Thai cuisine is one of my favorites across the world. Seamlessly combining sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and umami flavors, it’s impossible to eat bland food in this country. With its endless food stalls, the streets of Bangkok are the perfect place to begin savoring every bite of Thai food.
It’s always safest to go to the stalls where there are long queues and many local people eating. That usually ensures that the food is of a higher-quality, and can help you to avoid any potential food poisoning. But don’t stray away from the streets, that’s where you can truly find the best food! In the words of Anthony Bourdain, “you’re never going to find a perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one.”
Mango sticky rice: I eat mango sticky rice every single day that I am in Thailand. You can even buy one to go at the airport to have as a snack on the plane! Ideal as a snack or dessert, this dish is made of sticky rice topped with the most candy-like mango you’ll ever have, coconut cream, and usually some crunchy toasted mung beans on top.
Bird’s eye chili: Thailand is known around the world for its extremely spicy cuisine – and that’s thanks to one ingredient, the bird’s eye chili. You will often see dishes where there are an alarming amount of chilies- and in fact, restaurants will even include a spiciness scale for when you order (ranging from “medium spicy” to “death”). Even people that love spicy food are very quickly humbled when in Thailand, so be careful!
Phat kaphrao: With a variety of different names, this dish is claimed by locals to be the real national dish of Thailand. A stir fry made with chicken or pork, the star here is holy basil, a flavor signature to Thai cuisine. This dish is a must-try!
Miang kham: I was surprised to find a dish so small being one of the most flavorful that I ate while in Thailand. Miang kham are small leaf-wrapped pockets of flavor, filled with shrimp paste, coconut, peanuts, and a variety of herbs.
Kanom beuang: These taco shaped snacks are filled with either sweet or savory fillings. The sweet fillings are particularly interesting because they use shaved duck egg yolk, which adds a lot of richness.
Thai tea: Refreshing on a hot day, Thai tea is one of my favorites! With subtle spice and creamy condensed milk, you can sometimes even find this orange-hued tea with boba.
Khanom krok: These coconut griddle cakes make the perfect snack, coming in sweet and savory varieties.
Crab cakes: Ideal as a shared starter to a meal, crab cakes are delicate and fresh, usually served alongside a dipping sauce.
Thai curry: Thailand is known worldwide for its variety of different curries, made flavorful through the addition of lemongrass, coconut milk, chili, and plenty of herbs.
Butterfly pea tea: From a vibrant indigo flower, this tea is a gorgeous blue color. Add some lime juice and watch the magic as the tea transforms from blue to purple. You can find butterfly pea tea flowers in local markets.
Fried bananas: While fried bananas may sound simple, those I ate in Thailand are some of the most memorable of my life. They usually come in two varieties, one a bit crispy, and one bit softer. The key is to look for a street food stand with a little old woman who is fearlessly frying the bananas with her bare hands.
Gui chai tod: These crispy chive cakes make the perfect snack. They can be found in street food markets.
Pandan pancakes: These small flower-shaped pancakes are perfect for a sweet snack.
Thai desserts: Thai desserts are gorgeously detailed, with delicate flavors using rich egg yolks, mung bean, pandan, coconut, palm sugar, and mango.
Mangosteen: A fruit seen throughout Southeast Asia and some parts of Latin America, mangosteen is ripe when it’s a deep purple in color. Its ripeness feels similar to a ripe peach and it will give off a subtle sweet smell.
Durian: Known for its potent (and unpleasant) smell, you will either love durian or hate it! Make sure to wear gloves while eating so that the smell doesn’t transfer to your hands.
