Thai Cooking Class
Half-day or full-day cooking classes operate in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and most tourist towns. Most include a market visit. Chiang Mai has Thailand's best selection of cooking schools. Prices: 800–2,000 THB.
Learn moreThai Food & Drink Guide
Thai cuisine is one of the world's great food cultures — built on an extraordinary balance of sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter flavours achieved through fresh aromatics and bold seasoning. The diversity within Thailand is significant: Northern Thai food is earthier and milder, Northeastern (Isaan) food is ferociously spicy and fermented, Southern Thai food carries Malay and Indian influences, and Central Thai cuisine is what most people picture when they think of pad Thai or green curry. This guide covers essential dishes, food experiences, vegetarian options, and how to eat well at every budget.
Essential Dishes to Try
Khao Soi
ข้าวซอยKhao Soi is northern Thailand's signature dish — egg noodles in a rich, curried coconut milk broth, topped with crispy fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, and shallots.
Pad Thai
ผัดไทยPad Thai is Thailand's most iconic stir-fried noodle dish, tossed with eggs, bean sprouts, and a tangy tamarind-based sauce.
Som Tum
ส้มตำSom Tum is a fiery green papaya salad pounded in a clay mortar with chillis, garlic, lime, and fish sauce.
Tom Yum Goong
ต้มยำกุ้งTom Yum Goong is Thailand's most famous hot and sour prawn soup, perfumed with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal.
Massaman Curry
มัสมั่นMassaman Curry is Thailand's richest and mildest curry, influenced by Persian and Malay spice trade routes.
Khao Man Gai
ข้าวมันไก่Khao Man Gai is Thailand's version of Hainanese chicken rice — tender poached chicken served over fragrant chicken-fat rice with a complex ginger-soybean dipping sauce and a small bowl of clear chicken broth.
Green Curry
แกงเขียวหวานGreen Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan) is arguably the most vibrant of Thailand's curries, made with a fresh paste of green chillis, lemongrass, and basil simmered in rich coconut milk.
Mango Sticky Rice
ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วงMango Sticky Rice (Khao Niao Mamuang) is Thailand's most beloved dessert — glutinous rice steamed in sweet coconut milk, served alongside ripe Nam Dok Mai mango.
Food Experiences Worth Booking
Street Food Tour
Guided evening street food tours in Bangkok's Chinatown or Chiang Mai's Old City are consistently excellent. Guides navigate the stalls and translate — worthwhile even for experienced travellers.
Learn moreMarket Visit
Morning fresh markets (talat sao) are where Thai food culture is most vivid. Bangkok's Or Tor Kor market is superb. Chiang Mai's Muang Mai market operates from 3am. Arrive by 7am for the full experience.
Learn moreSouthern Thai Food Trail
The Muslim South (Satun, Narathiwat, Pattani) offers curry flavours distinct from the rest of Thailand — richer, spicier, with Malay and Indian influences that most visitors never discover.
Learn moreVegetarian & Vegan Eating
Thailand has a strong vegetarian tradition (jay food) tied to Buddhist observance, and a growing number of vegan restaurants particularly in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and tourist towns. The key phrase is kin jay (I eat vegan/Buddhist-style). Be aware that fish sauce and shrimp paste are standard background ingredients in many dishes — specify mai sai nam pla (no fish sauce) and mai sai kapi (no shrimp paste) if needed. Pad pak ruam (stir-fried mixed vegetables), khao pad jay (vegetarian fried rice), and tofu curries are widely available.
Bangkok has some of Asia's best vegan restaurants. Chiang Mai's Nimman area has several. Markets in the North frequently have multiple jay (vegetarian) stalls identified by yellow flags.
Every dish, explained
All 94 dishes in the encyclopedia, grouped by category. Each page covers what is in it, how spicy it actually is, what it should cost, and how to order it.
street-food (16)
- Gai Todไก่ทอด
- Gai Yangไก่ย่าง
- Kai Jeowไข่เจียว
- Khanom Buangขนมเบื้อง
- Khanom Krokขนมครก
- Look Chin Pingลูกชิ้นปิ้ง
- Moo Pingหมูปิ้ง
- Moo Satayหมูสะเต๊ะ
- Pad Thaiผัดไทย
- Poh Pia Todปอเปี๊ยะทอด
- Roti Matabaโรตีมะตะบะ
- Sai Krok Isanไส้กรอกอีสาน
- Satayสะเต๊ะ
- Spring Rollsปอเปี๊ยะ
- Sticky Rice with Grilled Porkข้าวเหนียวหมูปิ้ง
- Tod Man Plaทอดมันปลา
noodle (15)
- Ba Mee Haengบะหมี่แห้ง
- Ba Mee Moo Daengบะหมี่หมูแดง
- Boat Noodlesก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ
- Kanom Jeenขนมจีน
- Khao Soiข้าวซอย
- Kuay Jabก๋วยจั๊บ
- Kuay Teow Kua Gaiก๋วยเตี๋ยวคั่วไก่
- Kuay Teow Tom Yumก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำ
- Mee Krobหมี่กรอบ
- Pad See Ewผัดซีอิ๊ว
- Pad See Ew Talayผัดซีอิ๊วทะเล
- Pad Woon Senผัดวุ้นเส้น
- Rad Naราดหน้า
- Sukhothai Noodlesก๋วยเตี๋ยวสุโขทัย
- Yen Ta Foเย็นตาโฟ
dessert (14)
curry (13)
salad (10)
rice (7)
soup (5)
vegan (5)
stir-fry (2)
seafood (1)
grilled (1)
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Cooking classes, food tours and regional cuisine guides.