Food in Thailand: A Culinary Journey

Thailand is a wonderful part of the world famous for its cityscapes, beaches, mountains, national parks, and welcoming people. However, the glorious food in Thailand is undoubtedly one of the most exciting parts of planning a holiday in the Southeast Asian country.

Thai cuisine plays a crucial part of the country’s culture, where people have a deep connection with food and its ability to bring people together. The unique emphasis on lightly prepared dishes that are often characterised by aromatics and spicy heat is known worldwide. In fact, more Thai dishes were featured in CNN’s list of the world’s 50 best foods.

While Thai restaurants are found around the globe, there’s nothing quite like delighting the taste buds with authentic food in Thailand. So, if you’re planning a trip to the Southeast Asian country, incorporating Thai culinary experiences into the travel itinerary will guarantee a more immersive adventure.

Firstly, the food in Thailand is a perfect microcosm of the country’s cultural diversity and history. It has been influenced by the cuisines of neighbouring countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. Meanwhile, cooking methods like deep-frying, stir-frying and steaming came from China.

Thai cuisines primarily fall into four main categories; tom boiled dishes, yam spicy salads, tam pounded foods, and kaeng curries. Meanwhile, the famous dishes included in the aforementioned CNN list are tom yam kung, pad thai, som tam, massaman curry, green curry, Thai fried rice, and nam tok mu.

However, there are regional specialities in the different parts of the country, further highlighting the diverse nature of Thai cuisine. Here’s what you should know depending on the place(s) you plan to explore.

• Khao Soi - a classic Thai egg noodle soup, served in a curry broth with crispy fried noodles placed on top.
  
  
• Sai Oua - grilled pork sausage that is cooked in a blend of aromatic spices and usually served with sticky rice as well as fresh vegetables. 
  
  
• Krabong - the snack features vegetables fried in a lightly spiced paste and flour and is characterised as crunchy on the outside with a soft middle.

• Som Tum - a salad that features green papaya with fresh chiles while often including peanuts, garlic, shrimp, and long beans. 
  
  
• Larb - a meat salad that comes from Isaan and features round meat (usually chicken, beef, duck, or pork) along with green papaya and sticky rice.
  
  
• Gai Yang - marinated chicken that is grilled and served with sticky rice and som tam. Lemongrass features heavily in this dish for a unique citric kick. 

• Pad Thai - the country’s national dish. It is a stir-fried rice noodle dish that typically includes shrimp, peanuts, scrambled egg and bean sprouts. 
  
  
• Tom Yum Goong - a hot and sour soup that uses kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, galangal, crushed peppers, and lemongrass as well as a stir-dried paste.
  
  
• Green Curry - uses a paste made from green chillies, shallots, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime coriander, lemongrass, and cumin seeds, white peppercorns, and shrimp paste.

• Massaman Curry - a rich, mild curry made using Thai ingredients but combining ideas from Persia, India, and Malaysia.
  
  
• Khao Yum - also known as a rainbow salad due to the myriad of colours, it contains green mango, carrot, purple cabbage, betel leaves, and kaffir lime leaves.
  
  
• Moo Hang - a dish made using pork belly, the meat is cooked until tender in a blend of black peppercorns, coriander root, garlic, palm sugar, soy sauce and star anise.

The food in Thailand is known for balancing spicy, sweet, sour, salt and bitter flavours to create a diverse range of dishes that feature contrasting hints. While the recipes may vary greatly between regions, some of the most popular ingredients are used across the country. When visiting Thailand, you can expect to encounter the following:

Thai cuisine is known for giving preference to fresh herbs more than spices, which is why the heat in Thai curries is often less powerful than in curries from other Asian cultures. Thai dishes often use lemongrass or kaffir lime as a light citrus flavour to counteract the heat of spices. Galangal, a member of the ginger family, brings a light spicy and peppery flavour to dishes.

Proteins often come from seafood, chicken, and pork while tofu is used in any of the country’s vegan and vegetarian dishes. Fresh seafood includes both river and sea fish, as well as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, squid, and shrimps. The fishing industry is crucial to the county’s agricultural sector.

A wide range of freshly grown fruits and vegetables feature heavily in Thai cooking too. Cucumber and mango are added to various rice and noodle dishes while Thai basil, which lasts longer than other types of basil, features prominently too.

• Satay - skewered marinated meats with a peanut dipping sauce.
  
  
• Kanom Jeen - rice noodles served with an aromatic fish curry sauce.
  
  
• Mango Sticky Rice - coconut milk, sticky rice, and sweet ripe mango.
  
  
• Pad Krapao Moo - stir-fried pork and basil.
  
  
• Khao Ka Moo - braised pork with rice.

• Vegan Pad Thai - meat is substituted for tofu while vegan-friendly cooking methods are used.
  
  
• Thai Vegetable Noodle Soup - the vegetarian dish is packed with flavour thanks to aromatic spices.
  
  
• Tofu Thai Red Curry - the red sauce comes from roasted red peppers and Thai seasonings, as well as peanut butter.

• People eat with a fork in the left hand and a spoon in the right hand.
  
  
• The fork is used to push food onto the spoon, which is then lifted to the mouth.
  
  
• When eating in groups, you order multiple dishes to be shared, not individual dishes.
  
  
• Solo diners may be asked to share with another table but will get to eat separately.
  
  
• Only add two spoonfuls of a dish to your rice at a time (you can go back for more).
  
  
• Sticky rice should be compressed with your right hand and used to scoop dishes.
  
  
• If you are an honoured guest, you will sit opposite the host in the middle of the table.
  
  
• Eat slowly and enjoy the food.

Ultimately, the food in Thailand plays a huge role in the local culture and vendors ranging from street food stalls to fine dining restaurants love to make guests feel welcomed. With so many different dishes and blends of different flavours to enjoy, embracing the diversity of Thai cuisine is the foundation of any great holiday in this part of the world.

To explore everything Thai cuisine has to offer and establish the perfect base for your Thailand travels, book a hotel in Thailand today!