thai beef salad, is a magnificent blend of beef and vegetables. One of the most well-known salads in Thailand, Yum Nua is widely popular for creating a perfect balance of sweet, salty, tart, and spice. It’s cooked with grilled beef steak, cucumber, tomato, shallot, fresh chili, fragrant herbs, fish sauce, and lime juice dressing. The best part about this dish is that you can easily customize its flavor and balance and tip it to suit your palate!
3. Kway Teow - noodle soup
Kway Teow or clear noodle soup is a general name for a dish that has a plethora of variations from using different meat and vegetables. The dish can also be made entirely plant-based. The ingredients may vary, with some of them having wheat gluten, ground white pepper, garlic oil, thin flat rice noodles, and fried tofu.
Some examples of these variations are: (1) kway teow moo nam sai, which is clear noodles cooked with pork, (2) kway teow neua nam sai, which uses beef, and (3) kway teow luk chin moo nam sai, which uses meatballs.
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4. Tom Yum Goong - spicy soup
Tom Yum is a spicy Thai Soup with shrimp, and it is one of the most famous traditional foods in the country. It is typically made with mushroom, tomatoes, garlic, fish sauce, cilantro, onions, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass together with a lot of lime juice. Due to the composition of the ingredients, it is sour and spicy, but lovely to the taste buds. In a traditional setup, the soup may feature meats such as fish, beef, pork or chicken, and it is generally served in a large clay bowl or an aluminum pot with a charcoal burner.
Tom Yum Goong
Address: Rung Rueang Noodle House, 10/3 Sukhumvit Soi 26, Sukhumvit Road Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Mondays to Fridays
Price: 1.66 USD to 2.32 USD
Contact: +66 2 258 6746
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5. Laap - seasoned minced meat
Laap has its origins in northeast Thailand, and it is one rustic dish you must never miss during your Thai visit. It is primarily made from minced meat seasoned with fresh herbs, fish sauce, lime juice, and roasted rice powder. The best way to enjoy this delicacy is to accompany it with sticky rice or fat grains of rice that have been steamed and eaten with hands.
Laap
Address: Yod Larb Ped Udon, 106 Soi Rama 9 Soi 49, New Rama 9 Road, Suan Luang Subdistrict, Suan Luang District., Bangkok, Thailand (Suan Luang)
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Mondays to Sundays
Contact: +66 2 718 3111
Website: https://www.yodrestaurant.com/
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6. Phat Kaphrao - stir-fried meat with basil and chilli
If you have a thing for traditional foods that you can easily find in the streets, then you have every reason to try out Phat Kaphrao. It is a traditional street food staple in Thailand, and it features a combination of meat flash-fried with holy basil. In most places, you will find it doused in a generous amount of chili and garlic. Mostly served over sticky rice and often topped with fried eggs – it is the definition of a traditional Thai-style one-bite meal.
Phat Kaphrao
Address: Raan Jay Fai, 327 Mahachai, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
Opening Hours: 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM, Sundays to Mondays,
Contact: +66 92 724 9633
7. Khao Soi - noodle soup (from USD 42.05)
Khao soi is another famous traditional noodle dish that delightfully originates from the northern parts of the country. It is primarily a broth of soup that boasts of rich ingredients comprising of curry and coconut milk that gives it a rich, creamy consistency. It is common to find the broth topped over flat egg noodles that have further been topped up with deep fried egg noodles. Meats such as beef and chicken are also familiar accompaniments with khao soi.
Khao Soi
Address: Khao Soi Islam, 22-24 Soi 1, Charoenprathet Rd. Changklan, Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand (1.5 km from Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara)
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturdays to Mondays
Price: 1.66 USD to 2.32 USD
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8. Pad Thai - stir-fried rice noodle dish (from USD 51.09)
If there is one traditional Thai food known across the globe, then it must be Pad Thai. It is a stir-fried rice noodle cooked in a very hot wok with chili, garlic, tofu and eggs amongst other ingredients. Some of the popular meats you are likely to encounter in Pad Thai include shrimp and chicken, and don’t be surprised if you find it garnished with lime juice, peanuts, spring onions and sprouts. It is a one hearty and comforting Thai meal you will be glad to not have missed.
