🇹🇭 The food of Thailand

96 dishes from Thailand, best known first, across 41 cities and regions.

Thai cooking is shaped by a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes, using fresh herbs, rice, and a wide range of aromatics. Its dishes are lightly cooked and often shared, with influences from neighboring countries and a history of adapting new ingredients and techniques. Regional styles and royal traditions add further variety.

Thai meals balance sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
Rice and chili peppers are central to Thai cooking.
Meals are shared, with all dishes served at once.
Sticky rice is shaped by hand and dipped into side dishes.
Royal cuisine is known for elaborate presentation and fine ingredients.

The cooking of Thailand

Thai food centers on the interplay of four main flavors: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Dishes are often lightly cooked to keep ingredients fresh and aromatic. The cuisine draws from neighboring cultures, especially Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Malaysia, and China, bringing in methods like stir-frying, steaming, and deep-frying. Western contact introduced new foods such as chili peppers and peanuts. Meals are usually made up of several shared dishes, with rice as a base, and a focus on mixing flavors and textures. Presentation and ingredient quality are valued, especially in royal cooking.

Staple foods in Thailand

Rice is the foundation of most Thai meals, with both plain and sticky varieties common. Coconut milk, fresh herbs, and chili peppers are widely used, along with ingredients like fish sauce, lime, garlic, peanuts, and a range of vegetables and fruits. Noodles, often made from rice, are also popular, especially in one-dish meals. Many dishes use a mix of local and introduced ingredients, such as tomatoes, papaya, and cashews.

Sweets and drinks in Thailand

Thai sweets often reflect outside influences, such as foi thong, which adapts a Portuguese dessert by using egg threads, and sangkhaya, a custard made with coconut milk. Drinks and condiments play a role in balancing spicy food; cucumber is sometimes eaten alongside to cool the palate. Meals are often accompanied by sauces and relishes, including spicy chili dips.

From region to region in Thailand

Thai cooking varies by region. The north shares dishes and ingredients with Burma and Laos, using cooler climate produce. The northeast (Isan) is influenced by Laos and Khmer food, often using sticky rice and strong flavors. Central Thai cuisine, from the fertile plains, uses a lot of coconut milk and has roots in royal traditions. Southern Thai food, shaped by Indian and Malay connections, features rich curries, turmeric, and seafood. Bangkok's food is a mix, with influences from Teochew Chinese and Portuguese communities.

At the table in Thailand

Meals are served with all dishes at once, meant to be shared and mixed with rice. Traditionally, people ate with their hands while seated on mats, but today most use a fork and spoon, with the spoon for eating and the fork for pushing food. Chopsticks are used mainly for noodle soups. Sticky rice is sometimes shaped and dipped by hand. More dishes than guests are often served to ensure variety.

Festival and religious food in Thailand

Certain sweets, like foi thong and sangkhaya, are linked to festive occasions and reflect historical ties to other cultures. Royal dishes such as khao chae (rice in jasmine-scented iced water) are associated with special events and the hot season.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Thai cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Mu kropMeat 🇹🇭 Thailand and 4 moreThai-style fried pork belly with a crunchy golden skin Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

KabochaVeganカボチャ 🇯🇵 Japan and 5 moreA sweet, dense winter squash with edible skin, used in Japanese and Asian cooking Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Thingyan riceFish or seafoodသင်္ကြန်ထမင်း 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 1 moreRice in scented water, served cold with fried dried fish for the Burmese New Year Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Phat khingMeatผัดขิง 🇹🇭 Thailand and 1 moreStir-fried ginger dish from Thailand and Laos, often made with chicken and vegetables Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Mu pingMeatหมูปิ้ง 🇹🇭 ThailandCharcoal-grilled pork skewers, a popular Thai street food often served with sticky rice Street food, Breakfast, Lunch

Fried rice 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCooked rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, meat or seafood, and seasonings Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

Satayꦱꦠꦺ 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGrilled skewers of seasoned meat or seafood, often served with peanut sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Spring roll春卷 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA thin wrapper rolled around vegetables or meat, served fried or fresh Main dish, Snacks, Lunch

Tom yumต้มยำ 🇹🇭 Thailand and 1 moreHot and sour Thai soup with herbs, often made with shrimp or chicken Soup, Lunch, Dinner Pad thaiผัดไทย 🇹🇭 ThailandStir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu, shrimp and peanuts, a Thai street food classic Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Wonton云吞 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings with a thin wrapper, filled and served in soup or fried Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner

KetupatVegan 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreRice packed in woven palm leaf pouches and boiled until firm Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Omuriceオムライス 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreJapanese fried rice wrapped in a thin omelette, often topped with ketchup Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Tom kha kaiMeatต้มข่าไก่ 🇹🇭 ThailandThai chicken soup with coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass and mushrooms Soup, Lunch, Dinner

Green curryแกงเขียวหวาน 🇹🇭 ThailandA Thai coconut curry colored and flavored with green chilies and herbs Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Larbລາບ 🇱🇦 Laos and 3 moreFinely chopped meat salad with herbs, a national dish of Laos Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner

Massaman curryแกงมัสมั่น 🇹🇭 Thailand and 1 moreA Thai curry blending local and imported spices, often made with chicken and potatoes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Oyster omelette 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA chewy egg and oyster dish fried with starch, popular across East and Southeast Asia Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch

Gulai 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreSpiced Southeast Asian stew with coconut milk and a blend of local herbs Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Red curryแกงเผ็ด 🇹🇭 ThailandA Thai curry of meat or tofu in coconut milk with a spicy red paste Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Phat kaphraoผัดกะเพรา 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreThai stir-fry of meat or seafood with holy basil, served over rice Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Salted duck egg 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreDuck eggs preserved in salt, prized for their rich, orange-red yolks Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch

Squid (as food)Fish or seafood 🇯🇵 Japan and 5 moreSquid prepared and eaten in many ways around the world Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Green papaya saladຕຳຫມາກຫຸ່ງ 🇱🇦 Laos and 4 moreShredded unripe papaya pounded with chili, lime, fish sauce and other seasonings Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner

Wonton noodlesMeat雲吞麵 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreEgg noodles in broth with wonton dumplings, from Cantonese cooking Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner

Khao soiข้าวซอย 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreNoodle soup with coconut curry, crispy and soft noodles, and pickled greens Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner

Beef noodle soupMeat 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreNoodles in beef broth with stewed or braised beef, eaten across East and Southeast Asia Soup, Lunch, Dinner

LahpetVeganလက်ဖက် 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 1 moreFermented tea leaves served as a salad or ceremonial snack in Myanmar Salad or side, Snacks, Lunch

Yong tau foo釀豆腐 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreTofu or vegetables stuffed with meat or fish paste, served in soup or with sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Thai fried riceข้าวผัด 🇹🇭 ThailandStir-fried jasmine rice with meat, egg, and Thai seasonings Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Thai curryแกง 🇹🇭 ThailandA Thai dish of curry paste simmered with meat, fish, or vegetables and herbs Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner

Nam ngiaoMeatน้ำเงี้ยว 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreNorthern Thai noodle soup with pork, tomato, and fermented soybeans Soup, Lunch, Dinner

Phanaeng curryMeatพะแนง 🇹🇭 ThailandA thick, gently sweet Thai curry with coconut milk and peanuts Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Yusheng魚生 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 6 moreRaw fish and shredded vegetable salad tossed for luck at Chinese New Year Salad or side, Dinner

Pad see ewผัดซีอิ๊ว 🇹🇭 ThailandThai stir-fried noodles with soy sauce, egg, and Chinese broccoli Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Kaeng somแกงส้ม 🇹🇭 Thailand and 2 moreA sour and spicy fish curry with vegetables from Thailand and Southeast Asia Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Khao kha muMeatข้าวขาหมู 🇹🇭 ThailandStewed pork knuckle served over rice with pickles, egg, and spicy sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Nam tokMeatນ້ຳຕົກ 🇱🇦 Laos and 1 moreA Lao and Thai dish that can be a spicy blood-enriched soup or a grilled meat salad Soup, Lunch, Dinner

Kai yangMeatไก่ย่าง 🇱🇦 Laos and 1 moreCharcoal-grilled chicken marinated with herbs and spices, a street food staple in Laos and Thailand Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Lor mee滷麵 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreThick yellow noodles in a spiced, starchy gravy with meat, fish, and egg Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner

Kaeng paMeatแกงป่า 🇹🇭 ThailandA spicy, watery Thai curry without coconut milk Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Chim chumจิ้มจุ่ม 🇹🇭 Thailand and 1 moreThai and Lao hotpot cooked at the table in a clay pot with herbs, meat and vegetables Main dish, Dinner

Khao chaeข้าวแช่ 🇹🇭 ThailandFragrant rice in cool scented water, served with savoury and sweet sides Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Mala hot pot 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA communal Chinese hot pot with spicy, numbing broth and varied ingredients Main dish, Dinner, Lunch

Kaeng khaeแกงแค 🇹🇭 ThailandNorthern Thai curry with vegetables, herbs and optional meat or fish Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Mi kropหมี่กรอบ 🇹🇭 ThailandCrispy rice noodles in a tangy-sweet sauce from Thailand Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner

Khanom chinVegan 🇹🇭 ThailandFermented rice noodles served with curry or sauce and fresh vegetables Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner

Thai sukiสุกี้ไทย 🇹🇭 ThailandThai communal hot pot with meat, seafood, vegetables and spicy dipping sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Omurice: Kanesue, CC BY 2.0, source
Kai yang: Heinrich Damm ( User:Hdamm , Hdamm at de.wikipedia.org ), CC BY 2.0, source
Ketupat: Meutia Chaerani, CC BY 2.5, source
Beef noodle soup: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Massaman curry: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Yong tau foo: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Nam tok: Xufanc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Spring roll: No machine-readable author provided. Rose SP Ring~commonswiki assumed, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Satay: Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Fried rice: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
Tom yum: OpenCage, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Wonton: Oldie~commonswiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kabocha: Theguy002, CC0, source
Green curry: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Thingyan rice: Paingpeace, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tom kha kai: lydiajoy1, CC BY 2.0, source
Larb: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Phat khing: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mu ping: Phoebus 28, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mu krop: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Oyster omelette: No machine-readable author provided. Theorb assumed (based on copyrigh, Public domain, source
Gulai: Midori, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Red curry: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Phat kaphrao: Iudexvivorum, CC0, source
Salted duck egg: No machine-readable author provided. Kok69~commonswiki assumed (based, Public domain, source
Wonton noodles: avlxyz, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Lahpet: Wagaung ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Thai curry: FotoosVanRobin, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Nam ngiao: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Phanaeng curry: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Squid (as food): Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
Pad see ew: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Green papaya salad: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Yusheng: Pauloleong2002, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kaeng som: Xufanc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khao soi: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khao kha mu: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Thai fried rice: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lor mee: Kcdtsg, CC0, source
Kaeng pa: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mi krop: Aron Danburg, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Kaeng khae: Xufanc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mala hot pot: Jonathan Lin, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Thai suki: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
Chim chum: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khao chae: Williamvonga, CC BY-SA 4.0, source