Best Dishes in Thailand – My 21 Favourite Thai Dishes

I think one of the biggest excitements of visiting a new country is to try out a whole new cuisine – and compare it to the food you get back home. That’s how I ate my way through Bhutan and also the Maldives. Before I even got to Thailand, I had started preparing a list of the best dishes in Thailand for myself that I must try. I had heard of all the different colours of curries you get, I had heard of Pad Thai even though I didn’t know what it really meant and despite my apprehensions, I had tried raw papaya salad on my uncle’s insistence at a restaurant in Mumbai and absolutely loved it.

But ever since I was a little child, I have had a weird relationship with food. What was termed as “picky eating” back then turned out to be sensory issues with certain textures. So as excited as I was to try out the best dishes in Thailand, I was equally sceptical. But I think it’s safe to say now that Thai food exceeded all my expectations and then some. So I’m going to dive into this list of my favourite Thai dishes right away and show you what eating in Thailand can really look like!

🏝️Visiting Thailand? Here are a few quick links at a glance:
✈️Book Flights: Skyscanner for cheapest deals
🚤Book Transfers: 12goAsia
🛌Book Hotels: Booking and Expedia for best deals
🤳Best Thailand Tours: GetYourGuide, and Viator
🩺Global Travel Insurance: SafetyWing
🧴Sunscreen: Thank You Farmer (Reef Safe), Foxtale (SPF 70)

What is Traditional Thai Food?

But first, a little history…erm, a culinary lesson? As is with any other country in this world, its food is heavily influenced by its history, politics, by its shared borders, and of course, by its weather patterns. Similarly, in Thailand, the best Thai dishes vary as and when you change regions in the country.

The deeper south you go, in provinces like Satun, Songkhla, Yala etc, the more Muslim influence you will find in the food. Dishes like Penang curry and Massaman curry have strong ties to Southern Thailand’s close proximity to Malaysia and the food Malay people brought with them when to came to Thailand hundreds of years ago. Along the same line, in Phuket, you find a lot of Chinese – especially Hokkien – food thanks to the Chinese people who immigrated here for tin mining. (I learned most of this history at the Museum of Siam in Bangkok). The eastern Isan region of Thailand including provinces like Udon Thani, Surin and others, has food that is influenced by the Laoan cuisine – especially dishes like larb and raw papaya salad.

The history/ geography lesson for the best dishes in Thailand can go on but I hope you get the gist. Different regions are known for different kinds of food however I found that most dishes are available across Thailand – apart from the Lanna food of Northern Thailand. I very rarely found Northern dishes like the spicy sausage and khao soi anywhere else in the country.

Helpful Thai Food Terminology

Another quick section before we actually dive into this list of best dishes in Thailand – an overview of some helpful terminology that will make finding and ordering food in Thailand a lot easier. Because English is not very widely spoken or understood in Thailand, I think it’s best to know these basics ready before you venture to eat a whole new cuisine!

• Chicken: gai
• Pork: moo
• Fish: pla
• Tofu: tauhoo (most understand tofu)
• Fish sauce: nam pla
• Oyster sauce: hoy nang rom
• Chopsticks: takiyeb (most understand chopsticks)
• Fork: som
• Spoon: chhon
• Straw: lawd
• I don’t want ____: chhan mai tong kaarn _____
• I want _____: chhan tong kaarn _____

Still, my tip to you would be to have Google Translate ready because even the accent can make it hard to understand each other.

Thai Food Tours/ Cooking Classes

Before we jump on to the best dishes in Thailand which include some of my favourite Thai dishes, let me quickly suggest some of my top picks on food tours and cooking classes across Thailand. These can be a lovely way to get acquainted with the regional cuisine of the place and also find the most obscure gems for the best food in Thailand!