Pad Thai
Address: Pad Thai Thip Samai, 313-315 Maha Chai Rd, Samran Rat, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Opening Hours: 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM, Mondays to Sundays
Price: 1.99 USD to 6.62 USD
Contact: +66 02 226 6666
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9. Gaeng Keow Wan Gai – Thai green curry with chicken
The Thai green curry with chicken is another incredibly popular dish in Thailand and one you should try if you want to understand more about the roots of Thai foods. This curry comprises of coconut milk, green curry paste, and chicken as the main ingredients, though you could always replace the chicken with any meat of your choice. The green curry paste comes from a blend of shallots, garlic, and green chilies amongst other ingredients. The coconut milk is where the soup gets the rich, creamy consistency, while the green curry paste makes it hot and sweet. It is best enjoyed with a plate of rice.
Gang Keow Wan
Address: Poisien, Soi Ratchawithi 6, Boonme Building, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand (Near Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand)
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Sundays to Mondays
Price: 0.99 USD to 1.66 USD
Contact: +66 (0)84 527 5521
10. Pad Grapao - minced pork with Thai basil and fried eggs (from USD 161.1)
Minced pork with Thai basil is like a staple food in Thailand, and it is a dish you will never miss in most, if not all of the Thai eateries. The dish is prepared by cooking the minced pork in a hot pan together with the Thai basil leaves, soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and chilies. The food is normally served over rice, with eggs making the cherry on the very top.
Pad Grapao
Address: Forget Me Not, Chulalongkorn Soi 50, 254 Phayathai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Sundays to Mondays
Price: 11.59 USD
Contact: +66 081 642 5215
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11. Homok Talay - seafood mousse
This is one of the traditional Thai delicacies that are traditionally served on a banana leaf. The dish comprises an assortment of fish, delicious curry spices and vegetables which are then cooked and pressed against the banana leaf into a spicy mousse. So strong are the flavors of this dish that some people usually ignore it in favor of the less spicy options. However, it is a good introduction to the authentic Thai delicacies.
Homok Talay
Address: Ko Dang Talay, Warehouse 7, Asiatique The Riverfront, Charoen Krung Road Soi 74, Bangkok Thailand
Opening Hours: 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM Sundays to Mondays
Contact: +66 (02) 108 4498
12. Massaman curry - rich Thai sauce (from USD 61.0)
This is a signature dish in Southern Thailand, and it is believed that it got introduced in the region in the 16th century by a Persian trader. The dish is a mixture of coconut milk, curry paste, and strong peanut flavors. Nutmeg and cinnamon are also used, but very remotely. In most cases, the dish is premade with chicken and may sometimes contain a few chunks of potatoes to soak up the coconut milk and the flavors.
Massaman Curry
Address: Blue Elephant Governor’s Mansion, Krabi Road 96, Phuket, 83000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM; 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM, Sundays to Mondays
Contact: +66 76 354 355
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13. Gang Jued - Thai vegetable soup
Gang Jued is a bowl of clear vegetable soup and one of the healthiest foods you will find in Thailand. The soup is normally doused with generous proportions of glass noodles, tofu, minced pork, onions, cabbage, carrots, and with fresh parsley as the garnish. Not necessarily a dish on in its own, but it is always a nice complement to other dishes, and you can use it to make up for the lack of vegetables in its greasier counterparts.
Gang Jued
Address: Sorriso, 15, Sukhumvit soi 20Bangkok, Thailand
*Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM; 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM, Sundays to Mondays
Contact: sorriso.veg@gmail.com, +66 62 316 6996
14. Som Tam - papaya salad
The Thai som tum is not just another typical salad. Thai cuisine presents its edible greenery in a different way, with bolder flavors and a louder combination of ingredients. It’s one of the most quintessential dishes that boast a lot about Thai culture. Som Tum may not be the go-to favorite of travelers and tourists, but it’s definitely a must-try food in Thailand. Tom sum is basically papaya salad but known for its intoxicating flavors, with a proper mixture of chilies, garlic, dried shrimp, fish sauce, and even sweet palm sugar to make a common salad, one that is anything but bland. Som Tum can be found in many Thai restaurants or dining establishments, even in the streets of Thailand where this is a common staple for locals and expats alike.
