Food in Thailand - what to try. Food in Thailand - dishes that are definitely worth trying. Restaurants and cafes at reasonable prices

Many who fly to Southeast Asia for the first time, including Thailand, are concerned about the issue of nutrition. They worry that the food will be too spicy or too exotic to eat. The food in Thailand is really different from what we are used to, but there are also many delicious national dishes there, and European cuisine is always available to you if you wish.

In the article I will tell you what the most delicious dishes in Thailand are in my opinion, what I recommend you definitely try, how much the food costs and where to eat cheap and tasty.

Fried rice

English: Fried rice
Price: 60-100 baht

One of the most popular dishes in Thailand is fried rice, which can be served with seafood, chicken, pork or shrimp. It also includes fried eggs and vegetables. The dish is not spicy and pleasant to the taste. Most often I ordered fried rice in Thailand.

Fried noodles or Pad Thai

English: Pad Thai
Price: 60-100 baht

Another popular dish among tourists is fried noodles; like rice, they are served with chicken, shrimp, pork or seafood. Peanuts, eggs, onions and tofu are also added to the noodles. The noodles taste sweetish and not at all spicy.

Price: 80-120 baht

Tom Yam is a traditional Thai soup that is worth trying if you fly to Thailand. Just be sure to say “no spicy” when ordering, otherwise they will put a lot of red pepper in the soup and it will be very spicy. The first time I ordered this soup, I didn’t inform about it and the dish turned out to be so spicy that my whole mouth burned and the soup was impossible to eat.

Meat and fish kebabs

Price: 10-20 baht per 1 piece.

In street shops they often sell kebabs on sticks; they can be made from squid, pork, chicken and other things. Just 2-3 sticks of kebab and a plate of vegetables are enough, and there is no trace of hunger left. Tasty and cheap.

Spring rolls

English: Spring roll
Price: 70-100 baht

Thai cuisine has a large selection of spring rolls. They are thin spring rolls. I advise you to try different ones and choose your favorite ones.

Seafood

The Land of Smiles has a wide selection of seafood (shrimp, crabs, lobsters, oysters, fish) and is relatively inexpensive. So don't miss the opportunity to eat fresh.

Sweet rice with mango

English: Mango sticky rise

Price: 80-100 baht

Sweet mango rice is the most favorite dessert among Thais. Indeed, the delicacy is very tasty and inexpensive. If you decide to treat yourself to something delicious, order this dish.

English: Pancake
Price: 40-50 baht.

Thai pancakes are my favorite dessert. They can have different fillings: chocolate, banana, coconut, strawberry, etc. I recommend trying it.

Exotic fruits

Price: 50-70 baht

The best drinks in Thailand are freshly squeezed juices, served with or without ice. Prepared from different fruits. My favorite juice is watermelon with ice.

Food prices

The cult of food is thriving in Thailand and it is sold everywhere: on the streets, shops, shopping centers and, of course, in cafes and restaurants. And depending on where you buy your food, the prices will vary. Although in general food prices in Thailand are quite affordable. Dinner in a cafe will cost you 150-300 baht, in a restaurant twice as much. Therefore, if your hotel does not provide all-inclusive meals, do not be upset; you will not remain hungry, since food is cheap and is sold at every turn.

Cafe prices for food in Thailand:

Where to eat cheaply in Thailand?

Food in the cafe is inexpensive, so you can eat there for reasonable prices. Just give preference to a cafe where many Thais dine, rather than a couple of tourists. This means that the food there is cheap and tasty. Also, food prices in cafes located on the beaches are always much higher, so look for a cafe further away from the sea.

If you want to save money on food in Thailand, then I recommend coming to large stores such as Big C or Tesco Lotus. There are so-called Foot Courts where you can eat cheaply. I lived in Thailand for quite a long time and recently dined at Foot Court, as they have a wide range of dishes and prices are often lower than in street cafes. You will also notice that there are a lot of Thais dining there.

Street food (makashnitsy)

Buying food from street stalls is a very common thing in Thailand. A makashnitsa is a mobile kitchen with a stove or grill attached to a motorcycle, bicycle or car. It is in such a kitchen that food is prepared and sold.