• Bangkok Food Tour with Klong Boat Ride
• Bangkok Food Bus Tour
• Phuket Old Town Evening Food Tour
• Phuket Guided Pub Crawl
• Chiang Mai Night Street Food Tour
• Chiang Mai Organic Farm Cooking Class
• Chiang Mai Northern Food Tour
• Chiang Mai Michelin Walking Food Tour

Best Dishes in Thailand (My Favourite Thai Dishes)

And now, the moment of truth, here are my 21 best dishes in Thailand:

Pad Thai

Pad thai, in my opinion, is one of the best dishes in Thailand. It is this incredible concoction of rice noodles stir-fried with a sweet and savoury tamarind sauce, bean sprouts and lemongrass. The dish typically also consists of scrambled eggs and shrimp but it is possible to order a vegetarian (in fact, vegan) pad thai by asking for tofu instead. This noodle dish is then served with crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, chilli powder, sugar and a lime wedge on the side for you to customize it according to your taste. It’s also the best Thai food for picky eaters.

Pad Thai is one of the most famous dishes of Thailand and was my comfort food while I was travelling across the country. Though pad thai is typically a street food, it can also be found across restaurants and cafes – small or big – in Thailand. In fact, several times I was able to order pad thai even though it wasn’t mentioned on the menu. It’s the best street food in Thailand and pad thai is also a commonly found dish served in takeaway boxes in bus stations and railway stations across Thailand. It really is that popular! If you’re looking for the best Thai dishes for beginners, this is it! Though pad thai is also the national dish of Thailand, it is not a very historic dish and was only brought into the country by Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s. Another fun fact I picked up while museum hopping in Bangkok!

The best pad thai I had in Thailand was the one I made myself at a cooking class at Tarntara Spa in Phuket!

Pad Kra Pow Gai (Basil Chicken)

Pad kra pow is yet another one of my favourite dishes from Thailand. It’s definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand to the extent that it’s also a common dish I make in my own kitchen back home! (Truth be told, it’s not the same but it’s as close to Thailand as I can get in the comfort of my own home!) It’s also one of the best Thai dishes for beginners. It often used to be my typical dinner in Thailand.

Pad krapow roughly translates to “stir-fried holy basil”. The dish consists of minced meat – usually gai (chicken) – but pork and beef options are common too. The meat is stir-fried with Thai holy basil – which is a slightly sweeter variant of regular basil. The dish is served over a portion of rice and usually topped with a fried sunny-side-up egg. It’s a wholesome meal and very, very delicious (and popular) too!

The best pad kra pow I had was on a dive boat while out at sea in Koh Chang (I might have been biased because of post-dive hunger levels!)

Massaman Curry

The Massaman curry is a wholesome curry with a base of coconut milk. The curry combines common Thai ingredients such as tamarind paste, galangal, lemongrass and chilli peppers with a fusion of Persian, Malay and Indian ingredients such as nutmeg, bay leaves, cumin, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon. This goodness is cooked together with added meat (chicken, pork or beef), potatoes and coarsely crushed peanuts. Served with a portion of rice, it might just be on top of the best dishes in Thailand list! You will find massaman curry more commonly in the south than in Northern Thailand.

The best Massman curry I ever had was at Nee Papaya Restaurant in Koh Lipe and on a beach picnic during a snorkelling trip from Koh Lanta.

Khao Soi

Think of flattened rice noodles dunked in a delicious, well-spiced yellow soup, slow-cooked with a piece of the chicken leg so tender that the meat falls right off the bone. All this, served with fried noodles on top and a lemon wedge, cut onions and pickled vegetables on the side, and you have the most perfect and satisfying bowl of khao soi ever! The first time I ever had khao soi, it reminded me of a better version of the Top Ramen curry flavour from back home. And I was instantly hooked, it’s definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand out there.

Khao soy originates from the Muslim Chin Haw people of Yunnan province in southwest China who migrated to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. And for this reason, you will mostly find khao soi in northern parts of Thailand such as Chiang Mai.

Though this is a northern Thai dish, the best khao soi I had was at Beachcomber’s restaurant in Koh Lanta. Another great place is Khao Soi Mueang Klaeng in Chiang Mai.

Som Tam (Raw Papaya Salad)

Som Tam – or raw papaya salad – or green papaya salad – was the first ever Thai dish I had in my life and that was at a restaurant in Mumbai. I have always been wary of salads so I wasn’t sure if I should try it but upon my uncle’s assistance I did – and thank god! It’s a delicious bowl of unripe papaya and carrots sliced into thin stripes floating on a bed of freshly squeezed lemon juice, mixed with freshly chopped chilli and roasted peanuts. This is one of the best dishes in Thailand and originates in Laos. It’s also one of the simple Thailand dishes that I really enjoy.

