10 Thai dishes every tourist should try!
Khao soi, a noodle soup with a rich curry sauce
If you go to Thailand, you should definitely try Thai cuisine! It is famous worldwide for its flavorful and diverse dishes. We have already listed 10 popular dish ideas for you.
There are so many delicious dishes to try, from spicy curries to fresh salads and sweet desserts. And best of all, it's affordable too! You can get a tasty meal for just a few euros at a local market or in a simple restaurant.
If you plan to cook while in Thailand, you can also take a cooking class to learn more about Thai cuisine and prepare delicious dishes yourself. You will then learn how to use the right herbs and spices to create authentic flavours.
Finally, don't forget to also try local drinks such as Thai iced tea and fresh coconut juice. They are great drinks to drink with dinner or just to cool down on a hot day.
Pad kra pao, or fried minced basil with rice
10 Thai dishes every tourist should try
- Let's start with number one: I'm there, or papaya salad. This is a fresh and spicy salad made from unripe papaya, tomatoes, dried shrimps, peanuts and chili peppers. It is the perfect choice on a hot summer day.
- Number two is Khao se, a noodle soup with a rich curry sauce, spicy meat and toppings such as fried noodles and lime. This is one of Northern Thailand's most loved dishes.
- For the fish lovers among us Pla pao, or grilled fish, a must-try. The fish is prepared with garlic, lime, chili peppers and coriander and served with a spicy dipping sauce.
- Another must try dish is Path kra pao, or fried minced basil with rice. This is a simple, yet flavorful dish with minced meat, Thai basil, chili peppers and a fried egg on top.
- For a sweet treat you must Mango sticky rice to attempt. This is a dessert of sticky rice, coconut milk and fresh mango. It is so delicious that you will definitely ask for it again!
- If you like soups, you must Tom yum if to attempt. This is a spicy shrimp soup with mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass and lime leaves. It is a perfect choice on a rainy day.
- For those who like curries is massaman curry highly recommended. This is a mild curry with potatoes, carrots, onions and chicken. It's a great introduction to Thai curries.
- Another dish not to be missed is Gai yangie grilled chicken. This is prepared with garlic, lime, chili peppers and other spices and served with sticky rice and spicy dipping sauce.
- For those who are a bit more adventurous Gung chae nam pla, or raw shrimp with fish sauce dressing, a unique and tasty choice. The shrimps are marinated in lemon juice and served with a dipping sauce of fish sauce, chili peppers, garlic and sugar.
- Last but not least, you should too pad Thai to attempt. This is probably the most famous Thai dish and consists of fried noodles, eggs, tamarind sauce, shrimp or chicken, tofu and peanut
Maybe there are still readers who have nice and tasty additions?
— Tom Ga Kai
– Tod man Pla / Goong
– Pad Pak Boong (Morning Glory)
– Kai Pad Kratiem
And not to forget (although it's not a dish); Nam Phrik Pla
(Although the spelling will be debatable)
When it comes to spelling, I can advise never to use the G, but the K.
This prevents people from pronouncing the G as an English G.
The Thai pronunciation is a K sound.
Everyone who lives here has now expanded their range of dishes, partly due to the cooking skills of the Thai partner, and depending on the region where you live.
About no 10, the Pad Thai. Typical dish for tourists, probably because it is not spicy. The Thais rarely or never eat it (not here in the Isan but before that my students in Bangkok never ate it; I can't remember the last time I ate it.
The Thais like it, for example, because it can contain shrimps that many are fond of. Ask the average Thai, and they will agree that Phat Thai is tasty. Dishes are flavored with various ingredients, the Pat Thai idem with the same flavors which they also sprinkle over the noodles.
Pad Thai is for tourists or for people like me who are not crazy about Thai food. Coriander is widely used and I cannot eat it because it tastes like soap, an abnormality in my genes that cannot be helped.
The Thais also use a lot of fish sauce, something I don't like at all.
My ex was Indonesian and used trassie, it stinks but it makes the dish nice and spicy, in that respect I miss Indonesian cuisine, home made so the real one is not that of the Chinese / Indo restaurant.
But we are talking about Pad Thai, my children are not crazy about it, but when I go to the flea market in CM I always buy a few portions for myself, these (older) people make the best Pad Thai in my opinion, make it spicy you can do this yourself with the supplied chilli powder.
I love spicy food and my Teerak cooks Thai to my taste, just for me, lots of vegetables, Indo noodles (tastes better to me than the Thai, Chinese or Korean noodle), chicken/shrimp and satay sauce.
So once again you can buy the best Pad Thai in CM at the weekend flea market in CM and you can't beat the price.
Massaman curry is not a typical Thai dish, although it is available here and is enjoyed by many tourists, it is originally a Malaysian dish. As far as I know, it is also the only dish in which potatoes are processed here in Thailand.
Also in keng karie, yellow curry.
can one also eat organic food in Thailand and are there organic farmers and shops where one can buy organic food, I like cooking and pure flavors, thanks jpdw
Yes, at ohkajhu.
Pad kra pao is very tasty indeed, one of my favorite dishes. My girlfriend never makes it with minced meat, but with pieces of chicken, which is also possible. I also love laab from the Isan. Doesn't matter if it's chicken, beef or pork, as long as the coriander is replaced by mint. I think there are plenty of tourists around who will also appreciate that.
Ghai paloh, and laab ghai..
A top 10 is. Not enough 🙂
For me it's Pad see ew and Kow kah moo.
Pad Ka Pao? Means fried basil. No one understands what you want to eat.
In the photo I see: Muh pad bai khapao, kai dow. Everyone understands that. Can also be used instead of Muh Gai, meaning chicken or Nua meaning beef.
Kai dow, fried egg like a star.
Furthermore, what is Kalampi? That's cabbage. And Kalampi Dow? Those are ??? You guessed it: Brussels sprouts. Widely available at this time. Eat the Thai with Nam Prik.
Pa Kapong is sea bass. And Dad Samlee? Samlee, we know that's cotton wool. Exactly Cotton wool Fish. More expensive than the perch. Slightly better. And what is that: Nueng Manau, one of the fish steamed with lemon.
DELICIOUS!
And….Kung Mangkorn? Yes lobster. I'll be making a few more of these for the entire Thai family on my birthday.
And Puh Alaska? sublime Alaska lobster. For sale in Thailand at Makro. Definitely worth trying again!