There are many reasons to visit Thailand, and the food has to be high on the list. The best Thai dishes are a combination of spicy, sweet, hot, herby – and always delicious. Thai food is so varied, and you can find so many great examples of good food in Thailand that you will never be short of something tasty to try.
You can eat Western food in Thailand, but why would you want to when there is authentic Thai food for every taste, available everywhere, from the cheapest restaurants in Bangkok to the most upmarket places in Koh Samui? It can be a little overwhelming when you check out a Thai menu for the first time, so to make it easier, here are a few ideas for the Thai dishes you must try when visiting Thailand.
Eat These Best Thai Dishes
1) Pad Thai
If there is one Thai dish you will always find on the menu, it’s pad Thai. Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish, but it is much more than that. Pad Thai may be served with chicken or seafood or just with veggies. You get peanuts and hot sauce if you want on top, although without additional seasoning, the Pad Thai is not spicy. It is popularly served on the street from small stalls.
2) Laap
Thai minced chicken salad comes from the northeast of the country, and it is a delicious concoction of minced chicken with lime juice, herbs, fish sauce, and rice powder. You can eat this with sticky rice for the ultimate comfort food.
3) Tom Yum Goong
This fantastic Thai soup contains ingredients and flavors from shrimp to lemongrass. It is often known as hot and sour soup, and this dish is a little spicy and savory. Don’t forget to ask for a less spicy dish or a milder soup if you are not a fan of spice, but you will find that the soup’s heat intensifies the lovely flavors.
4) Phat Kaphrao
This delicious stir-fried chicken dish comes with holy basil inside and some lovely flavors from garlic and fresh chili. It is often topped with a fresh fried egg for added flavor.
5) Som Tam
This dish could be called, in English, green papaya salad. It is an excellent example of a street food dish that mixes all the flavors – sour, salty, savory, hot, and sweet. It is always tasty wherever you get it from and comes with a satisfying sweet kick.
6) Kai Yang
The grilled chicken in this Thai dish is marinated in fish sauce and a blend of tasty additions like garlic and coriander root, making it anything but bland. This is one of the best dishes to combine with a green papaya salad and sweet sticky rice. Bliss!
7) Gai Med Ma Moung
This dish is fried chicken with cashew nuts, which may often be spicy. It is served with vegetables; you can also eat it with a good helping of white rice for a filling meal.
8) Geng Kheaw Wan Gai
Thai green chicken curry is one of the most well-known staples of Thai cuisine and one of the Thai dishes you must try in Thailand. Be aware that this is often a spicy dish, so ask for a milder version if you like. The curry is fried chicken in a green curry paste, with added coconut milk and vegetables.
9) Spring Rolls
You cannot get any better than spring rolls for tasty, hot convenience food. These are found everywhere, from street stalls to posh restaurants. Spring rolls are fresh and delicious. They are perfectly paired with a spicy dipping sauce, or you can eat them alone.
10) Kao Phad
The typical fried rice is tasty, cheap, and filling. It usually is rice with an additional protein like chicken or shrimp and may even be served with crab or beef. You get a tasty and bountiful meal full of egg and garlic, with added vegetables.
11) Massaman Curry
This is a traditional dish from Muslim settlers in Thailand, and it is not quite as spicy as the conventional Thai versions of curry. This curry has so many rich and lovely flavors and is a genuinely filling dish. Something you should be trying as soon as possible.
12) Mango Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is a delicious meal in itself, and the mango version combines sticky rice with succulent mangoes and some delightful coconut cream syrup. The dish’s sweetness is not for everyone, but it is very filling and lovely.
Check out more about Thai food & restaurants, plus the best Thai dishes to try at PhuketOn. The PhuketOn blog is your destination for top Asian travel tips.
