Thailand, while known for its stunning beaches, gorgeous temples and wild nightlife, is also well known for its delicious food. There are many great dishes to try, from noodle dishes, curries, desserts and even a rogue toastie recommendation. This guide will cover all the foods and drinks you need to try while travelling in Thailand and where to find them! I will include recommendations from night markets to local restaurants to Thai Food cooking classes. Are you interested in learning some Thai Language Basics for travel and ordering food? Check out my Thai Language Guide for travel here.
Pad Thai
Did you even travel to Thailand if you didn’t eat Pad Thai every second day? This is a staple food for anyone travelling Thailand. Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish usually made with bean sprouts, a scrambled egg, peanuts, rice noodles and either chicken, shrimp or tofu in a tasty fish sauce. You also usually get a slice of lime and some chilli flakes, which you can add (or not) depending on your taste.
Where to try Pad Thai in Thailand
This dish is literally everywhere in Thailand, and it’s hard to find a bad Pad Thai! Every night market in Thailand will have multiple stalls selling Pad Thai, and it’s generally very good quality. You can also get Pad Thai in restaurants in Thailand, but in my opinion, the most authentic way to try it is from a street food vendor. Pad Thai Phi Phi on Phi Phi Island is a great place to try Pad Thai if you want to eat at a restaurant, as they have many variations on the popular dish here.
Panang Curry
Panang Curry is a medium spicy red curry with a nutty flavour thickened with coconut milk. It can be made with any meat or vegetarian alternative and is usually served with rice. It is highly debated whether Panang Curry is actually a Malay curry originating from the island of Penang or whether it is a Thai Curry named after the island of Penang. Regardless, this curry is everywhere in Thailand!
Where to try Panang Curry in Thailand
You can get high-quality Panang Curry in almost every Thai restaurant in Thailand. However, one Panang Curry that is particularly delicious is from The Sixth restaurant in Bangkok. This restaurant is near the main temples and Grand Palace, so it’s a perfect lunch stop. A slightly unconventional recommendation is the Panang Curry Pizza from Chu Chu Restaurant on Koh Tao. This is one of the best things I have eaten in my life! It’s a regular pizza base with a Panang Curry-inspired topping.
Tom Yum Soup
Tom Yum Soup is a hot and sour soup served in Thailand. It is generally served with whole pieces of shrimp (but you can often find other meat or vegetarian alternatives). It usually also contains vegetables such as tomato and onion. Tom Yum Soup is generally spicy, so you should ask for it to be less spicy when ordering.
Where to try Tom Yum Soup in Thailand
The best Tom Yum Soup I had was actually one I made myself at the Thai Food Cooking Class in Chiang Mai! Generally, Tom Yum will be served in Thai restaurants instead of night markets and street food vendors.
Massaman Curry
Massaman Curry is an Indian-inspired Thai Curry with a tangy and rich flavour. It can be made with any meat or vegetarian alternative and usually has potatoes in it. The dish is generally a medium spice level, and it is served with rice.
Where to try Massaman Curry in Thailand
There are many places in Thailand where you can get a Massaman Curry. Tom Yam’s restaurant on Phi Phi Island is one of the best Massaman Curries, in my opinion.
Khao Soi
Khao Soi is a noodle curry dish famous in Northern Thailand, particularly in the city of Chiang Mai. The dish contains crispy egg noodles and soft, flat egg noodles in a coconutty curry soup. It is an interesting mix of textures as you have crunchy noodles on the top and soggier curry-soaked noodles at the bottom. The dish is not served with rice but can contain any meat or vegetarian alternative, depending on where you go.
Where to try Khao Soi in Thailand
The obvious answer is you should try them in Chiang Mai. They serve it at every night market in Chaing Mai, but also Kat’s restaurant is famous for its Khao Soi. Be prepared to queue for at least 10 minutes to get a table at Kat’s, as it’s incredibly popular. If you’re not heading to Chiang Mai but still want to try Khao Soi, I Love Thai Food in Bangkok also does a great version of this dish.
Yellow Curry
Yellow Curry is the mildest of Thai curries, with a sweet flavour and made with coconut milk. It can be made with any meat or vegetarian alternative and includes carrots, onions and potatoes. It is generally served with rice.