Be sure to mention how many chilis you want in your salad, though. The first time I ever ordered it in Thailand, I couldn’t tolerate the spice level. Ever since I stuck to ordering my salad with only two chilis!

The best som tam I had was an interesting variation of the salad with papaya and garlic at Ronnie’s Organic Coconut Garden in Koh Chang.

Guay Tiew Nahm Sai (Clear Noodle Soup)

If you’re looking for a light, wholesome, flavourful meal that’s also not too heavy on your pocket, guay tiew nahm sai is definitely the way to go. It’s hand down one of the best dishes of Thailand – and the best street food in Thailand. This dish contains shredded chicken strips or pork balls or fish balls and clear rice noodles in a clear soup, served with bean sprouts and ground peanuts. It’s actually a popular breakfast dish and often time in smaller villages, I would not see any other food apart from this up until 12 noon!

If you would like to try a stronger flavoured noodle soup, consider the Guay Tiew Reau or boat noodle soup.

The best guay tiew nahm sai I had was at a small stall in Koh Lanta. Find it on my Koh Lanta travel guide here!

Pad See Ew

Think of pad see ew very much as pad Thai – the only difference being that pad see ew uses a broader type of flat noodles and is stir-fried mainly in soy sauce. In fact, pad see ew literally translates to “stir-fried soy sauce noodles”! This is one of the most popular street food dishes and one of the best dishes in Thailand – though not as nutritionally fulfilling as most others (the main reason why I stayed away from pad see ew as much as I could!)

Sai Oua (Northern Thai Sausage)

If you like spicy food a lot, trust me you’re going to love this one! Sai oua or the spicy northern Thai sausage is mostly found (as the name suggests) in the northern part of the country. An extremely popular dish in North Thailand, you can find it almost at every corner of every street. And be rest assured, I had one each time I spotted a stall in Chiang Mai (which was several times a day!) You can enjoy this dish along with many others at a traditional Lanna dinner in Chiang Mai.

The sai oua is made with minced pork, herbs, spices and kaeng khua (or red curry) paste – and hence, the spice levels. The sausages are eaten with sticky rice as a meal but also eaten as snacks or starters – the best street food in Thailand. Sai oua is also popular in northeastern Myanmar and is definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand (albeit lesser known to tourists).

The best sai oua I had was at Larb Bunker 2, a small restaurant packed with locals which would only open in the evening around 6.

Khao Kha Moo (Braised Pork Leg)

If you’re a meat lover, there’s no way you should miss out on khao kha moo. It’s a wholesome, home-like meal and simply delicious. Khao kha moo consists of a pig’s foot cooked in a spicy, herby broth. The meat is then cut into thin slices and served with steamed rice and a half-spiced egg.

The best one I had was in the Chang Phuak night market in Chiang Mai – definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand I had!

Gaeng Penang (Penang Curry)

Gaeng Penang or Penang curry originally comes from the region of Penang in Malaysia and is one of my favourite Thai curries. It’s red in colour, has a thick texture and is salty, sweet and sour all at once thanks to the zesty flavour of makrut lime. The curry usually has meat in it (vegetarian options are also available) and is eaten with rice – one of the best dishes in Thailand.

Khao Pad Sapparod (Pineapple Fried Rice)

This is one of the most unique kinds of fried rice you will probably have anywhere in the world! Khao pad sapparod literally translates to “fried rice with pineapple” and this sweet and sour flavour of the pineapple mixed with other spicy herbs is truly a delicacy. What’s even better is that most restaurants will serve this dish in a half-cut, hollowed-out pineapple bowl – making the experience even more interesting. I truly loved this dish despite how weird it sounds and is one of the best dishes in Thailand.

Thai Suki (Thai Hot Pot)

Honestly, Thai Suki is THE BEST communal, celebratory meal I’ve ever had. Apart from its taste, the experience of a suki is just remarkable, which should put it very high on your best dishes in Thailand bucket list. The concept is, a communal hot pot in the centre of the table constantly simmering a spicy sukiyaki sauce. And the diners dip dumplings, vegetables, meat, tofu, and noodles in it and eat. Not only is it delicious, but it is also a very fun activity – definitely one of the very best dishes in Thailand.

