Beginner’s Guide to Authentic Thai Food In Bangkok
Are you wondering why everybody loves authentic Thai food? The truth is that Thailand has more than just the famous Pad Thai dish. Thai cuisine has characteristics similar to the other southeast Asian countries, like Vietnam and Malaysia. But of course, Thai food has a distinct spicy, sweet, sour, and even bitter taste that makes people crave it even more.
Moreover, when you think of Southeast Asian food, you can already smell the aromatic spices. When you get to visit Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, and pass by the restaurants, the fragrant smell of Thai spices and herbs will linger.
The distinctive taste of Thai food is all thanks to the condiments and herbs such as basil, lemongrass, ginger, mint leaves, and more. A staple for cooking Thai food is the addition of the Thai fermented fish sauce.
Get your taste buds tingling by learning the authentic Thai food you must try when visiting Bangkok:
13 Must-Try Dishes In Bangkok
1. Pad Thai (Thai-Style Fried Noodles)
If you are in Thailand’s capital city, then trying out the country’s international dish should be first on your list. Pad Thai has become globally known for its delectable taste like no other stir-fry noodle on the planet.
What is it?
Pad Thai is the most famous Thai dish that is globally known for its flavorful taste. It is a stir-fry dish made of rice noodles, chicken, tofu, peanuts, scrambled egg, and bean sprouts. All are dropped and sauteed in a hot wok and then mixed with its delicious sauce.
Its sauce will make everything so flavorful since it is created with tons of condiments such as Thai fish sauce, sugar, chili powder, and adding a nutty flavor is the finely ground peanuts, creating a staple of authentic Thai food.
2. Thai Red Curry (Gaeng Daeng)
The dish that owns the second spot is Thai red curry. A lot of Bangkok restaurants serve this delicious dish.
What is it?
Thai red curry is usually made with duck breast. The duck meat offers a rich fatty flavor that goes exceptionally well with creamy soup curry. The duck breast is cooked separately. Meanwhile, the red curry paste is specially made with smooth coconut milk, chili, aromatic lemongrass, then topped off with finely sliced lime leaves. This dish pairs perfectly with a cup or two of hot steaming jasmine rice.
3. Thai Fried Rice
Don’t miss out on Thai fried rice when you are exploring Bangkok. This dish will get your stomach so full and satisfied, so you will find yourself coming back for more.
What is it?
Khao Pad or Thai fried rice has a distinctive taste from Chinese fried rice, usually made with soy sauce. Thailand’s version has a special flavoring because of the fermented fish sauce. The rice is sauteed together with egg, onion and sprinkled with the right amount of herb and spices.
Many restaurants serve this dish with a wedge of lime to add fresh citrus flavoring and some cucumber slices. More so, Thais love to prepare their fried rice with shrimps, prawns, crab, or chicken. They then add basil, chili, and a variation of left-over vegetables.
4. Spicy Green Papaya Salad
Taste a popular Thai salad that offers an explosion of flavor that will leave you craving more. The spicy green papaya salad is a must-try side dish that gives a sweet, crunchy taste with a hint of spiciness.
What is it?
It features green papaya with a spicy pepper dressing. The papaya is coarsely grated or shredded, making it easier to toss with the other components. Simultaneously, this dish’s ingredients, such garlic, salt, peanuts, chilies, sugar, and shrimp, are pounded with a mortar and pestle to form a paste.
Plus, the green papaya salad is good for you since it is loaded with nutrients and vitamins from the papaya and the rest of the ingredients. It also boosts digestive health with enzymes and healthy fiber.
5. Sweet Sticky Mango Rice (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)
Want to enjoy a sweet dessert while roaming around Bangkok? You can enjoy a classic Thai dessert that is blissful and undoubtedly delectable.
What is it?
This sweet treat is commonly served in the streets and is also available in the restaurants of Bangkok. The scrumptious state of the sweet glutinous rice with mango is especially tempting under the hot Thai sun.
It is made in a pot on a stove where the long-grain glutinous rice is cooked. Then, coconut milk and brown sugar are added to give the sweet and creamy flavor that everyone loves. It is then topped with some fresh and sweet mango slices that add color and more taste.
6. Chicken In Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Kai)
Divulge Thailand’s most famous soup. It is filled with fragrant Thai ingredients like galanga root, lemongrass, kaffir lime, and ginger.
