Khao Tom
ข้าวต้ม
Khao Tom is Thai rice soup — plain boiled jasmine rice cooked in clear broth until soft, served with an array of small side dishes like ginger, salted egg, pickled vegetables, and fried garlic.
Cultural Origin
Khao Tom, Thai boiled rice soup, has Chinese-Thai roots in the Teochew congee tradition adapted by migrants who settled across Thailand from the 18th century onward. It is a ubiquitous breakfast and late-night dish, served with small side plates of salted egg, pickled vegetables, and minced pork.
Regional Variants
| Region | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Central | Central Thai khao tom is a looser, brothy rice soup served with pork, shrimp, or fish and aromatic toppings. |
| Southern | Southern versions often pair khao tom with strong fermented or salted side dishes like kapi and salted fish. |
Allergens & Sensitivities
Key Ingredients
- jasmine rice
- chicken or pork broth
- ginger
- garlic
- spring onion
Taste profile
- Salty
- fish sauce, soy, shrimp paste
- Sweet
- palm sugar, coconut
- Sour
- lime, tamarind, fermentation
- Umami
- dried shrimp, fermented pastes, stock
The soup itself is nearly plain; all the flavour is built at the table from the side dishes — salted egg, pickled vegetables and fried garlic — so the same bowl can taste different from spoonful to spoonful.
How Khao Tom Is Made
- 1
Broth
A light chicken or pork broth is brought to a simmer, sometimes with a few slices of ginger.
- 2
Rice
Cooked or partly cooked jasmine rice is added to the broth and simmered gently until the grains soften and swell without breaking down into porridge.
- 3
Protein
Minced pork, fish, or shrimp is stirred in near the end and cooked briefly.
- 4
Sides
Small side dishes — salted duck egg, pickled mustard greens, crispy fried garlic — are prepared separately and served alongside rather than mixed in.
- 5
Serving
Diners spoon their own sides and condiments into the bowl to taste.
When It’s Eaten
A breakfast and late-night dish above all — hospital canteens, all-night noodle shops and early markets serve it around the clock, and it's the standard order when recovering from illness or a heavy night out.
How to Order It
- ข้าวต้มหมู
- khao tom moo
- rice soup with pork
- ไม่ใส่ขิง
- mai sai khing
- no ginger
What people get wrong
Expecting a thick, homogenous porridge like Chinese congee; khao tom keeps the rice grains distinct in a much thinner, clearer broth.
Where to Try It
Early morning markets, hospital food courts, and overnight noodle shops throughout Thailand.
Tips
- Khao Tom is the quintessential Thai comfort food — eaten when ill, hung over, or simply in need of something gentle on the stomach.