In this world, there are cultures who are good at food, cultures that aren’t, and cultures that are almost defined by their cuisine. If you want to know if you are in a true food culture, listen in on a local conversation and see how often food comes up, and how passionately it is discussed. In Italy and France, it happens right away. Japan can be fanatical too. But there is one other place where food is an obsession, and that is Thailand. Food is such a part of the culture that instead of saying how are you? Thai people frequently say, have you eaten rice yet? Here is a look at some of the most iconic Thai foods.
- Street Food: Thailand is a sprawling country, encompassing many people groups. Bangkok is the centre, but each region has its own local specialities. Street Food in Thailand is wonderful. If you are looking for the best place to eat in Bangkok, street food might be the place to start. Noodle soup is the most popular, but here are a few others: Phat kaphrao, phad thai, and tom yung goong are very popular. A sweet treat in the morning is patongo, an X-shaped doughnut you dip in pandan sauce. Curry variations are popular too. One street vendor’s crab curry is so good she earned a Michelin Star. It is not an exaggeration to say, that street food is the soul of Thailand.
- North: The north of Thailand is mountainous and has many tribal populations that add to the culinary diversity. One item that you must try there is Khoa Soi. This is a complex dish with a red curry sauce and a combination of noodles, both crunchy and soft, as well as a choice of meat. The dish is served with pickled vegetables on the side.
- Issan: In Northeast Thailand, or Issan, they have a reputation of eating almost anything and they like it spicy. The signature dish is Sum Tum (spicy papaya salad), pair this with Issan sausage and sticky rice for an authentic Issan experience.
- South: In the south of Thailand, they have some fantastic curry dishes, perhaps green curry chicken is the best known. It is also the best place in Thailand for beef dishes and sweet desserts.
Wherever you go in Thailand an authentic meal is not far away. Living is about having fun and eating good food. When you visit bring an open mind, so you don’t miss out. There are so many unique flavours, you will never get bored.
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