The Famous Thailand Food

Oh, the delectable tastes and smells of Thailand! Thai food is loved by many people throughout the world for their flavorful combinations of coconut milk, lemon grass, fish sauce and Thai chilies that fulfill all the six senses of taste. Surrounded by four countries and thousands of years of influence from India and China, Thai cuisine has something for any Asian food lover.

How to Eat

I think it’s important to be culturally conscious when visiting another country. Here are some tips to help you enjoy top Thai dishes while showing appreciation and respect.

Rice with every meal: Rice is a symbol of bounty and fertility in Thailand. With over 3000 different types of rice, it is no surprise that this is a staple in Thai cuisine. Visitors will most commonly be offered a bowl of sticky white rice with every meal. This is a popular rice as it is great at soaking up the delicious curries and sauces popular in Thai food.

No chopsticks: Thai people do not use chopsticks to eat, and you are not likely to find any in Thai food restaurants.

Spoons are the main eating utensil in Thailand and the fork is used to guide the food into the spoon. You are not likely to find a knife at the table either, but these are rarely needed outside of the kitchen with traditional Thai food recipes.

Shared experience: As is found in most Asian cultures, eating is a shared experience. Multiple dishes are laid on the table for all to enjoy. I really like this way of eating, not only does the diner get to taste a bit of everything, but it is also easier to control personal portion size. If you are dining with Thai friends, remember to only put on your plate what you can eat. You don’t want to be perceived as rude and unappreciative.

Social structure: Do not start eating first when you sit down to have a meal with the Thai. Thai meal etiquette denotes that the diner with the highest social rank, or the eldest, is to eat first. Sometimes it is not obvious who has the highest social rank or is the oldest, so the safer thing to do is just wait to eat until others join in. It is also respectful to not talk with food or drink in your mouth and to not be too loud or clumsy at the table.

Top Thai Food Dishes

Tom Yum Goong (Thai hot and sour soup with shrimp) is one of my favorites and is definitely hot! This clear broth soup served with lots of little Thai chilies and infused with lemongrass and lime leaves, is packed with a symphony of flavors!

Tom Yum comes in different versions including vegetable, chicken, and tofu. Tom in Thai is to boil and yum means to mix. If you want to try this dish without the spice, say “Pèt nít nɔ̀ɔi” for little spice, or “Mai pèt” for no spice. Tom Yum Goong is thought to have originated in Southern Thailand where there is an abundance of shrimp.

Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in Coconut Soup)

Tom kha gai is Thailand’s national dish originating from Northern Thailand. Originally made with duck (Tom kha pet), Tom kha gai has a creamy coconut base and is less spicy than its cousin tom yum but many of the same flavors.  

This soup is known to be nutritious and includes galangal (earth toned woody plant related to ginger), lemongrass, garlic, bird’s eye chili peppers, lime leaves, fish sauce, and shiitake mushrooms. Also, like Tom yum, tom kha can also be made with seafood, tofu, or vegetables.

Pineapple Fried Rice

There are so many versions of fried rice. It’s a delicious meal served up in one bowl, what’s not to like? Any visitor to Thailand is sure to see this practical food served up in half of a pineapple.

While there are also many versions of pineapple fried rice, this one is the most appealing to the eye. Diners can try this fried rice with seafood, pork, chicken, or vegetables.

Pla Kapung Neung Manao (Steamed lime fish)

Pla neung manao is a traditional fish dish originating from Central Thailand. This fish is stuffed with lemongrass and steamed.

Traditionally served whole (head on) and covered with an aromatic sauce typically made of lime juice, lots of sliced garlic, fish stock, palm sugar, fish sauce, hot peppers, and coriander. This is an excellent dish for seafood lovers!

Pad Thai

This is often the food people think of when they hear Thai food. Pad Thai is a rice noodle stir fry that generally includes a protein, peanuts, egg, and bean sprouts.

Visitors to Thailand will see this popular dish sold by street vendors and listed on almost all Thai food restaurants.

The history on the origin of Pad Thai is mixed. It is said that Thailand suffered a rice shortage due to floods during World War II and to reduce the domestic rice consumption, the Prime Minister promoted the consumption of noodles.  

It is also said that the Thai people would never put the name of their country in the title of a Thai recipe and so Pad Thai is not native to Thailand but was actually invented by the Chinese immigrants. Either way, this is a delicious dish and one to have while in Thailand.

Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)

The first time I had this popular Thai salad my mouth exploded with flavor and heat. I thought there would be fresh sweet papaya fruit to offset the chili. Silly me! Som Tam is made with shredded and smashed green papaya and a spicy chili pepper dressing. Other ingredients most often include more chilies, fresh garlic, dried shrimp, fish sauce, sweet palm sugar, lime juice and cherry tomatoes.

The long noodle like pieces of green papaya have a nice crunch and the dressing is not always as spicy as the one from my first experience.

This dish likely originated in Loas and was modified to the Thai pallet in Northeaster Thailand (Isaan).

Khao niao mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice)

Time for dessert. While there are different versions of mango sticky rice throughout Asia, mango sticky rice is thought to have originated in the mid-1500sin Thailand. This delectable treat is made with glutinous and lightly sweetened rice, delicious fresh ripe mango, and coconut milk.

However, since fresh coconut is not as abundant in northern Thailand, it is not generally served with mango sticky rice in the north. If you like mangos, you definitely want to try mango sticky rice in Thailand, especially during mango season which is from late March to July.

Halal Food: Muslims comprise almost 5% of the population in Thailand with the majority of Muslims living in Southern Thailand (35% of the population). Halal food can be found in most regions of Thailand with the majority concentrated in Bangkok and Phuket.

Vegetarian and Vegan Food: There are many Thai recipes that can be ordered as a vegetarian option. When ordering a dish without a meat protein it is important to ask for no fish sauce “Mai ao nampla krab/ka” (males end with Krab and females end with Ka). Vegetarian and vegan food can also be found in most regions of Thailand.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this taste of Thailand’s popular dishes. Come back soon for more adventures. And as always, I invite you to reach out if you have any questions or just want to share ideas, or your favorite Thailand dishes.

Feel free to email me at cyanne@bestdestinationsthailand.com or leave a comment below. Together, we can share our experiences or just learn from others. The world opens up to those with knowledge.

All the best,

Cyanne