The Eats You Can't Skip in Bangkok

The street food capital of the world, Bangkok and its endless selection of delicious menus surely will overwhelm any first-time visitor. But don't worry. This list is precisely to help you get started with the most important dishes in Thai cuisine... before you make your way through other things, of course. Eating, and eating well, is an integral part of Thai culture!

Bangkok

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Bangkok, known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in the Thai language, is the 4th and current capital of Thailand, located in the central region.

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Savory Dishes 

Tom Yam Kung 🌶️🌶️

Unlike popular belief among English speakers, the official national dish of Thailand is not Pad Thai, but this spicy prawn soup with coconut milk, usually eaten with white rice.

Pad Kaprao 🌶️

Listed in overseas menus as "Basil Pork or Basil Chicken Stir-Fried," the authentic version you'll get in Thailand is made with the local "Kaprao" leaves, which are not even similar to basil. They're way better!

Boat Noodles 🌶️

This rice noodle dish with extra-thick and flavorful soup is usually served in tiny portions. This is due to its origin, sold on boats with vendors having to hand the bowl over to customers on the shore, to prevent spilling.

Pad Thai

The unofficial "National Dish" of Thailand, or as foreigners understand it, is stir-fried rice noodles, originally served only with eggs, but best with shrimp. Don't forget to squeeze on the lime and mix well before eating!

Khao Mun Gai

Or "Hainan Chicken Rice" in Singapore, this Thai dish of Chinese origin is wildly popular among the locals. It consists of spiced rice (not spicy) and boiled chicken (ask for the thigh), served with hot soup.

Khao Kha Moo

Another Thai dish of Chinese origin... This is simply white rice topped with stewed pork leg. The secret is in its sauce, which you totally should put on the rice before eating, as well as the sour chili sauce!

Gaeng Phed 🌶️🌶️

If you've looked at a Thai restaurant menu overseas, this is the original "Red Curry," which is of course... way spicier than those red curries. In the soup are usually bamboo shoots, pork or chicken, and Kaffir Lime leaves.

Gaeng Kiaw Wan 🌶️

And here is the real "Green Curry." It is red curry's calmer cousin, coconut-milk-based, but less spicy. This one usually comes without bamboo shoots but with pork, chicken, or fish balls.

Som Tum 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Known in English as Papaya Salad, this Northeastern Thai dish is eaten cold or at room temperature with sticky rice and roasted pork or chicken. Definitely ask for less spicy because we the locals make it fierce 🔥

Tum Mamuang 🌱 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 

Eaten cold just like papaya salad, this is basically sour and spicy Green Mango Salad. It pairs well with jasmine rice and a non-spicy clear soup. Although you could eat it alone as a between-meal snack.

Guay Tiaw Looy Suan 🌱 🌶️

Also eaten at room temperature, these rice noodle rolls are usually stuffed with lettuce, carrots, cilantro, and some other herbs, and dipped in spicy sauce before eating. There are meaty variations so make sure to ask the vendor what's inside before buying if you're a vegetarian.

Desserts

Bua Loy

These colorful tapioca balls in coconut milk are served warm with coconut strips and will taste like your tropical home. It is also the official National Dessert of Thailand. Yup... it is not the Mango 😉 

Tao Suan

Made with mung beans cooked in tapioca flour and coconut milk, this sticky dessert with questionable texture is served warm and will change your life if you can get past its strange, yucky texture. Do try!

Mango and Sticky Rice

Need I say more? So famous it is misunderstood as the Thai National Dessert, this ripe Asian mango with sweet sticky rice is definitely a must-eat when in ANY part of Thailand, not just Bangkok!

Street Food

Moo Satae

This is Turmeric Pork on a stick, served with peanut sauce and sour cucumber salad, which you can never have just ONE. 

Hoy Tod

The name directly translates to "Fried Mussels" in English. This is another dish of Chinese origin. Simply put, they're mussel pancakes with bean sprouts and green onions, served with eggs and sweet spicy sauce. Yum!

Kanom Krok

These are tiny "coconut milk pancakes" the size of a tablespoon. They can be savory or sweet depending on their toppings. You can get them with green onions, pumpkin, corn, or even straight up sweets like Fios de Ovos!

Creating content to help travelers like yourself is my full-time job, although I sometimes release free products like this list... If you find it helpful, a tiny extra tip in the jar at the bottom helps me sustain my business so I can keep helping you. Thank you in advance! 🥰

To read more about the best dishes from other regions of Thailand, read my blog post on the Best Thai Dishes!

The Best Thai Dishes You Must Try in Thailand

polyglotpetra.com

To really understand the history and secrets of Thai cuisine, read this one!

Thai Cuisine: Inside the World's Most Popular Food

polyglotpetra.com

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