Though the name resembles Japan’s sukiyaki, the dish resembles Japan’s shabu shabu (which is also found widely across Thailand).

The best Thai suki I had was in Koh Chang for a new year’s eve dinner with my host!

Thai Satay

I believe no best dishes in Thailand list is complete with Thai satay. Satay is said to have originated in Java and is now Indonesia’s national dish, and is widely found across Southeast Asian countries. Thai satay is heavy on peanut sauce made from peanut butter. It’s an immensely popular street food dish across the country. Even though chicken satay is the most popular, other varieties such as sausages, tofu, and vegetables can also be found skewered and dipped in satay sauce, ready to be chargrilled and served.

Gai Pad Med Ma Muang (Stir Fried Chicken with Cashews)

Gai pad med ma muang is a Thai dish which consists of fried chicken pieces and cashews cooked in the oyster sauce along with vegetables and red chillies. It’s a delicious sweet and savoury dish which is semi-dry and eaten with steamed rice. Definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand if you’re looking for a yummy meal – and also the best Thai food for picky eaters, I believe!

Poh Pia Tod (Thai Spring Rolls)

Poh pia tod, or Thai spring rolls, are much like regular spring rolls found in most Southeast Asian countries – vegetables wrapped in a thin sheet stir-fried and cut into pieces. But the fun part about these is that as a popular street food, you can find these spring rolls being sold apiece on wooden skewers along with the typical Thai sweet chilli sauce. It was my go-to street food in Thailand – one of the best dishes in Thailand!

Best Dishes in Thailand – Dessert Edition

Khao Niao Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice)

What even is a Thai meal if not followed by some delicious warm mango sticky rice!? I remember overloading on this incredible desert so much that within a week of being in Thailand, my skin broke out and I had to balance my intake!

Mango sticky rice is a popular Thai dessert which consists of sticky rice (usually topped with sesame seed or crushed cashews) and mango pieces served with warm sweetened coconut condensed milk or cream. The milk/ cream is then poured over the milk and eaten with the mango. It is deliciousness in every bite – truly one of the best dishes in Thailand.

Kaeng Buat Fak Tong (Pumpkin in Sweet Coconut Milk)

This is one dish I had never heard of before – and I only had it once in my two months in Thailand. It sounded unusual but turned out to be very tasty and fulfilling. It’s basically boiled pumpkin pieces dunked in warm, sweetened coconut milk. It’s one of the best dishes in Thailand to have on a rainy evening to warm your soul – exactly the setting I had it at the Khao Sok National Park lake tour and fell in love with!

Pa Thong Ko

Pa thong ko is a traditional food in Thailand. They are Thai-style Chinese crullers. These goodies are typically deep-fried breakfast donuts but can also be turned into a street snack or a dessert and go best paired with condensed milk or pandan cream – truly a delicacy and one of the best dishes in Thailand that I can never have enough of!

The best pa thong ko I had were the ones freshly made in the morning by my hosts at the Rungfah Farmstay in Khao Sok National Park.

Kanom Dok Bua

Kanom dok bua is a dessert/ street snack I incidentally stumbled upon at a local festival that was taking place in Koh Lanta while I was visiting. “Kanom” means desert in Thai and “dok bua” means lotus in Lao. So this lotus dessert is essentially coconut rice flour mixed with pandan and made into small friend pancakes. It’s delicious and weirdly I never found another stall selling this since that day in Lanta. It’s one of the best dishes in Thailand and you should try it if you can!

Khanom Krok

Khanom krok are delicious, tender steamed pancakes made of coconut rice flour. They are soft and fluffy and extremely delicious. I compared it to the idlis you get back home – only these have a hint of coconut and some sweetness to them. My guide Moo bought these for me after my Sak Yant – or traditional Thai tattoo – ceremony in Bangkok. I think these are one of the best dishes in Thailand and definitely a must-try!

