Cuisine

Thai

อาหารไทย

Hot, sour, salty, sweet — and a mortar that still earns its keep.

Court cooking, Chinese noodles, Malay and Burmese neighbours, and American chilli. Pad thai is a 20th-century national dish; som tam is Isaan cooking that went nationwide.

Fish sauce, lime, palm sugar, chilli and herbs in aggressive balance. Coconut appears often in the centre and south, less so in Isaan.

Countries and regions

Central Thailand · North · South · Isaan

Dishes

Source photograph of Pad thai

Pad thai

ผัดไทย

Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, egg and peanuts — a national dish with a 20th-century origin story.

40 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Som tam

Som tam

ส้มตำ

Isaan green papaya salad pounded in a mortar — lime, fish sauce, chilli, peanuts, and a crunch that should be loud.

20 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️

Source photograph of Pad krapow

Pad krapow

ผัดกะเพรา

Holy basil stir-fry, ripping hot, with a fried egg and rice — the Thai plate people actually order on a Tuesday.

20 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️

Source photograph of Khao soi

Khao soi

ข้าวซอย

Northern Thai curry noodles — coconut broth, boiled noodles, fried noodles on top, pickle on the side.

55 minMedium🌶️🌶️

Source photograph of Moo ping

Moo ping

หมูปิ้ง

Street grilled pork skewers, coconut-sweet and a little smoky, eaten with sticky rice.

2 hr 32 minEasyNo chilli

Source photograph of Mango sticky rice

Mango sticky rice

ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง

Ripe mango, steamed sticky rice, salted coconut cream — a dessert that is only good when the fruit is.

4 hr 50 minEasyNo chilli

Source photograph of Larb

Larb

ลาบ

Isaan minced-meat salad — lime, fish sauce, toasted rice powder, herbs. Heat that wants sticky rice.

25 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️

Source photograph of Drunken noodles (pad kee mao)

Drunken noodles (pad kee mao)

Drunken noodles

Drunken noodles (pad kee mao) from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

13 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Lemongrass beef stew with noodles

Lemongrass beef stew with noodles

 

Lemongrass beef stew with noodles from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 45 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Massaman Beef curry

Massaman Beef curry

 

Massaman Beef curry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

2 hr 16 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Panang chicken curry (kaeng panang gai)

Panang chicken curry (kaeng panang gai)

Panang chicken curry

Panang chicken curry (kaeng panang gai) from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

20 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Red curry chicken kebabs

Red curry chicken kebabs

 

Red curry chicken kebabs from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

18 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Prawn stir-fry

Prawn stir-fry

 

Prawn stir-fry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

14 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Thai coconut & veg broth

Thai coconut & veg broth

 

Thai coconut & veg broth from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

20 minA bit of workNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai drumsticks

Thai drumsticks

 

Thai drumsticks from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

50 minEasy🌶️

Source photograph of Thai green chicken soup

Thai green chicken soup

 

Thai green chicken soup from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

31 minA bit of workNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai Green Curry

Thai Green Curry

 

Thai Green Curry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

36 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai prawn curry

Thai prawn curry

 

Thai prawn curry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

26 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai-style steamed fish

Thai-style steamed fish

 

Thai-style steamed fish from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

25 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Tom kha gai

Tom kha gai

 

Tom kha gai from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

33 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Tom yum soup with prawns

Tom yum soup with prawns

 

Tom yum soup with prawns from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

35 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew

 

Pad See Ew from Thailand. Times are typical for this kind of dish.

35 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai beef stir-fry

Thai beef stir-fry

 

Thai beef stir-fry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

13 minEasy🌶️

Source photograph of Thai curry noodle soup

Thai curry noodle soup

 

Thai curry noodle soup from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

19 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Thai fried rice with prawns & peas

Thai fried rice with prawns & peas

 

Thai fried rice with prawns & peas from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

14 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Thai-style fish broth with greens

Thai-style fish broth with greens

 

Thai-style fish broth with greens from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

20 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Tom yum (hot & sour) soup with prawns

Tom yum (hot & sour) soup with prawns

 

Tom yum (hot & sour) soup with prawns from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

12 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Thai chicken cakes with sweet chilli sauce

Thai chicken cakes with sweet chilli sauce

 

Thai chicken cakes with sweet chilli sauce from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

18 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Thai pork & peanut curry

Thai pork & peanut curry

 

Thai pork & peanut curry from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

34 minMediumNo chilli

Source photograph of Thai rice noodle salad

Thai rice noodle salad

 

Thai rice noodle salad from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

34 minA bit of work🌶️

Source photograph of Spicy Thai prawn noodles

Spicy Thai prawn noodles

 

Spicy Thai prawn noodles from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

16 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Stir-fried chicken with chillies & basil

Stir-fried chicken with chillies & basil

 

Stir-fried chicken with chillies & basil from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

33 minMedium🌶️

Source photograph of Thai pumpkin soup

Thai pumpkin soup

 

Thai pumpkin soup from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

56 minMedium🌶️

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