Som Tam Nua
Address: 392/14 Siam Square 5, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
Opening hours: 10:45 AM to 9:30 PM, Sundays to Mondays
Contact: +66 2 251 4880
15. Tom Kha Kai - chicken coconut soup
Tom Kha Kai is often compared to Tom Yum but the difference between the two Thai signature dishes is that it is made with chicken and coconut cream, instead of shrimp and coconut milk like the way Tom Yum is traditionally made. It is the 10th most ordered dish by travelers and foreigners when in Thailand and is beloved for the synchronicity of such rich flavors. Tom Kha Kai makes use of coconut cream, fish sauce, galanga root, and coriander leaves among other ingredients that make the dish come out thicker in terms of consistency in contrast to Tom Yum. Indeed, Tom Kha Kai is a must-try when on a food trip around Bangkok or any other part of Thailand, as it is commonly found in restaurants and kiosks everywhere in the country.
Nahm Restaurant
Address: 27 S Sathorn Rd | Hotel Metropolitan by COMO, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Opening hours: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays and 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM, Saturdays to Sundays
Contact: +66 2 625 3333
16. Khao Pad - stir-fried rice
Although Thai food looks and sounds different from what you are accustomed to, they have a delectable dish that you will surely recognize and enjoy. Khao pad, which literally translates to ‘stir-fried rice’, is a simple rice dish that usually contains garlic, egg, salting agent, and then topped with spring onions, and spiced with sugar, chili, and lime juice. It also has variations depending on the meat added to it. There’s khao pad moo for those added with pork, khao pad if chicken, khao pad pu for crab, and khao pad sapparot for pineapple which, while obviously not meat, Thais highly enjoy. Khao pad is usually served with pad krapow, a spicy stir-fried dish with Thai basil.
G's Bangkok
Address: 74 Silom 4 Alley, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Facebook: G’s Bangkok
Opening hours: 4pm - 1am (daily)
17. Khao Klukh Krapi - shrimp paste fried rice
If you can’t get enough of Asian rice recipes, look no further. Thailand has the perfect rice dish that balances saltiness, sweetness, tanginess, and spice. Another rice dish famous in Thailand goes by the name khao klukh krapi, a bowl of traditional fried rice with shrimp paste, garlic, lemon, prawns, and chili. To balance the flavor, you can add toppings which can range from cucumbers, shallots, thinly sliced green mango, thinly sliced egg omelet, sweetened roasted pork, and deep-fried shrimp. If you’ve ever tried bagoong rice from the Philippines, you’ll easily spot their similarity. This dish goes as far back as the time of King Rama II.
SANEH BANGKOK RESTAURANT
Address: 1 Soi Rim Klong Banglumpoo, Samsen Road, Bangkok 10200 Thailand Bangkok, Thailand 10200
Website: SANEH BANGKOK RESTAURANT
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 7am - 7pm (closed on Sun)
18. Thai Pomelo Salad
Experience a feast of the senses when you dig into yam som-o or Thai pomelo salad, a fresh and bright mix of fruit and spices. Being a Thai delicacy, this salad has layers of authentic Thai flavors and texture. You’ll get the sweetness of the pomelo fruit, the tart and heat of the dressing, the crunch of toasted shredded coconut and roasted peanut, the savory taste of dried shrimp, the aroma of lemongrass, and the freshness of mint. However, if you plan to visit Thailand to have a taste of authentic yam som-o, you cannot easily find it in the street food lanes. It is also rarely available in sit-down restaurants.
Blue Elephant Bangkok
Address: 233 South Sathorn Road, BTS Surasak, Bangkok 10120
Website: Blue Elephant Bangkok
Opening hours: 11am - 9:30pm (daily)
BONUS: Enjoy traditional Thai food in this BKK foodie tour! (45 USD)
What better way to enjoy all the traditional food that Thailand has to offer than having a foodie tour? Foodies, rejoice! This Bangkok night foodie tour is made especially for those who know how to enjoy good food. In this three-hour excursion, you’ll be able to taste about seven to eight different kinds of sweets and food as you explore the biggest night market in Bangkok: Chinatown. You’ll get to taste highly recommended food from your local guide and also learn about Thai culture in between your food trips. You’ll get a taste of Thai-Chinese fusion, Pad Thai, and fried donuts. So if you’re looking for the best traditional foods to try in Thailand, be sure not to miss this tour. Thai tea and a bottle of water are also included in this tour package.
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Website:
Duration: 3 hours
Price: 45 USD
Explore Thailand for the best culinary diversity
The list of traditional Thai food in Thailand is probably longer than this, but the above foods are incredibly delicious and definitely one of the best reasons to visit Thailand. They are also popular to imply that you will find them in most of the eateries around the country. However, there are many more yummy meals you need to discover in Thailand, and the best way to do that is simply plan a visit to this magical land.