The Eats You Can't Skip in Bangkok

The Eats You Can't Skip in Bangkok

Hi Foodie! Welcome to my quick-start list of must-eat items in Thai cuisine, in Bangkok to be more precise! You must be wondering what dishes exactly you should be looking for now that your Bangkok trip is coming up. I've got you! In this list are the most important savory dishes, desserts, and street food you can't leave Bangkok without trying. Note the little 🌶️ next to some of the dishes. It means they're spicy, so don't forget to ask for "less spicy" when ordering those! If you find it helpful, a tiny extra tip in the jar at the bottom helps me sustain my business. Thank you in advance! 🥰 Afraid you'll forget all about this list when you go to Thailand? Hit that save button! 🫶🏻
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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
@polyglotpetra
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 🌶️🌶️

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

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!

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi! I'm Petra! I’m Thai, born and raised. My business is based in the US, but I call Thailand and South Korea my homes and have lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for several months. From my years living in Thailand and my annual 2-month-long visits, I'm especially knowledgeable and up-to-date about Thailand, its trends, and its culture. What are the coolest things to see and do (not necessarily the most touristy ones!), where are the best places to find authentic food (places that say "authentic" are out of the question), and which hotels have the best service... I can give you all these insider-level tips! I've lived in the US since 2015. As a digital nomad, I don't have a city or state that I'm based in, but I know LA especially well having lived there permanently for 8 years. Another of my expertise is South Korea, Seoul specifically, and Korean culture and history in general. Having grown up learning the language and visiting so often (14 times and counting), I can comfortably count Seoul as my second home. And I can confidently give you the best insider tips to Seoul just as well as Thailand! My travel style is culture-based. I love having deep connections with the local culture and people wherever I visit. So you won't find beach clubs or nightclubs much among my recommendations. Basically, if it is something you can see and experience at home, I'm not recommending it!
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