Where to try Yellow Curry in Thailand
The best Yellow Curry in Thailand (in my opinion) can be eaten at Mama Tam (Mamas) in Koh Tao. Just a pre-warning, this is a family-run restaurant with a small kitchen, so food does take a while to come out at busier times. The other place you can try this is making it yourself at a Thai food cooking class!
Papaya Salad
Technically it is a Lao dish, but Papaya Salad is super popular around Thailand and worth trying here! It is a dish of shredded unripe green papaya with garlic, beans, peanuts, and chillies served in a tangy lime sauce.
Where to try Papaya Salad in Thailand
One of the best places to try Papaya salad is by making it yourself in a Thai food cooking class. Otherwise, Dow restaurant on Phi Phi Island does a great Papaya Salad, as well as other great vegetarian and vegan foods.
Green Curry
Green Curry is the spiciest Thai curry and is made with coconut milk. It can be made with any meat or vegetarian alternative, or Thai eggplant. It is usually served with rice.
Where to try Green Curry in Thailand
The best Green Curry in Thailand is the I Love Thai Food small local restaurant near Khao San Road in Bangkok. The seating is mainly outdoors on the street corner, but the food is so good that people will queue to eat there!
Pad See Ew (also called Pad Siew)
Pad See Ew is a stir-fried noodle dish consisting of thick flat noodles, Chinese broccoli and chicken in a soy sauce. It is extremely similar to the Malay dish, Char Kuay Teow. It is a common street food across all regions of Thailand.
Where to try Green Curry in Thailand
Pad See Ew is best at night markets, as opposed to restaurants. You can find delicious and good quality Pad See Ew in any market or street food area in Thailand.
Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is one of the most popular desserts in Thailand. It is a dish containing slices of mango, glutinous white sticky rice and topped with condensed milk. This is a must-try dessert while in Thailand!
Where to try Mango Sticky Rice in Thailand
You can get in from street vendors in most night markets and Thai Restaurants. I personally recommend taking a Thai Food Cooking Class where you can make it from scratch and enjoy your own cooking!
Thai Iced Tea
Thai iced tea is a creamy and mildly spiced tea popular across all parts of Thailand. It is made with black tea, milk, sugar and spices. Thai Iced Tea is usually orange in colour.
Where to try Thai Iced Tea in Thailand
You can buy Thai Iced Tea at any tea or coffee stand in any market in Thailand! If you want Thai Iced Tea with a view, try it at the Choui Fong Tea Plantation in Chiang Rai.
7/11 Toastie
If you’ve been on Travel Tik Tok anytime in the past five years, you’ve probably seen everyone talking about the 7/11 Toastie in Thailand. The 7/11 Toastie is found in the fridge section every 7/11, and when you purchase it, staff will heat it up for you in a sandwich press. There are actually more than 35 different flavours and combinations of the toastie (including flavours like shredded pork, pandan, carbonara and tuna). The most popular flavour is the standard ham and cheese.
Where to try 7/11 Toastie in Thailand
Obviously, you can try this at every 7/11 in the country! If you’re on a backpacker budget, chances are this will be the standard breakfast for you.
Banana Roti (banana pancake)
Banana Roti is everywhere in Thailand and is a popular night market dessert! It is a crispy pancake cut into squares and served with condensed milk. Street vendors make it fresh before you and often have alternative toppings such as Nutella, strawberries, honey, coconut, jam or peanut butter.
Where to try Banana Roti in Thailand
You will find this dessert at every night market in Thailand, and there’s generally not much difference in quality.
Coconut Ice Cream
Coconut ice cream is another popular dessert at most night markets in Thailand! It is generally served as 2-3 scoops topped with nuts and sometimes a chocolate sauce. Often it is served inside a coconut husk.
Where to try Coconut Ice Cream in Thailand
Coconut Ice Cream is at every night market in Thailand. I personally tried it at the Floating Markets in Bangkok for ice cream and a view!
Rolled Ice Cream
Another night market dessert that is popular throughout Thailand! Rolled Ice Cream is ice cream that is flattened out and rolled into little scrolls and served in a cup. You can get it in lots of different flavours, and often, you can add things to it like chocolate sauce, Oreos, lollies or fruit.
Where to try Rolled Ice Cream in Thailand
Every night market will usually have at least one rolled ice cream vendor, and usually, there is a bit of a queue. They will roll in the ice cream before you (which is an experience in itself!).
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