1. Tom Yum Goong
This spicy and sour shrimp soup is a bold and refreshing experience, combining aromatic lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves with chili, lime juice, and fish sauce, typically with succulent river prawns.
Top 7 Dishes to Try in Thailand
Thai cuisine is an intricate blend of flavors, renowned for balancing sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and occasionally bitter or creamy notes in a single dish. This distinctive profile is achieved through the generous use of fresh herbs and aromatic spices, such as lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and various types of basil. The culinary landscape of Thailand has been shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, drawing significant influences from neighboring countries like China, India, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia.
Exploring Thailand's cuisine offers options for every budget. For the most affordable and authentic experience, street stalls and food carts are abundant, providing quick and delicious meals like skewers and noodles for a small cost, often allowing one to sample a variety of dishes for under 100 baht.
Mid-range dining can be found in basic canteens and local restaurants, which offer a more comfortable setting with dishes typically priced between 60 to 120 baht. Conveniently, many shopping mall food courts also provide clean, air-conditioned environments with a wide array of affordable Thai dishes.
For those seeking a more upscale experience, numerous restaurants cater to tourists, including fine dining establishments, where meals can range from 200-300 baht to significantly higher prices for a premium experience.
2. Pad Thai
A classic stir-fried noodle dish featuring rice noodles, often with shrimp or chicken, bean sprouts, onion, and egg. It is seasoned with a harmonious blend of fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind paste, and chili, commonly garnished with crushed peanuts and a lime wedge.
3. Som Tum
Known as spicy green papaya salad, this dish from the Isaan region combines shredded raw papaya, green beans, tomatoes, and chilies, pounded to release a distinctive sweet, sour, and spicy flavor.
4. Gaeng Keow Wan Kai
This vibrant green chicken curry gets its color from green chilies and features a rich, sweet, and creamy texture from coconut milk, along with ingredients like cherry-sized eggplants, bamboo shoots, and sweet basil.
5. Pad Krapow Moo
A popular stir-fry, this dish consists of minced pork, holy basil leaves, fresh chilies, and green beans, stir-fried with soy sauce and sugar. It is traditionally served over steamed white rice, often topped with a fried egg.
6. Khao Soi
Originating from Northern Thailand, this curry noodle soup offers a complex flavor profile that is both spicy and sweet with a sour finish, characterized by its creamy, oily, and pungent mouthfeel.
7. Khao Niao Mamuang
A beloved dessert, this dish features sticky rice drenched in rich coconut milk, served alongside slices of fresh, ripe mango.
