Essential Thai Food Experiences with GoTravelDaily

Food alone is a worthy reason to visit Thailand. Famous for its inimitable melange of aromatic ingredients, piquant flavors, and razor-sharp spices, Thai cuisine ranks among the top culinary traditions in the world.

From street-side stalls peddling wholesome, inexpensive meals to fine-dining establishments plating exquisite delectables on par with the world’s best, Thai food checks pretty much every box on the gastronomic spec sheet, even for the most demanding and discerning foodies.

While no volume of literature would do justice to the diversity of Thai food, the following are some essential experiences that comprise a rite of passage for food lovers plotting their way around Thailand, particularly in the capital, Bangkok.

1. Dig into Pad Thai, Thailand’s “National Dish”

Designed as part of a nation-building exercise in the first half of the 20th century, Pad Thai (pàt tai) was conceptualized to represent Thailand on a plate. A wok-fried dish featuring flat noodles, shrimp, bean curd, bean sprouts, spring onions, peanuts, assorted spices, and sauces, Pad Thai brings together everyday ingredients consumed in Thai households across the country.

This dish is wildly popular with travelers—especially those acquainting themselves with Thai food for the first time. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself indulging in nothing but Pad Thai through your first 48 hours in Thailand; many others have done just the same before you.

2. Earn Your Stripes with a Pad Kra Pao Lunch

After the initial infatuation with Pad Thai has worn off, most travelers take a cue from locals and graduate to ordering their first Pad Kra Pao (basil stir fry). This meal consists of steamed rice topped with spicy, basil-laced minced meat (chicken, pork, or beef) and a fried egg.

Pad Kra Pao is the definitive working lunch for millions of Thai office-goers seeking a quick and filling fix. The regulation Pad Kra Pao comes loaded with bombastic chilis, so let the chef know well in advance if you prefer it on the mild side.

3. Master Your Thai Curries by Their Colors

The hallowed trinity of Thai curries—the spicy red, the piquant green, and the aromatic yellow—is perhaps the most recognizable inclusion on any authentic Thai menu. All three can be prepared with various meats, seafood, or vegetables (the green curry lends itself particularly well to vegetarian renditions).

After sampling all three, round off your curry excursion by tucking into a bowl of Massaman, an iconic curry from Southern Thailand featuring potatoes and meat in a star anise-flavored gravy.

4. Explore Northern Thailand’s Rustic Culinary Gems

The food in Northern Thailand is a universe of its own, deriving from the traditions of its resident Indigenous communities. While there, sample a bowl of the legendary Khao Soi (fried noodles in creamy soup), snack on Sai Oua (spicy pork sausage), and enjoy impossibly flavorful Gaeng Hung Lay (tender pork belly simmered in aromatic red curry).

5. Sample Southern Thailand’s Seafood Delicacies

In the quaint urban grid of Phuket Town are a plethora of culinary establishments showcasing the best marine delicacies of Thailand’s ocean-hemmed south, prepared according to the region’s signature recipes.

Must-try dishes include crabmeat in yellow curry served with rice-noodle rolls, deep-fried whiting flavored with turmeric, and various versions of fried grouper, bass, and snapper accompanied by an assortment of sauces.

6. Raise a Late-Night Toast at a Bangkok Rooftop Bar

Rooftop watering holes are synonymous with Bangkok’s nightlife. There’s no shortage of options when choosing a stylish bar situated on a terrace overlooking the city’s skyline, where the cocktails are stiff and delicious, and the atmosphere lively.

Many venues have a smart-casual dress code, so ensure you adhere to it for entry into these stylish locales.

7. Splurge on a High-End Bangkok Dinner

Home to some of the world’s most renowned contemporary chefs, Bangkok is a fine-dining wonderland, with an overwhelming number of haute cuisine kitchens competing for the best-of lists year after year.

While a single meal at any of these booked-out places can easily lighten your wallet significantly, the invaluable experience of being served by the best in the business is worth every penny.

8. Enjoy a Riverside Dinner on the Chao Phraya

If you’re a romantic who values ambiance as much as food, enjoy a dinner at a riverside restaurant along the banks of the Chao Phraya. Experience a meal while gazing out onto the beaming waters of Bangkok’s principal waterway, illuminated by city lights as it winds through the metropolis.

You could also savor a dinner cruise, allowing you to relish the vibrant atmosphere from a boat navigating the placid waters—this experience is quintessential to a culinary adventure in Thailand.

9. Lap Up a Sweet Serving of Mango Sticky Rice

Enjoy a simple yet delightful serving of sticky jasmine rice, sliced ripe mango, crisp-fried lentils, and coconut cream. This refreshing dessert is the perfect balance to close out a spicy Thai meal.

10. Vegetarians and Vegans, Head to Bangkok

Despite its robust meat-and-seafood reputation, Thailand’s capital has a thriving vegetarian and vegan food culture. To communicate “I’m vegetarian” in Thai, you can say “pŏm gin jair” (for men) or “dì chăn gin jair” (for women).

Stylish Bangkok vegan eateries whip up deliciously creative meals appealing to global palates, while numerous Indian restaurants serve iconic vegetarian dishes. The annual Vegetarian Festival—a nine-day celebration of plant-based food—offers an excellent opportunity to explore the plentiful vegetarian delights in the city.

11. Crunch into Local Insect Specialties

Although eco-foodies in various parts of the world have begun to champion insects as an excellent source of environmentally friendly protein, these critters have long been a traditional fare in Southeast Asia. Bamboo worms, fried grasshoppers, crickets, silkworms, and red ant eggs provide unique culinary experiences and adventurous drinking snacks.

12. But Wait, There’s So Much More to Try…

Before you leave Thailand, be sure to try:

• Larb: Salad of boiled minced meat (chicken, pork, or beef), seasoned with lime juice, crushed rice powder, fish sauce, chili, onion, lemongrass, and mint.
• Pad See Ew: Stir-fried soy-glazed flat noodles with leafy greens, featuring beef, seafood, or tofu.
• Kor Moo Yang: Charcoal-grilled pork shoulder, served with spicy sauce.
• Seafood Spaghetti: A unique Thai concoction of stir-fried spaghetti and assorted seafood in a spicy pepper sauce.
• Thai Coffee: Locally grown organic coffee, particularly from the Chiang Rai highlands, offers an authentic taste of Thailand.

This article was last updated on Feb 23, 2024.