As you visit Bangkok, Thailand, here are our top 10 list of thai foods that you should not miss. As most of us know, Thailand is well-known of its hot and spicy dishes so if you’re up for the challenge why not give it a try but of course, if not, there is still an option to refuse being served with a spicy dish by just saying “Mai Phet” which means not spicy.
Lastly, you will discover that there are also some foods that are close to every Filipinos taste buds. This is one of the reasons why most of the Filipinos feel at home while staying in Thailand – almost the same climate as Philippines (even hotter and lesser rain) and of course, the food.
1. Tom Yum Soup (Hot and Sour Thai Soup) – ต้มยำ
A soup originating from Thailand which is perhaps considered as the most famous dish in Thai Cuisine. It has distinct hot and sour tastes on which its broth is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind, and crushed chillies. In addition to this, the soup is often generously sprinkled with fresh chopped coriander.
In Thailand, tom yum is usually served with:
- Prawns (กุ้ง) – Tom Yum Koong
- Chicken (ไก่) – Tom Yum Gai
- Fish (ปลา) – Tom Yum Plaa
- Mixed Seafood (อาหารทะเล) – Tom Yum Tha Lae
- Mushroom (เห็ด) – Tom Yum Het (usually straw or oyster mushrooms)
Price Range: Approximately 45 to 100 Thai Baht depending on the location of the restaurant and the size.
2. Pad Thai (Thai Stir-Fried Rice Noodle) – ผัดไทย
A dish made with with soaked dried rice noodles which are stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu, and flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce (Thai: Nam plaa น้ำปลา), dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper and palm sugar, and served with lime wedges and often chopped roasted peanuts. It may also contain other vegetables like bean sprouts, garlic chives, coriander leaves, pickled radishes or turnips (Thai: Hua Chai Po หัวไชโป๊ว), and raw banana flowers. Vegetarian versions may substitute soy sauce for the fish sauce and omit the shrimp. It may also contain fresh prawn,chicken or another protein.
- Prawns (กุ้ง) – Pad Thai Koong
- Chicken (ไก่) – Pad Thai Gai
- Crab (ปลา) – Pad Thai Puu
- Mixed Seafood (อาหารทะเล) – Pad Thai Tha Lae
Price Range: Approximately 35 to 50 Thai Baht depending on the location of the restaurant.
3. Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice) – ข้าวผัด
“Khao” means rice and “Phat” means of or relating to being stir-fried. This dish is famously close to Filipinos’ heart. Like Filipinos, Thai people also eat fried rice in the morning matched it with fried egg (Khai Daao: ไข่ดาว). The difference of this dish from Pinoy fried rice is that it already contains all the ingredients are already stir-fried together by which you don’t need any more to combine it with a main dish. Its ingredients are mainly containing meat (chicken, shrimp, and crab are all common), egg, onions, garlic and sometimes tomatoes. The seasonings, which may include soy sauce, sugar, salt, possibly some chili sauce, and the ubiquitous fish sauce (Thai: Nam plaa น้ำปลา). The dish is then plated and served with accompaniments like cucumber slices, tomato slices, lime and sprigs of green onion and coriander.
- Prawns (กุ้ง) – Khao Pad Koong
- Chicken (ไก่) – Khao Pad Gai
- Crab (ปลา) – Khao Pad Puu
- Pork (หมู) – Khao Pad Muu
- Mixed Seafood (อาหารทะเล) – Khao Pad Tha Lae
Price Range: Approximately 30 to 45 Thai Baht depending on the location of the restaurant.
4. Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) – ส้มตำ
It is the most famous salad of Thailand. It is prepared by pounding garlic and chillies with a mortar and pestle followed by tossing in tamarind juice, fish sauce, peanuts, dried shrimp, tomatoes, lime juice, sugar cane paste, string beans and a handful of grated green papaya.
It is a Northeastern or Isan (อีสาน) food which is partnered with sticky rice and other Northeastern dishes. For thai people, it is usually matched with grilled chicken (Thai: Gai Yaang), Tom Yum soup, and sticky rice. Other combinations are as follows:
- Som Tam – Laab Muu – Tom Yum – Sticky rice
- Som Tam – Laab Muu – Tom Yum – Pad Thai
Price Range: 25 to 35 thai baht
5. Khao Man Gai (Hainanese Chicken Rice) – ข้าวมันไก่
This dish, also known as Hainanese chicken rice, literally means “oiled rice chicken”. It is served with a garnish of cucumbers and occasionally chicken blood tofu and fresh coriander, alongside with a bowl of clear chicken broth. The accompanying sauce is made with tauchu (also known as yellow soybean paste), thick soy sauce, chilli, ginger, garlic and vinegar.
On the other hand, there are some khao man gai shops that are selling fried chicken version of the dish. Thai people call it Khao Man Gai Thaawt (Fried Chicken: ไก่ทอด).
Average Price: 35 to 45 thai baht
6. Pad Pak Boong (Stir-Fried Morning Glory) – ผักบุ้ง
The morning glory is a very common vegetable in Thailand, as well as other South East Asian Countries such as Philippines. This vegetable, as when quickly fried with garlic, chilli and oyster sauce, makes a great dish of its own or could be perfect as a side.
Price Range: 30 to 40 thai baht
7. Khai Chiao (Thai Omelette) – ไข่เจียว
Khai Chiao – This dish is very familiar for everyone what differs is how it was cooked and its ingredients. It is prepared with scrambled eggs combined with onions, minced pork, and basil leaves. Others serve it with other vegetables like string beans, carrots, etc.
Like Filipinos, Thai people love to partner it with steamed rice and tomato ketchup.
Price Range: 30 to 40 thai baht
8. Nam Tok Muu (Tossed Grilled Pork Salad) – น้ำตก
Nam Tok Muu – “Nam Tok” means waterfall. It is a type of meat salad originated in Northeast part of Thailand or Isan (อีสาน). It is made from grilled pork that cut into thin pieces and flavored with chili powder, chopped shallots, ground roasted rice, lime juice, fish sauce. It tasted sour, salty, and spicy.
Usually, Nam Tok Muu is eaten with sticky rice together with side dish vegetables like cabagge, lettuce, and thai basil leaves.
Nam Tok can also be served with:
- Chicken (ไก่) – Nam Tok Gai or Nam Tok Gai Tot (Fried)
- Beef (เนื้อ) – Nam Tok Nuea Yang
Nam Tok Gai Tot can be found at the food court of Terminal 21 shopping mall located at Asoke BTS skytrain station.
Price Range: 35 to 50 thai baht
9. Laab Muu (Tossed Minced Pork Salad) – ลาบ
Laab Muu – It is another Northeastern (Isan) food which is popular all over the country. It usually consists of cooked ground pork which is tossed with lime juice, chili powder, fish sauce & toasted rice powder, along with long coriander and mint.
Laab dish can also be served with:
- Chicken (ไก่) – Laab Gai
- Beef (เนื้อ) –Laab Nuea
Price Range: 35 to 50 thai baht
10. Pad Gra Paw Muu Sab (Stir-Fried Minced Pork with Thai Basil) – ผัดกะเพรา
Pad Gra Paw Muu Sab – It is one of the dishes in Thailand that seems a “never heard” type of food but once you’ve tried it, it would be irresistible to order it again. It is more delicious if you partnered it with fried egg. This dish would likely be one of Thai’s usual breakfasts.
This dish is made of meat, garlic, chillies, shallot, vegetable oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and thai basil leaves. Pad Gra Paw can also be served with chicken (Pad Gra Paw Gai).
Price Range: 35 to 50 thai baht
Pinoy BKK 