Top 10 Thai Dishes
Quick, spicy, and made exclusively with fresh ingredients – that’s Thai cuisine. In Thailand, food is a true cultural phenomenon, and many people visit the country to experience the unique mix of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors.
The variety of fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and unusual flavor combinations are what make authentic Thai cuisine famous. What dishes should you absolutely try in Thailand? Here’s an insider’s top 10.
- Tom Yum
Spicy, sweet, and sour all at once – that’s what the perfect Tom Yum should be. This soup is Thailand’s signature dish. Recently, Thai Tom Yum with shrimp was even added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
There are several varieties of Tom Yum:
- Tom Yum Goong with shrimp.
- Tom Yum Kai with chicken.
- Tom Yum Pla with fish.
- Tom Yum Talay with seafood and fish pieces.
- Tom Yum Goong Maprao Nam Khon with shrimp and coconut flesh.
- Tom Yum Kha Moo with pork knuckle.
2. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is another immensely popular Thai dish. It is made from stir-fried rice noodles cooked in a sauce with eggs, bean sprouts, tofu, shrimp, or chicken. The most popular version of this dish is with seafood. The key to a delicious Pad Thai lies in the sauce, which gets its distinctive flavor from tamarind – sweetened, pressed tamarind pods.
The story of Pad Thai began long ago, in the 1930s, during the tenure of Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram. He believed that food could help unite the nation and decided that Thailand needed a national dish that had to be quick to prepare, delicious, nutritious, and affordable. This led to the creation of Pad Thai, made with simple ingredients accessible to every Thai citizen.
3. Mango sticky rice
An unusual dessert made of sweet sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and ripe mango. It is mostly sold at street food stalls and night markets, but Mango Sticky Rice can also be found in more upscale establishments.
This dessert is sure to delight those with a sweet tooth. Mango Sticky Rice is typically enjoyed during mango season, in April and May, but it can be found and enjoyed year-round.
4. Fried Rice in Pineapple
Fried rice in pineapple is called Khao Pad Sapparod. It is served with chunks of fresh pineapple, shrimp or chicken, cashews, and vegetables, right inside a halved tropical fruit.
This is also a fairly popular dish in Thailand, comparable to Tom Yum or Pad Thai. The secret to Khao Pad Sapparod lies in the perfect combination of ingredients. Plus, it’s a very photogenic dish!
5. Massaman Curry
This spicy and aromatic dish originates from the northern, Muslim part of Thailand. According to one theory, the recipe for Massaman curry came to Thailand from Persia, while another suggests the dish was influenced by Malay and Indian cuisine.
In terms of texture, Massaman curry resembles a thick stew. It is typically made with chicken or beef, combined with white rice or potatoes, and served with roti. The spices used in Massaman are rarely found in other types of curry: it includes cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin, and nutmeg, which give it a unique taste and aroma.
6. Som Tam
This popular and spicy salad is made from green papaya. The papaya is finely shredded, and all the ingredients are pounded in a mortar to release the juices. The salad’s main flavor comes from the sauce, made with soy sauce, vegetable oil, tamarind, sugar, garlic, and chili peppers.
The history of Som Tam goes back many years. It is believed that this salad originated in the communities of ethnic Chinese-Lao settlers living in what is now central Thailand.
In each Thai region, Som Tam is prepared differently. For example, in the northern part of the country, shrimp or chicken are added to the salad, while in the south, squid or crab are commonly included.
7. Sea fish baked in salt with palm leaves
This dish is often found in street cafes. Fresh white fish—most commonly tilapia—is generously coated in salt, stuffed with palm leaves, and grilled over an open flame. Typically, the fish is served with rice noodles or rice.
8. Tom Kha
Despite its name and appearance, this soup is not a variation of Tom Yum. Tom Kha is a popular Thai soup made with coconut milk and traditional spices. It is most often prepared with chicken broth and chicken fillet, but it can also be made with shrimp, fish, or as a vegetarian version. Tom Kha is distinct from Tom Yum due to its mild and creamy flavor.
9. Khao Kha Moo
This is the name of a traditional Thai dish with Chinese roots – braised pork knuckle. It is served with rice. The secret of this dish lies in the long simmering process in a spiced broth, which includes five Chinese spices. This method makes the meat incredibly tender and the broth rich and flavorful.
10. Roti pancakes
And for dessert, there’s Roti – pancakes made from flour, water, oil, and salt. The dough is rolled out into a very thin layer and fried on a griddle until golden. These pancakes, now popular in Thailand, were originally invented in India, where they are not sweet. In Thailand, however, they are served with various sweet fillings such as mango, banana, Nutella, or condensed milk.
You can try these and other Thai dishes at establishments in Phuket. Check out the best options in the Cafes & Restaurants section. If you want to experience Thai gastronomic culture in a more authentic setting, visit the locations featured in the Night Markets selection.