Russian tourists are often wary of buying food in makashnitsa, as they think that it may be stale or prepared in poor conditions. But in fact, you shouldn’t be afraid to eat in makashnitsa; the quality of food there is strictly monitored, and the dish itself is prepared in front of the buyer. And food prices there are always low. Thais often buy food from shops and very rarely cook it at home.

1. Always carry wet wipes with you, because in street cafes it is not always possible to wash your hands.
2. Don’t go heavy on spicy or exotic foods right away, try a little of everything, let your body adapt.
3. In Thailand, portions are quite large, so it is better to order one dish first and if this is not enough for you, then order the next one. Otherwise, it may turn out that you will not be able to finish all the dishes that are brought to you.
4. Thailand is quite hot, so it is better to carry a bottle of water with you.
5. I recommend that you always say “no spicy” when ordering food, otherwise you may receive a dish that is so spicy that you won’t be able to eat it. This has happened to me more than once.
6. As for dried grasshoppers, scorpions and other insects, I have never seen Thais eat them. Most likely, this was made specifically for tourists. If you want, try it. I haven't tried this myself.

When traveling around Thailand on your own, you want to try many Thai dishes and choose the most suitable and tasty ones for yourself. There are usually no problems with food in Thailand - it is everywhere. And everywhere, in cafes or at grocery stores, the food is quite tasty. No one can do without a huge variety of food. Let's figure out what food is most popular in Thailand and what is worth trying.

Classic Thai food is very spicy. However, in tourist areas, Thais cook moderately spicy food. Tourists either adapt to this or remember the magic phrase “no spice” before making an order.

1. Gai Pad Met Mamuang – Thai chicken

Food in Thailand: Gai Pad Met Mamuang

Fried chicken pieces with crispy cashew nuts and pepper. It has a sweetish-salty taste. Usually this dish is not heavily peppered.

2. Spring Roll

Of course, Thai cuisine is unthinkable without spring rolls. Moreover, the menu will most likely say not “rolls”, but “roll” - Thais ignore endings. Spring Rolls are deep fried, crispy spring rolls that make a satisfying snack. Spring rolls are often classified as vegetarian food; the most popular option among tourists is with shrimp.

3. Panaeng

Food in Thailand: meat with coconut cream

Panaeng is made from chicken, pork or beef in red curry. To soften curry, people in Thailand like to add coconut milk to their food. Usually served with boiled rice.

4. Som Tam – Thai papaya salad

Food in Thailand: Spicy papaya salad

Spicy papaya salad is prepared with the addition of beans, tomatoes, onions and some herbs. Very good as an addition to grilling and other meat dishes.

5. Moo Sa-Te – kebabs

Food in Thailand: Pork sa-te

Spicy small pork skewers can be found everywhere in Thailand, served with yellow curry. They are especially good as a beer snack.

6. Tom Yam Goong – famous Thai Tom Yam soup with shrimp

The most advertised dish among Russian tourists. For some reason, it is believed that people in Thailand should immediately fall in love with Tom Yam and eat it every day. It's actually a VERY spicy, filling and weird food. From the entire plate, only shrimp are caught and the liquid is scooped out; everything else is not eaten. It can be so acute that it is impossible to breathe for several seconds. Therefore, it is better to start your acquaintance with Thai food not with Tom Yam, but with Pad Thai noodles.

7. Pad Thai - simple and delicious food in Thailand

Food in Thailand. Fried noodles

The most adequate food in thailand. Beginners should start with fried noodles. It is prepared from different types of noodles with the addition of chicken, pork, or seafood. Tofu, fried eggs, onions and chopped peanuts are also added to the dish.
Learn “phad thai kai” and you will never go hungry in Thailand :)

8. Khaw Pad Fried Rice

Fried rice is the most common food in Thailand. Prepared with chicken, pork, beef or seafood. Required ingredients: fried eggs and vegetables. Depending on the variety, rice comes in different colors - from white to brown.