Appam

Speaking of idlis, did you know that Thailand also has its own version of the appam? These hoppers are made with rice and coconut in Kerala and the only difference in Thailand’s appams is that they are lightly sweetened. Another is that Thai appams are a common breakfast dish while Kerala appams are eaten as the main course with stews and curries. Otherwise, both appams are more or less the same. It’s one of the best dishes in Thailand (and India!) and you must try it out.

The best (and the only) appams I had in Thailand were during a guided walk around Phuket Old Town.

Best Dishes in Thailand – Drinks Edition

If you didn’t already know, beer in Thailand is CHEAP! And easily accessible. You can find beer being readily sold in most supermarkets and all 7-11s. In fact, a lot of small street-side food vendors also have beer on sale apart from the regular coca cola and sprite! So it shouldn’t come as a shock that for the best dishes in Thailand drinks edition, the first thing I recommend I Thai beer!

The most popular Thai beers are Chang, Leo and Singha. Chang and Leo usually cost 39 Baht at shops and 60 Baht at restaurants, while Singha is a little more expensive (and more delicious) and costs 45/ 70 Baht at shops and restaurants.

Additionally to these beers, don’t forget to try out local Thai craft beers as well. In Koh Lanta, I went to Beer Garden and had this Full Moon Chatri IPA that I fully relished.

Apart from beer, there’s also Japanese whiskey readily available in cans in these stores. If I wanted to go harder, this Suntory Horoyoi White whiskey was my go-to!

But if you don’t drink alcohol, I highly recommend trying out the pineapple ciders or iced teas available at a lot of restaurants. These are definitely one of the best dishes in Thailand. I had this in Koh Lanta Old Town and it was delicious.

Another non-alcoholic drink in Thailand I recommend is the butterfly pea or blue pea iced tea. Blue pea is a flower and the petals are brewed to make a dark indigo-blue concoction. And when mixed with lemon, it turns a beautiful light violet. It’s sweet and really tasty – one of the best dishes in Thailand.

Vegetarian/ Vegan Food in Thailand

As I said before on this best dishes in Thailand list, a lot of Thai dishes that are traditionally meat-based can be turned into vegetarian/ vegan Thai food by substituting tofu for the meat. And while it may not be specifically mentioned on the menu card, you can ask for it anyway.

However, almost every Thai dish has either oyster sauce or fish sauce (or both) in it. Best to specify this with the restaurant you’re eating at if that’s a problem for you. Even though I tried to eat as much vegetarian food as I could during my two months in Thailand, I wouldn’t mind oyster sauce in my food because it actually gave a great lift to the flavours. Fish sauce, on the other hand, was a hit or miss. Sometimes I wouldn’t even know it was in there, but sometimes my food would smell and taste only of fish sauce (which was not very appetizing, tbh).

Anyhoo, there’s still a whole lot of the best vegetarian food in Thailand to choose from. Some of the best vegetarian dishes in Thailand are:

• Pineapple fried rice
• Raw papaya salad
• Mango sticky rice
• Thai spring rolls
• Vegetable Satay
• Tofu pad thai

Best Dishes in Thailand – Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular food in Thailand?

Pad Thai has to be the most popular food in the country – also one of the best dishes in Thailand. It is also my personal favourite because I feel like you can’t go wrong with it! Another very popular dish in Thailand is the mango sticky rice – you can find it everywhere you go!

What is the national dish of Thailand?

Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand…surprise, surprise!

Is Indian food famous in Thailand?

Indian food isn’t exceptionally popular everywhere in Thailand. I saw a lot of Indian food joints in Koh Lipe and Bangkok and that’s where I got my fix of aloo paratha and chole bhature (but they were very expensive).

Is Indian and Thai food the same?

Some Thai dishes take influence from Indian food such as the massaman curry – so they can bear some resemblance and feel close to home. However, they are definitely not the same. Some key ingredients are often similar such as the use of hard spices like bay leaves, cardamom, cloves etc. But the use of coconut milk in most curries is where the differences usually begin.

That’s all of the best dishes in Thailand!

We love transparency! Some links in this post are affiliate links. I earn a small commission on bookings made through these links at no extra cost to you. Help me earn that pocket money please!

For more foodie adventures (and otherwise) from Thailand and elsewhere, follow me on Instagram!