I’m convinced Thailand is nicknamed, ‘The Land of Smiles’ because its’ vast array of amazing food choices is bound to make the two corners of your face point up. There’s no shortage of food options in Thailand. From street food to 5-star meals and everything else in between, Thai food is absolutely delicious. The options are endless and very hard to choose from – however there are some core Thai food staple dishes that you simply can’t pass up when visiting Thailand. Here’s my top 5 Thai food dishes you simply must try while in Thailand.
Pad Thai
I had to start this list with the easiest and probably the most well-known Thai dish – Pad Thai.
This dish is typically made with rice noodles, shrimp, peanuts, a scrambled egg, bean sprouts, a variety of other vegetables and spices. I’m sure most people have tried some variation of this dish in their hometowns, however there’s magic in having Pad Thai in Thailand. The ingredients are fresher and the flavors are so vibrant. It’s also so cool to watch vendors stir fry the noodles in a wok over high flame right in front of you. Pad Thai is more than a dish – it’s an entire experience. You can find Pad Thai literally anywhere and everywhere across Thailand; however many people regard the restaurant ThipSamai Pad Thai mecca. This family-owned restaurant is based in Bangkok and has more than 80 years of experience preparing Pad Thai. Thipsamai’s Pad Thai stands out above the rest for two reasons: their Pad Thai sauce is a unique secret family recipe and their Pad Thai is served in a cute omelette cocoon.
Little known fact: Pad Thai is Thailand’s national dish.
Pad Kra Pao
In Thai language ‘Pad’ means ‘fried’ and ‘Kra Pao’ is the Thai name of Holy Basil. Like Pad Thai, Pad Kra Pao is also a hugely popular street food dish. This spicy and flavorful dish is assembled with rice, stir fried meat (typically chicken, but also pork or seafood), a fried egg, holy basil and spices. Absolutely yummy!
Tom Yum
In a country with year-round tropical temperatures, hot soup maybe the last thing on your mind to eat. Trust me, you’ll want to make an exception for Tom Yum Soup. This sweet and sour soup is infused with fresh and fragrant ingredients such as lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed red chili peppers. It can also be made with any meat or seafood but is typically served with shrimp or prawn. Tom Yum is spicy, sour, bursting with flavor and hands down delicious.
Papaya Salad
The next dish on my list doesn’t actually originate in Thailand; however it has exploded in popularity all over Southeast Asia because it’s so freaking incredible. I’m talking about Papaya Salad. This dish was created in Laos – which is its’ own separate country located about 293 miles Northeast of Thailand. Papaya Salad is a spicy, savory, sweet and refreshing salad made from shredded unripe papaya. The dish combines five main basic tastes: sourness from lime, spiciness from chili, saltiness and savoriness from fish sauce and sweetness from palm sugar. The ingredients are mixed and pounded in a mortar and plated up with crushed peanuts over top.
Mango Sticky Rice
Last, but certainly not least, is Mango Sticky Rice. No joke – this dish tastes like a tropical vacation in a single bite. Mango Sticky Rice has a light and sweet flavor with hints of creamy coconut milk and tangy fresh mango. The rice is served warm which pairs so incredibly well with the mangos which are served cold and juicy. Mango Sticky Rice is an irresistibly perfect desert anytime. The great news is, this dish is beyond popular in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. You can find it a street food stalls and restaurants across the country.