9. Khao Soi soup

Pictured: Northern Thai noodles Khao Soi

A very popular dish in northern Thailand is Khao Soi. Two types of noodles (regular and crispy) with yellow curry and pieces of chicken or beef. The style of cooking depends greatly on the establishment. Goes great with beer :)

When, walking around Thailand for the first time, you see an endless variety of all kinds of Thai dishes and snacks, it seems that you have found yourself in gastronomic heaven. Still would! Food here, especially in tourist towns, is prepared and sold literally everywhere. Open street cafes and restaurants, fruit stands and carts with delicacies fill the streets with mouth-watering aromas.

It’s not surprising that your eyes widen when you think: what to try first? Observing many unfamiliar Thai dishes, strange combinations of products and incomprehensible food, some tourists have concerns, and some, on the contrary, are wildly interested.

Thais love to cook and treat their dishes creatively and with great responsibility. They happily show off their prepared creations, treating both locals and tourists, and thereby earning their income. There is no need to be afraid, because every restaurant and even every chef selling on the street uses the freshest products available here all year round and values ​​​​its reputation.

Som Tam - green papaya salad with shrimp.

Grilled salmon with spaghetti and broccoli.

Tom Ka Khai - chicken soup with coconut milk and tomatoes.

Fried seafood with vegetable salad.

Red curry with shrimp and jasmine rice.

Green curry with shrimp and jasmine rice.

Barbecue (mini kebabs) of seafood, meat, chicken and mushrooms.

Fried pork chop with mashed potatoes.

Potato salad with fried bacon in sweet sauce.

Giant boiled shrimp with vegetable salad.

BBQ mushroom balls with sweet and sour sauce.

Fried spring rolls with vegetables and spicy sauce.

Yam Sam Krop - salad of fried seafood and cashew nuts with vegetables, apple and herbs.

Rice noodles (funchoza) with seafood and vegetables.

Grilled chicken with spicy sweet and sour sauce.

Among the hot drinks in Thai restaurants and cafes you can find various types of tea, which is often served with separate cream, as well as some types of coffee.

Much more choice among soft drinks. These are freshly squeezed juices, spreads, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. You can often find Thai beer, rum or whiskey on the menu. Plain water with ice is also popular, sometimes served free of charge with very spicy dishes.

Tourists going on vacation to Thailand will be able not only to get acquainted with the peculiarities, cultural traditions, and sights of this amazingly beautiful country, but also enjoy national Thai cuisine. Food in Thailand is significantly different from European dishes and conveys the special local flavor of the Asian state.

Features of Thai cuisine

Tourists who decide to visit sunny Thailand need to be prepared for the fact that the food of this country may seem very specific to them. The distinctive features of Thai cuisine include the following:

• one of the main products used in many dishes is brown and white rice;
• Thai cuisine is hearty and the portions are large; the menu always includes meat, shrimp, crabs and other protein products;
• Thai chefs often experiment with the combination of seemingly incompatible products, while the finished exotic food turns out delicious; the menu of local cafes offers shrimp with natural honey, bitter melon with porridge and other dishes unusual for Russians;
• Almost all dishes served in Thailand combine five flavors: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, spicy;
• Thai chefs prepare food using a huge variety of seasonings; if you don’t tell the cook “no spicy” in advance, you can end up with a too spicy dish that, out of habit, will be impossible to eat;
• Thai residents practically do not eat bread and rarely serve it in restaurants; tourists can purchase baked goods in local supermarkets.

If the Asian menu, due to its specifics, is not to your taste, visiting tourists can always visit restaurants with Mexican, European, and Russian cuisine.

Where to eat in Thailand?

