5 must-try foods in Thailand

Thailand is an amazing place, with lots of diversity and plenty to see and do. That could explain why I’ve had to visit a couple of times so far!

One of the best things about Thailand is the food. Most of the dishes do tend to err towards the spicy side, so if you have delicate taste buds it’s best to ask for yours to be mild. However, the spice is delicious and the food is packed full of flavour. If you don’t know where to start, here are five of the must-try foods in Thailand.

Green Curry

You may have tried Thai green curry before, but nothing beats an authentic green curry made in Thailand. This is a great place to start for novices and a fantastic comparison to the way that Europe does Thai food — you won’t ever want to go back! A mix of herbal spices and rich coconut milk, this should be eaten with a plate of delectable jasmine rice.

Tom Yum Goong

If you’re a seafood lover, you’re going to want to order this amazing shrimp soup. It mixes spicy and sour flavors with a clear lemongrass base. If you’re not one for seafood but still want a soup option, noodle soups are very popular. You can have it with chicken, pork, seafood or just vegetables. This is the kind of dish you will find everywhere, potentially also called Guay Teow on a menu.

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Pad Thai

This is another dish you’re likely to recognize in theory, but until you’ve had the real deal, you don’t know what you’re missing. This is a street food staple and comes with stir-fried rice noodles, shrimp, tofu, egg, bean sprouts, lime, chives and a slice of banana flower. This is a dish you eat on the move, making it perfect to grab during a day of exploring.

Top tip: If you’re planning on eating street food, make sure you opt for somewhere that has a long queue and where you can see the food being cooked. The last thing you want is to end up with a stomach bug and having to claim on your insurance for a trip to the hospital. The bigger the queue at a street food vendor, the less likely you will get ill.

Laap

You might also see this dish listed on menus as larb or larp. It consists of minced meat and roasted rice powder, lime juice, a fish sauce and fresh herbs. It’s delicious when accompanied with sticky rice, which is identifiable as they are short, fatter grains of rice, which you will be expected to eat with your hands. It might take a little getting used to but it really is worth it for a delicious dish like this!

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Som tam

This dish originates from the Northeast, but you can find it everywhere as it is so popular. Chefs take an unripe papaya, cut it into strips, and bruise it in a pestle and mortar. They then add tomatoes, long beans, lime, chili and, of course, fish sauce before serving with a basket of sticky rice.

As you can see, there is so much variety in Thai food, and even the fussiest eaters should be able to find something they love! So all that’s left to do now, is grab your passport, jump on a flight, and wear your stretchiest pants to accommodate for all this food.

What do you think, have you tried any of these foods? Is there anything you’d really want to try in Thailand? Let me know in the comments!