Thailand is renowned for its diverse and flavorful cuisine, which features a combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
- Som Tam (Spicy green papaya salad): It is often considered the most well-known salad dish in Thailand. The main ingredients are shredded unripe papaya, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrot, cucumber, and runner beans. Optional toppings include chilies, fish sauce, lime juice, roasted peanuts, and dried shrimp. Som Tam offers the perfect combination of sour, spicy, savory, and sweet flavors.
- Gai Hor Bai Toey (Fried Pandan Chicken): This is probably one of the most loved chicken dishes in Thailand. It is made from fried, well-marinated filet chicken wrapped in pandan leaves.It’s often steamed before the deep-fried, which makes it “juicy”. There are two sauces topped with sesame seeds for you to choose: soy sauce and sweet-sour sauce.
- Tom Yum Goong (Spicy and Sour Shrimp Soup): When hearing about Thai food, Tom Yum may be the first dish people think of. Tom Yum is typically served with tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh shrimp, although alternative options include chicken, fish, or squid. Other ingredients include chilies, lime juice, and a generous amount of fish sauce. If you want a creamy texture, add coconut milk. It’s finest served with hot white rice. When you eat it, you can clearly taste the scent of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, two of Thai cuisine’s most common components.
- Pad Thai (Thai Style Stir-Fried Noodles): The major ingredients are rice noodles (thin or wide), fresh and dried shrimp, eggs, fried tofu, and vegetables like bean sprouts and spring onions. They are all stir-fried in a hot pan before being coated with a delicious sauce made from tamarind juice and fish sauce. Roasted peanuts will be put on top of the meal for a little crunchy. Most importantly, a squeeze of fresh lime juice will give the dish a perfect combination of flavors.
- Khao Pad (Fried Rice): This Thai fried rice is a popular lunchtime dish that can be cooked with chicken, beef, pig, shrimp, or fish. This is stir-fried with jasmine rice, eggs, fish sauce, and veggies like garlic, onions, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. This simple dish, served with lime wedges and cucumber slices, is popular among locals.
- Stir-fried Basil and Pork (Pad Kra Pao Moo): This meal is a great blend of sweet and spicy, with fresh chillies, green beans, garlic, palm sugar, and fish sauce stir-fried with minced pork and basil leaves. This is served over white rice and topped with a fried egg. Alternatives to pork include minced chicken, duck, beef, seafood, and tofu.
- Curry: From a mild to an explosive curry, there are an enormous number of regional curry kinds but there are three major types: Yellow Curry (Kaeng Lueang) with mildest taste, Red Curry (Gaeng Daeng) with a medium taste and Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan Gai) – the spiciest and most common of the 3 Thai curries.
- Creamy Coconut Curry Noodle Soup (Khao Soi): Your taste senses will love this real northern Thai soup. Khao Soi is a thick coconut broth made with soft braised meat, boiled and fried noodles, and flavors of lime, shallots, mustard, and ground chillies cooked in oil. For those seeking wholesome, high-nutrient meals, this is one of the best Thai dishes.
- Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niao Mamuang): Everyone loves this sweet dessert dish from the first time they eat it. The dish comes with pieces of ripe mango and sticky rice cooked with coconut milk. The blend of tropical fruits elevates it to one of the world’s top sweets.
- Crispy Rubies (Tub Tim Krob): This dessert dish is filled with vibrant rubies. They are produced by coating water chestnuts with tapioca flour and various syrups and then cooking them till transparent. To make it extra tasty, add some fresh fruits like ripe jackfruit or young coconut meat.
Malls, street markets, and weekend bazaars are full of goods to surprise travelers.
- Thai Spices and Sauces: Enjoy authentic and unique flavors at home.
- Elephants as Souvenirs: Wooden and home décor items with carvings of elephants, the symbol of Thailand.
- Handmade Thai Jewelry: Thailand boasts an incredible selection of excellent jewellery. Ornaments are among the nicest goods to buy in Thailand
- Ceramics & Pottery: The two most popular ceramics supplied by shops in Thailand are Bencharong Porcelain and Sangkhalok Porcelain
- Thai Silk: Find deals on a broad variety of silks in Thailand. When visiting Thailand, don’t miss out on purchasing silk products.
- Thai Food, Snacks, and Sweet Treats: Coconut candies, sweet bites, dried durian, and chocolates in the shape of traditional Thai Tuk Tuk
- Thai Loincloth: Made up of either cotton or silk, Thai Loincloth is very versatile and has been a part of Thailand clothing since ancient times
- Wickerwork: Product that is only available in Thailand. Local plants such as bamboo, rattan, and bulrush turn into exquisite sculptures and woven handbags.
Some popular places for shopping:
- Patong Beach markets – Phuket: Perfect for beachgoers looking for clothing, accessories, and souvenirs with a beach vibe.