It is possible to have a snack or a hearty meal in Thailand at any time of the day. For tourists who decide to relax on the Thai islands or the mainland, there is a whole catering industry. There are several popular places where vacationers like to eat:

• Makashnitsy. This is the name of the mobile food stalls that travel along the tourist streets of Thailand. Street vendors offer to prepare various delicious dishes right in front of tourists (you can see how the makashniks work in advance on a video on the Internet). At first glance, this way of eating seems unsafe, but street food in Thailand usually meets sanitary standards. In addition, fresh, high-quality products are always used to prepare food in a mobile kitchen.
• Street cafes. In such establishments there are no frills, no expensive interior, most often there is cheap plastic furniture installed on the street. But at the same time, vacationers are always offered a varied menu (often with photos of dishes), delicious hearty meals at low prices.
• Restaurants. Tourists with an impressive budget will be able to visit Thai restaurants. Prices here are much higher than in street cafes, and the quality and taste of food is often inferior to inexpensive establishments.
• BBQ cafe. In such establishments, tourists are encouraged to prepare their own food. For a fee, cafe visitors will be given coals and a grill. Customers will be able to decide for themselves which foods to fry over an open fire.
• Food courts. This is the name of several cafes and restaurants located on the same square and located in large shopping centers. Upon entering the food court, visitors are given a card on which they must immediately put a certain amount of money (how much exactly is decided by the tourist himself). When ordering food in any of the establishments, the baht spent is debited from the card. If there are funds left on your balance after visiting the food court, you can get them in cash at the checkout.

Popular Thai dishes

Among the variety of Thai food, there are several of the most frequently ordered dishes that are most in demand among tourists and locals.

Panaeng. This is a meat dish made from chicken, beef or pork. Meat with added vegetables is stewed in red-yellow curry sauce and delicate coconut milk. Panaeng is usually served with boiled rice as a side dish.

Spring rolls. Thin pancakes made from different types of flour are fried in oil. They wrap meat, seafood, and vegetables; the buyer decides which filling to choose. Spring rolls can be served as an appetizer to increase your appetite, or as a complete meal on their own.

Pad Thai. Tender rice noodles fried with eggs are another traditional Thai dish. To enhance the taste, meat, seafood, soy sprouts, onions, ripe lime, and chopped nuts are added to Pad Thai noodles.

Khao Pad. Fried rice with carrots, onions, beans, meat, chicken or shrimp with the addition of a fried egg is somewhat reminiscent of the usual pilaf. But special seasonings make the dish much richer in taste.

Tom Ka. Creamy coconut milk-based soup with the addition of dried mushrooms, chicken or shrimp will win the heart of the discerning gourmet. Unlike most Thai dishes, Tom Ka has a mild rather than spicy taste.

Tom Yam. Spicy spicy soup based on meat or seafood will appeal to lovers of spicy dishes. Tom Yam contains ground ginger, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, lime, lemon, onions and a huge amount of hot red chili pepper.

Noodle soup. A pleasant-tasting soup in meat broth with soybean sprouts, meat balls, rice noodles and vegetables has an unusual sweetish taste. A distinctive feature of the dish is that the spices are served separately. Therefore, you can put as much seasoning as you need into the soup.

Som Tam. Vitamin salad with spicy papaya, fresh tomatoes, green beans, crushed peanuts and king prawns, dressed with lime juice and palm oil. This dish is not at all like the usual Russian salads. This spicy, sizzling salad is ideal for grilled meat.

Thai exotic

In addition to dishes of meat, rice, shrimp and other traditional products, Thai chefs offer their clients to try various insects. Crickets, worms, cicadas, beetles, scorpions, grasshoppers and other exotic foods that Pattaya, Phuket and other regions of the country are rich in are fried in vegetable oil in a frying pan or grill.

This specific dish is popular among local residents, but does not always receive positive reviews from visiting tourists. Whether or not to try an unusual protein dish is up to each person to decide for himself.

Fruits and drinks

In Thailand, you can try a wide variety of fresh fruits, which are sold either by weight or already washed, peeled, cut and placed in containers or bags. Juicy mango, exotic carambola, sweet papaya, lychee, durian, rambutan, mangosteen, guava and other fruits are sold in supermarkets, markets, and street stalls.

Tourists who come on holiday to sunny Thailand need to drink bottled water. Water flowing from the tap in hotel rooms can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and severe poisoning. When buying cocktails and draft carbonated drinks, it is best to refuse the ice cubes offered by local sellers. Most often, the same harmful tap water is used to make ice. In the cafe, vacationers can always order a cup of hot coffee, strong tea, refreshing lemonade, cola, or non-alcoholic fruit cocktail.

