9 Traditional Thai Dishes You Must Try

Foodies around the world would agree that Thai cuisine is the best because it has some amazing delicacies to offer. Thailand is a foodie’s paradise as its cuisine covers a variety of noodles, soups, salads, curries, and stir-fries to satiate all of your cravings. Let’s take a look at some of the best traditional Thai dishes that you must give a try on your next visit to the Land of Smiles.

Tom Yum Goong- Tom Yum Goong or Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup is an iconic Thai dish with a unique flavour profile derived from aromatic ingredients such as fresh lemongrass, fish sauce, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, and red chili peppers. Although shrimp is commonly used in the soup, however, other popular variations also include chicken, fish, or mixed seafood.

Guay Teow- Guay Teow is a general term that encompassed all types of noodle soup. The soup can be made with chicken, pork, beef, or just vegetables and served alongside rice or egg noodles. It is a popular street food that can be eaten at any time of the day.

Som Tam- Some Tam or green papaya salad is considered by many Thai food enthusiasts as the most prized culinary creation. This spicy, sour, and sweet salad is made from shreds of unripe papaya and an assortment of fresh vegetables. Variations of this dish are served across Thailand and many people add dried shrimp, fresh seafood, pork sausages, and crushed peanuts to the dish as well.

Chicken Satay- In many western countries, Chicken Satay has become a popular appetizer because of its offbeat taste and unique combination. Chicken Satay is grilled chicken served alongside a spicy and salty peanut sauce.

Khao Phat- Khao Phat or Thai fried rice is a Thai spin on plain old fried rice. It is a national favourite and can be eaten on its own at any time of the day. It is made with Thai jasmine rice, egg, onions, garlic, tomatoes, spring onion, and lime juice. It is seasoned with soy sauce, chili sauce, and fish sauce. It can also include shrimp, pork, chicken, or crab meat.

Pad Thai- Pad Thai or Stir-fried noodles is arguably the most popular Thai dish around the world. Although Pad Thai tends to vary from region to region and country to country, however, its base ingredients tend to remain the same. Pad Thai consists of flat rice noodles, meat (an assortment of seafood, chicken, pork, or tofu), tamarind, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, eggs, shallots, and bean sprouts.

Khao Niao Ma Muang- Khao Niao Ma Muang or Mango Sticky Rice is Thailand’s most beloved dessert dish. It is a simple, no-frills, yet captivating dish known for its unusual combination of sweetened sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and fresh mangoes.

Yellow curry- Thailand is world famous for its sweet, sour, and spicey curries with soup-like consistency and coconut milk as a common base. Yellow Thai curry gets its colour from the generous use of turmeric which is used alongside other aromatics such as coriander, lemongrass, galangal, cumin, and shallots. Coconut milk, vegetables, meat, and potatoes are also added to the considerably mellow-tasting curry which is served alongside a bed of fluffy boiled rice.

Pad Phak- Pad Phak or fried vegetables is a Thai classic dish that is a medley of fried vegetables covered in a blend of salt, spices, and sugar, that is served alongside the hot sauce.