What To Eat in Thailand: Must-Try Dishes!

Planning a trip to Thailand? Here are some dishes you should try!

I still remember the vendors selling all kinds of food along the road in front of the school where I worked. Every morning, they offered delicious and affordable breakfast options—you could get a tasty meal for as little as 20 baht!

Here are some of my favorite Thai foods that I highly recommend:

Jok

Looking for something healthy and comforting? Try jok, a rice porridge commonly eaten for breakfast. You can enjoy it plain or add toppings such as meatballs, soft-boiled eggs, julienned ginger, and dried shrimp.

I’ve also heard that jok is a great food to have after a night of drinking!

Khao Man Gai 

Khao Man Gai is one of my favorite Thai chicken dishes. It consists of fragrant rice (khao) and steamed chicken (gai), usually served with cucumber, a bowl of chicken broth, and a flavorful dipping sauce.

Satay

You can’t go wrong with satay! These grilled meat skewers are served with a delicious peanut sauce and ajaad, a refreshing cucumber relish.

Pad Khra Pao

Pad Kra Pao (Holy Basil Stir-Fry) gets its name from one of its main ingredients: kra pao, or holy basil. It’s made with stir-fried minced meat—usually chicken, pork, or beef—cooked with holy basil and served over rice. For an extra touch, add kai dao (a crispy fried egg) on top!

Pad Pak Ruam Moo Krob and Khana Moo Krob

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If I wasn’t having Khana Moo Krob for breakfast, I’d definitely go for Pad Pak Ruam Moo Krob—stir-fried vegetables with crispy pork. It’s a delicious and satisfying way to start the day!

Anything with Moo Krob (crispy pork) is fantastic!

Ba Mee Moo Daeng

Thailand has a wide variety of delicious noodle dishes. Ba mee moo daeng (egg noodles with roasted pork) is my personal favorite.

Moo Ping and Khao Niew

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Moo ping (grilled pork skewers) with khao niew (sticky rice) is one of my favorite combinations. It’s simple, delicious, and something I never get tired of!

Pad Thai

Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish that is also a popular street food. Not sure what to order at a Thai restaurant? You can’t go wrong with pad thai!

Desserts!

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Thailand has plenty of delicious desserts to choose from. I especially love khao niew kanun (sticky rice with jackfruit and coconut milk). Anything with sticky rice and coconut milk is heavenly!

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Fruits

Thailand offers a wonderful variety of fresh fruits that are both delicious and affordable.

One of my favorites is salak, or snake fruit. Its sweet and sour flavor can be addictive! It has a scaly rind that can be tricky to peel, but it’s worth the effort.

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Feeling adventurous? 

Want to try something unusual? Head to a local market and you may find stalls selling deep-fried insects.

I was determined not to try any, but one day my friends convinced me to try a deep-fried grasshopper. It was crunchy and, surprisingly, tasty!

Customize your food!

One thing I love about eating in Thailand is that restaurants and food stalls often let you customize your order. You can make requests such as no celery, no peppermint, less sugar, or extra chili. Having the option to personalize your food is definitely a plus!

Useful Thai Food and Restaurant Words and Phrases to Know

Sawatdee kha - Hello (female speaker)

Sawatdee khrap - Hello (male speaker)

Khob khun kha/khrap - Thank you. 

Tao rai kha/khrap- How much is it?

Ni khue arai kha/khrap - What is this?

Prik - chili

Namtan - sugar

Kleua - salt

Sai ______ nit noii kha/khrap - Please put a little ______. (Add your noun on the blank.)

Mai sai ______ kha/khrap -Please don't put _____. (Add your noun on the blank)

Mai sai prik kha/khrap - Please don't put chili.

Example: I can't eat spicy food. Please don't put chili. - Kin pet mai dai na kha . Mai sai prik na kha.

Mai pet kha/khrap - Not spicy

Raan a-haan- restaurant

Raan gaa-fae - coffee shop

Gaa-fae - coffee

Kin - eat

Pak - vegetable

Moo- pork

Pla - fish

Kai- chicken

Nam rohn - hot water

Nam yen - cold water

Nom - milk

Chaa- tea

Wan mak - very sweet

Priyaw - sour

Hew- hungry

Im- full

Aroi kha/khrap- delicious