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
NorthCoconut curry noodle soup with crispy noodles on top. Chiang Mai's defining dish.
Pad Thai
NationwideStir-fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, and tamarind. At its best at specialist stalls.
Som Tum (Papaya Salad)
Northeast/NationwideGreen papaya shredded and pounded in a mortar with lime, fish sauce, chilli, and palm sugar. Spice level varies dramatically by region.
Tom Yum Goong
NationwideAromatic hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, and chilli. One of Thailand's most internationally recognised dishes.
Massaman Curry
South/Muslim SouthRich, mild curry with potatoes, peanuts, and slow-cooked beef or chicken. Persian and Malay influences, distinct from other Thai curries.
Hoy Tod (Oyster Omelette)
Bangkok/CoastCrispy-edged omelette loaded with oysters or mussels in a savoury starch batter. A Chinatown speciality.
Khao Man Gai
NationwidePoached chicken on rice cooked in chicken broth with a gingery dipping sauce. Cheap, ubiquitous, and deeply satisfying.
Gaeng Keow Wan (Green Curry)
NationwideThailand's most beloved curry — aromatic, creamy, and fragrant with Thai basil, galangal, and green chilli.
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.