No Pad Thai or Green Curry!

Everyone obviously knows the Pad Thai and Green Curry (right..?). To us Thai people we enjoy these dishes from time to time but they’re definitely not representative of what we eat everyday. In fact I’ll wager that a lot of Thai people won’t really put Pad Thai or Green Curry in their top 5 list of favorite foods.

Thai food is all about the 5 tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy and they vary greatly from region to region and so looking for something to eat while you’re in Thailand may be a little daunting. From spicy soups exploding with sour flavors to fried crispy golden fish piled high with herbs and spices. Thai food is full of flavors and there will surely be a dish that caters to your taste buds.

That’s why I compiled a list of 10 must try authentic Thai dishes for you to try in addition to your diet of Somtam and Shrimp Tom Yum.

10. Pad Krapow - Holy Basil Stir Fry

A deliciously spicy plate of beef pad krapow with a crispy and runny fried egg

Arguably the most popular and recognizable dish amongst Thais. If you don’t know what pad krapow is don’t worry I’ve written this handy guide for you : What is Pad Krapow?

A pad krapow is a staple dish in Thailand and is eaten by both locals and foreigners a like on an almost daily basis. It’s main ingredient is the “Bai Krapow” or the Thai Holy Basil Leaf which gives it it’s signature aroma and taste.

Spicy, herbaceous, and comforting. You can get pad krapow with many different proteins such as pork, chicken, beef, and even some seafood like squid or shrimp. Paired with a fried egg, the runny yolk will add another layer of creamy umami flavors and will help mellow out the spices from the chillies.

A particular favorite of mine is “Pad Krapow Moo Krob” which is the version with crispy pork belly.

9. Larb / Namtok - Herb and Meat Salad

A tasty bowl of pork larb with tons of herbs and spices

Larb is a meat salad dish originating from Laos so it’s not really a “Thai” dish but it is eaten very commonly in Thailand especially in the Northern regions such as Chiang Mai.

With your choice of protein such as pork, beef, or even duck. Combined with the mountains of herbs and sauces such as fish sauce and mint leaves, larb has all the bombastic flavors that you would expect out of Thai food.

Eaten as a side dish or an accompaniment to sticky rice, Larb is lean, healthy, and perfect for any meat lovers who want more meat in their salad.

Namtok is a very similar dish to larb but instead of minced protein it is made with sliced grilled protein such as beef or pork neck.

I’ve written a handy article on larb if you would like to read more: What is Larb?

8. Guay Tiew Reua - Thai Boat Noodles

A comforting bowl of boat noodles with a delicious sprinkle of fried garlic and chillies

Thai boat noodles are another common dish that you can find all over Thailand. These little bowls of joy got their name from being served form boats back when rivers and canals were the main forms of transportation in Thailand.

Boat noodles are have a thick rich broth made with many herbs, spices, and a secret ingredient: pig’s blood.

The pig’s blood creates the rich broth and the strong comforting flavors.

Other ingredients and toppings include meatballs, sliced meat, liver, mint leaves, bean sprouts, and so on…

7. Tom Kha Gai - Coconut Chicken Soup

Savory pieces of chicken and mushrooms floating atop a creamy aromatic coconut milk broth

Tom Kha Gai is similair to Tom Yum with much of the same spices such as galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass.

What separates Tom Kha Gai from tom yum is that chillies are optional.

Tom Kha Gai is made with tender juicy pieces of chicken and mushrooms that are absorbing the flavors of the creamy and smooth coconut milk based soup.

If you can’t handle the spiciness of Tom Yum then Tom Kha Gai is for you.

6. Pad See Ew - Stir Fried Noodles

Pad See Ew with big chewy noodles and crisp veggies

Pad See Ew is one of my favorite noodle-based dishes in Thailand. Although you can get Pad See Ew with different types of noodles the most common is the “"Sen Yai” or big noodles.

Stri fried in a wok with plenty of soy sauce, proteins, and veggies. This dish is sure to satisfy any craving.

And the reason I love t so much is because of the smokey flavor the wok gives.

5. Khao Soi - Curry Noodles

Beef Khao Soi with a rich and creamy coconut milk based curry broth

Khao Soi is a noodle soup dish that has egg noodles and most importantly a rich creamy curry broth.

This dish is mainly just about the amazing broth. Rich, creamy, and soothing to the soul.

You’ll mostly find this dish in the Northern regions of Thailand where it is really famous in Chiang Mai.

Other toppings include various meats like beef or chicken and deep fried Khao soi nood-lets which adds a crunchy texture that rounds up the whole dish.

4. Pla Tod - Thai Style Fried Fish

Thai style deep fried fish with lots and lots of dry herbs and spices

Pla Tod means fried fish in Thai and oh boy Thai style fried fish hits different.

There are many flavors and varieties of fried fish you can get, from a sweet and sour papaya salad style dressing to a spicy and umami chili sauce dressing.

It’s always guaranteed that every time you order Pla Tod they’ll always be piled high with herbs and spices.

It’s crunchy, it’s juicy, it’s flaky, it’s spicy, it’s sour, it’s sweet…

It’s everything you’d want from a fried fish.

This dish is best shared with friends and family and trust me, everyone will love this dish.

3. Panang - Coconut Curry

A plate of creamy panang curry with pork and a sprinkling of kaffir lime leaves

Panang is a thick red curry made using panang curry paste which is made up of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, shrimp paste, peanuts, and red curry paste, all ground up together. The paste is then cooked with coconut milk to give it that creamy rich texture.

Pork is often used but other proteins can be shrimp or chicken.

A little spicy and a lot of comforting umami, this dish is served with rice and is an excellent quick meal.

2. Khua Kling - Dry Curry

Pork Khua Kling with lots of spices, this dish is exploding with spice.

Khua Kling is a dry curry made with ground pork, beef, or chicken. It's made with tons of spices such as chili, garlic, lemongrass, and curry paste. Kaffir lime leaves are also used to give this dish it’s signature aromatic flavors.

Be warned however, this dish can be very very spicy.

1. Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiaw - Rice Noodle Soup

A plate of Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiaw, lot’s of veggies and stewed meats here.

This dish contains some strange ingredients even for Thai food, stamens of dried red cotton tree flour and perhaps even star anise.

Khanom Jeen Nam Ngiaw is a soup noodle with dark red broth with braised pork or beef. There are plenty of vegetables like cabbage, bean sprouts, and pickled mustard greens as well.

All of these soups and toppings are served with a thin sticky rice noodle, the Khanom Jeen itself.

Full of flavors and tons of different textures this dish is a very satisfying one for those who want to tr something a bit different from the normal Thai food you see day to day.

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