10 Yummy Local Foods You Must Try When Visiting Thailand

Thailand is a heaven for food lovers. Foodies love to come to this country because not only that the traditional foods are delicious, but the prices are also cheap. From small food vendors to restaurants, you’ll find affordable foods that can satisfy your appetite!

Thai foods are delicious because it has various blends of flavors and texture. The top essential flavors are sour, spicy, salty, bitter, and sweet. Can you imagine tasting all those flavors in your mouth? Sooo yummy!

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Top Dishes You Must Try in Thailand

Wherever you go in Thailand, you can easily find its traditional dishes. Thai cuisines are very popular due to their distinct and strong flavors. Try some of the Thai foods because they are healthy. Some of the dishes contain a lot of vegetables and herbs. Although the variety is immense, here is a look at some of the top traditional foods in Thailand you can try on your next vacay:

1. The Popular Pad Thai

Pad Thai seems like a popular food in every Thai restaurant in the world. It is basically a Thai-style stir-fried kway teow – Hokkien flat rice noodles. The noodles are served with shrimp, squid or chicken, tofu, peanuts, and scrambled egg. To add its taste, it is often served with salted radish, garlic chives, bean sprouts, lime cheek, and a little sugar. 

What makes pad thai special is because the taste is a combination of sweet, salty, and sour. You can find pad thai almost everywhere in Thailand from the food streets to the big restaurants. Pad thai has become one of Thai’s famous national dishes. Order once and feel the taste!

2. Local Durians from Thailand

Thailand has local durian fruit which probably the most popular fruit favored by local people besides mangoes. The difference with local Indonesian durian fruit, Thai local durian feels a bit thick when you eat it.

However, that doesn’t mean it tastes bad or raw, t-mates. One thing you have to know, fruits in Thailand usually have a delicious taste, so does durian. In fact, Thai durian is also made with local specialty snacks, namely Durian Sticky Rice.

Similar to Mango Sticky Rice, this dessert is also made with sticky rice and coconut milk sauce. The sweet and savory flavors of sticky rice, durian, and coconut milk will collaborate perfectly on your tongue.

3. Som Tum, Thai Papaya Salad

Do you like salad? If you do, you can try som tum, Thai’s green papaya salad made from shredded unique papaya.

The ingredients to make this salad are Thai chilies, fresh garlic, dried shrimp, sweet palm sugar, peanuts, cherry tomatoes, green long beans, and many more! Sounds a lot? It is! You’ll discover the salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and bitter at the same time!

4. Chicken Soup Tom Kha Gai

Tom Kha Gai, or known as Tom Kha Kai, is an authentic Thai dish that tastes similar to Tom Yum. It’s a Thai version of chicken soup, but the difference is on the soup which is thick and white.

Tom Kha Gai’s spicy taste is usually on a higher level than Tom Yum. Perfect for those of you who fancy spicy food! If t-mates are curious but don’t like it spicy, try using a squeeze of lemon juice to reduce the spicy taste and increase its freshness.

5. Tom Yum Goong, Thailand Shrimp Soup

Tom Yum Goong is a hot and sour Thai soup that is usually cooked with shrimp. In the Thai language, “Tom” refers to the boiling process, while “Yam” refers to a Thai spicy and sour salad. When you eat Tom Yum, you’ll feel the taste of its fragrant spices and herbs in the broth.

The soup is made from fresh ingredients such as lime juice, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, and crushed red chili peppers. It’s a very popular dish in Thai and it can be addictive! When you travel to Thailand, make sure to try it yourself!

6. Thai Favorite Dessert, Mango Sticky Rice

If you plan to visit Thailand, make sure to taste its authentic Mango Sticky Rice! Try the deliciousness of this Thai specialty… Sweet mangoes with milky sauce and sticky rice will definitely make you ask for the second plate.

Khao Neeo Mamuang, as the dish’s original name, can be found in every corner of Thailand. Some restaurants also sell this menu as a dessert after your main course.

7. Tom Yum, Thai Traditional Menu

We believe that you’ve ever heard of Tom Yum before. This Thai food is also very famous in various countries around the world, including Indonesia. Have you tried this menu before? However, make sure to taste the authentic one when you go to Thailand!

Tom Yum itself is a dish with thick or clear sauce with shrimp filling or a variety of seafood. To make it taste more delicious, cayenne pepper, red chilies, lemongrass, garlic, ginger, galangal, orange, and soy sauce are usually added — make it richer when it goes to your mouth.

8. Soft and Savory Khao Tom Porridge

Porridge might be a culinary delicacy that you can easily find throughout Indonesia. Each has its own characteristics and uniqueness, both from the taste, toppings, to the ingredients used.

In Thailand, Khao Tom is the best-tasting local porridge. This menu is cooked with a variety of seafood and meat, not to mention the sauce made from spices which taste very distinctive! Make sure to try its local porridge when you’re in Thailand 😉

9. Thai Spicy Curry, Kaeng Phet

Do you like curry? If yes, then you can’t miss this one-of-a-kind Thai food. Thai red curry or known as Kaeng Phet has a spicy taste that is so appetizing, especially for spicy lovers. The main ingredient is meat, either beef, chicken, or pork.

The curry sauce uses spices that are so distinctive with the addition of shallots, garlic, coriander, pepper, red chilies, and many more. Besides meat, they usually add tofu, pumpkin, sausage, bamboo shoots, and eggplant.

10. Khanom Chin, Spicy Fish Broth Noodle

Last but not least, white noodles doused in a sauce like a curry with fish as the base ingredient is a Thai menu that you have to try as well. Once it goes to your mouth, you’ll feel a spicy and fresh sensation from the first bite!

To make it even more delicious, add vegetables such as bean sprouts and beans, and boiled eggs as a complementary topping to Khanom Chin. You can also add lime juice so it tastes fresher, t-mates!

Eat Authentic Thai Food While on Vacay

While exploring the tourist attractions in Thailand, try to eat the traditional foods there. Thai food is not only delicious, but it is also cheap! You’ll be fully satisfied by the amazing mix of flavors and combinations in Thai foods.

Apart from Thailand, its neighboring country Singapore also has tasty dishes that can blow your expectations! It’s time to plan for a vacation and book a flight ticket at tiket.com for more flexible flight dates. Save now, travel later!

 

*The information is valid at the time of writing. Price and other policies are subject to change at any time without prior notice.