What is it?
This traditional Thai dish is prepared on a stovetop. The galangal root is the player of the dish and makes it even more delicious with the other ingredients mentioned above. At the same time, adding the rich and fragrant flavor is the coconut broth. In many restaurants in Bangkok, they will allow you to make it spicier using red chilies.
7. Thai Noodle Soup (Guay Teow)
Surely you know you’ll have tons of noodle options when you travel to Bangkok, Thailand. However, one dish you shouldn’t pass on is the Thai noodle soup or Guay Teow.
What is it?
Guay Teow is a Thai dish inspired by Chinese cuisine with its own style of noodles, meats, and other components. Restaurants will often make it with chicken, pork, or beef, and you can choose between rice noodles or egg noodles.
There are many street vendors and restaurants that also add wontons or meatballs to the broth. The dish is best topped with a variety of seasonings and spices including, sugar, dried chili peppers, lime juice, and of course, the fermented fish sauce.
8. Thai Milk Tea (Cha Yen)
Trying out the Thai Milk Tea in Bangkok is a requisite. Never leave the place without getting a sip of it. This beverage is considered the national drink of Thailand.
What is it?
Thai Milk Tea has a mixture of sweet, milky, and silky tastes. The combination of the tea and milk is not like the regular ones you are used to. Grabbing a cup in Bangkok is easy; many vendors and roadside carts serve this refreshing drink.
9. Egg Wrap Fried Rice
Rice is a staple in Thai cuisine. That’s why you’ll notice that most Thai dishes incorporate rice. One of the in-demand dishes in Bangkok is egg wrap fried rice.
What is it?
The flavorful fried rice is seasoned with special Thai herbs and seasonings, then covered with a soft egg crepe. It can also be drizzled with Thai Sriracha or ketchup if you are not a big fan of really spicy food.
10. Chicken Feet Soup (Tom Yum Teen Gai)
Are you more on the adventurous side? That’s not a problem when you come and visit Bangkok. It offers a variety of fascinating food. While most parts of the world avoid chicken feet, Thailand turns it into a delicious dish.
What is it?
The chicken feet are prepared well. Before cooking and putting them in a soup, the cooks have a unique preparation style. The feet are heated and boiled in a seasoned and salted broth until they’re tender and soft to eat. Chilis, fermented fish sauce, and other flavorings are added to produce a savory dish.
11. Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup (Tom Yum Goong)
Devour a tasteful bowl of spicy shrimp soup created with authentic Thai condiments. Tom Yum Goong is a spicy and sour soup that will leave you fascinated with authentic Thai cuisine. Some vendors even add coconut cream to make a creamier, richer version.
What is it?
It is an aromatic soup that is hot and sour to give your mouth an exciting flavor. It has a mouth-watering mixture of lemongrass, chili, galangal root, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, fresh lime juice, and a lot of fish sauce. Of course, adding the savory taste are the fresh prawns and mushrooms.
12. Thai Meat Skewers
If you are a meat-lover, authentic Thai food has endless choices for you. Pork, chicken, and beef skewers are offered conveniently all over the streets of Bangkok.
What is it?
The meat skewers in Bangkok, Thailand, are different if you are from a foreign country. It has a distinctive taste because of the special herbs and spices available in Thailand. It is cooked in coal flame and glazed with a sweet special soy sauce.
These skewers are a big thing in Bangkok because of their wide availability. Many locals and even tourists flock on the city streets to take a bite of these skewers along with the other street food as their lunch or dinner.
13. Thai Durian (And Other Tropical Fruits)
Take advantage of Thailand’s tropical climate by enjoying the available tropical fruits. At almost every corner of Bangkok’s streets, there are fruit stands that display colorful exotic fruits.
What is it?
A famous tropical fruit that is great to try is durian. Though some people might find its smell strong, it is an achievement to try the most popular fruit in Thailand. If you don’t have the guts to eat durian, you can opt for the other Southeast-Asian fruits available such as mangosteen, rambutan, guava, green mangoes, and jackfruit.
Digging into authentic Thai food when you come and visit Bangkok will certainly be a worthwhile experience. If you need more tips and suggestions for your Thailand exploration, just visit TrulyThai.com. Learn some new things about the country, such as travel, food, dating, culture, and more. Visit now!
