Thailand is well-known all around the world for its fragrant, mouth-watering cuisine – and for good reason. Cities in both Northern Thailand and Southern Thailand are a paradise for food lovers, like me, and probably you if you’re reading this. Every corner you turn, you’ll be tempted by some deliciously fragrant smells from either food stalls or sit-down restaurants, alike. Whether it’s a perfectly spiced coconut milk curry, a sweet and spicy fruit salad like som tam, or a juicy, meaty aroma from smoke pouring off a charcoal grill, the aromas will pull you in before you know it. In this blog post, I am going to walk you through a list of my top 8 amazing dishes you must try in Thailand!

Throughout both of my visits to Thailand, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of staying in northern, southern, and central Thailand; Chiang Mai, Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Cha-Am, and Bangkok. And each of them delivered when it came to food. Fresh tropical fruit and smoothies won my heart in Ko Phi Phi; khao soi in Chiang Mai; fresh whole fish in Krabi; grilled meat and satay in Cha-Am; and a wide variety of delicious street food in Bangkok. 

Some Things You Should Know About Thai Food

Before we get into my top 8 amazing foods to try in Thailand, let’s go over a few interesting facts about Thai food culture. Maybe you’ve heard of some of them, maybe not. Let’s see. (:

• Thai people love their food and take great pride in the taste, quality, and abundance in which they serve it. Locals will often greet you by saying, “gin kâao lɛ́ɛo rʉ́-yang” or “gin kaw rue-young krub/ka? (กินข้าวรึยังครับ/คะ?), which translates to “Have you eaten yet?” Because food is such an imperative element of the culture, they always want to make sure nobody is hungry. 
• Thai food is flavor-packed, delicious, and mostly nutritious, but it is very affordable too. A basic meal in a restaurant in Thailand will average around 100-150 THB (Thai baht), which is about $3-$5 USD. If you’re visiting a very touristy area, such as Phuket, expect to pay some more.
• In Thai culture, it is most common and preferred to eat family style, meaning everything is shared. So, if you’re in Thailand and spending time with locals, don’t expect to order and eat your own dish. Thai people are very social and friendly in nature, so it’s natural to share big platters of food with your loved ones, as opposed to ordering your own entrée, for example.
• Unlike most countries in Asia, you won’t typically be served with chopsticks. Instead, forks and spoons are preferred. Because chopsticks were imported from China, they are usually reserved for eating Chinese-style noodles. For Thai noodles like pad see ew or pad kee mao, however, both the fork and spoon are used to bring the food to the mouth.

Alright, now that we know a little bit more about Thai food culture, let’s dig into the top 8 amazing foods to try in Thailand!

1. Tom yum goong (ต้มยําากุ้ง)

Tom yum goong, or Thai spicy shrimp soup, is one of the most popular and most widely-known dishes throughout all of Thailand. A delicate balance of spicy, salty, sweet, and sour, this dish is one that you will not want to leave Thailand without trying. The soup can be ordered with coconut milk (tom yum goong nam kohn) or without coconut milk (tom yum goong nam sai) – but ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chilies are essential in both versions.

2. Som tam (ส้มตําา)

Som tam refers to any variety of green papaya salad. It originates from the Isaan region, the eastern provinces near Thailand and Cambodia – so it goes without saying that it is an essential dish of the Isaan region. It’s made with raw papaya, which adds to the sourness of the dish. In a mortar, other ingredients added include chilies, garlic, fish sauce or fermented fish, and peanuts. The result is an addictive bite with the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy – all the flavors of Thailand!

3. Kuay teow reua (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ) & Kuay teow neau (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเนื้อ)

Kuay teow reua (pork boat noodles) and kuay teow neau (beef boat noodles), are noodles in either a pork-based or beef-based Thai soup. They both used to be served on the boat in different Thai canals, hence the name. They’ve got different versions of toppings, but they are both super rich in flavor, with a sourness coming from fresh squeezed lemon juice and the spiciness coming from fresh chilies. They’re both a favorite, especially in Bangkok. The beef version is always my go to, because of the fall-apart tender braised beef. I don’t eat red meat often, but when I do, this dish is always satisfying. 

4. Pad gra pao gai kai dao ผัดกะเพราไก่ไข่ดาววิธีทำ ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง

Pad gra pao kai dao is thai basil chicken and fried egg. That being said, I should note that this stir-fried Thai basil can be ordered with just about any protein your heart desires. Squid, shrimp, beef, pork, and even tofu are some alternatives to chicken for this dish. A crowd pleaser amongst both locals and travelers, alike, this is a staple across all regions of Thailand.

5. Grilled whole red snapper

One of the most tasty and satisfying dishes you can find in Thailand is grilled whole fish. In my case, I’ve tried the red snapper on a couple of occasions and fell in love. You can often find food stalls that have raw whole fish of different varieties, where they will make it to order. There are typically at least a couple of options to choose from when it comes to seasoning. My personal favorites are a combination of sweet and salty sauce, a lime chili garlic seasoning blend, and pla pao (ปลาเผา) where the fish is salt-crusted and stuffed with kaffir leaves and lemongrass. Yum!

6. Khao niaow ma muang (mango sticky rice) ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง

If you’ve been to Thai restaurants around the world, you may have seen this on the menu, as it is one of the most well-known Thai desserts. Since mangoes are in season in the summer, you’ll find this in abundance in the summers, but you can still find it any time of the year. Nothing too complicated, this dish is literally freshly sliced mango, served with sweet sticky rice, made with coconut milk. Though it is sweet, it is not overly sweet, like many desserts found in southeast Asia. 

7. Pad pak bung fai daeng (morning glory) ผัดผักบุ้งไฟแดง

Definitely at the top of my list of Thai cuisine, pad pak bung fai daeng is often served as an appetizer or side dish. The morning glory is typically stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and soy sauce before being added to another sauce made of chili paste, fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar. It’s crispy and salty, while still leaving your tastebuds feeling refreshed and wanting more.  Like basically all Thai dishes, you’ll almost always have some kind of veggie served alongside it, but this might be my favorite!

8. Geang keow wan gai (Green chicken curry) แกงเขียวหวานไก่

One of the most well-known Thai dishes around the world, Thai green curry never disappoints! It’s been my go-to Thai dish for as long as I can remember. With a rich coconut milk base mixed with green curry paste, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

The Best Thai Foods in Conclusion

What I love about Thai cuisine is that there are hundreds of unique Thai dishes, that you can literally go days and even weeks without repeating dishes (if you’re an adventurer). And if you’re in Thailand and see something that catches your eye – or your olfactory nerve, for my fellow nerds out there – then just try it. You’re not going to break the bank with food in Thailand, unless maybe you’re hanging out in really tourist-populated places, like Phuket. And if you don’t love it, you’ll learn that for next time around and you’re only out a couple of bucks. I think it’s a win-win. Besides, you didn’t go all the way to Thailand to just have pad thai, right?

This list of 8 amazing foods to try in Thailand includes just a few of my favorite dishes that I frequently ate throughout my travels in Thailand (and that are quite common to find), but please don’t feel limited – there are plenty of other dishes to try!

Have you been to Thailand? What are your favorite Thai dishes? Let me know in the comments below!