Alcohol in Thailand is presented in a huge range. These are mainly expensive imported drinks produced in other countries. Local liquor stores include beer, wine, and whiskey. Tourists can also try alcoholic cocktails served in chopped coconut or cut pineapple. Vacationers need to remember that it is possible to purchase alcohol during certain hours - from 11.00 to 14.00, and also from 17.00 to 24.00.

Price and payment methods

Food prices in Thailand are affordable. The Thais themselves practically do not cook at home, but prefer to eat inexpensive dishes in local cafes. An average serving in a cafe costs about 30-60 baht (1 Thai baht is approximately equal to 1.93 rubles). For 100-120 baht you can have a hearty and satisfying meal:

• the cost of classic scrambled eggs for breakfast is 20 baht;
• a regular sandwich can be purchased for 50-80 baht;
• a simple dish with makashnitsa costs from 20 baht;
• fruit slices - from 10 to 20 baht;
• small meat and fish kebabs are sold for 30 baht;
• hot dish (noodles, rice) - from 40 to 80 baht and above;
• price of spicy soup – 30-60 baht;
• a portion of fried insects costs 20 baht;
• fried pancakes with jam, chocolate spread, fruit fillings – 20-25 baht;
• bottle of clean fresh water – 10 baht
• a 0.3 liter can of local beer can be purchased for 55 baht;
• Stronger alcohol (small bottle) costs from 100 baht.

The most expensive food in Thailand is served in elite restaurants located near the sea coast. You can eat cheaper away from the beach and popular tourist routes. You can pay for the ordered dishes using a VISA bank card or national currency (baht). You won't be able to pay in Russian rubles in a cafe or bar. But you can exchange dollars, euros or rubles for baht at numerous exchange offices.

A traveler planning a holiday in Thailand can be sure that he will definitely not go hungry. In the hospitable eastern country, tourists will find a variety of dishes, local and European cuisine, delicious natural products, inexpensive prices, and a huge selection of catering establishments. You'll find food here that you'll love!

In Thailand, a cult of food is developed; they eat everything, everywhere, a lot and deliciously. Thai cuisine is very diverse, so everyone will find something to suit their taste. Trying new dishes in Thailand is one of the types of entertainment for tourists.

Where is the best place to eat in Thailand?

The love for Thai cuisine is growing day by day. This is due to the cultural and gastronomic traditions of the country. There are whole legends about the spiciness of food. , since some dishes cannot be tasted without preparation.

Food is often prepared right in front of customers. It's very interesting and appetizing. Thais love to cook and mainly use their skill and imagination rather than recipes. Each dish is almost unique. Particular attention is paid to its decoration.

There are a lot of restaurants and cafes. You can eat very well and relatively inexpensively there. This is the most cultural type of meal.

A distinctive feature of Thai service is quality and integrity. Therefore, you can eat without fear even at the market. For any money the food will be fresh and well prepared . You can satisfy your hunger around the clock anywhere in Thailand.

In the barbecue cafe you can cook for yourself, you just need to pay for using the stove and choose any food for yourself. This type of service is very popular among local residents.

The Thai market has a very large selection of all kinds of products. They are sold in stalls or cafe stalls with tables and chairs. There are night markets. The food is fresh and of good quality. There, shish kebab and other dishes are prepared right before your eyes.

Street food- This is a gastronomic feature of Thailand. Sold from special carts, trolleys, mobile kitchens. Called "makashnitsy". This is a kitchen moped with a sidecar. Prepared food is prepared on it and sold from it. Everything possible is being converted into kitchens - vans, boats.

Food hawkers sell various dishes on the beach.

In a word, you can eat anytime, anywhere. One gets the impression that all they do is eat.

Variety in food

Let's consider what food is worth trying in Thailand.

• Seafood

They cost the same as regular chicken or meat. Always fresh, extracted and supplied to restaurants and cafes around the clock.

Since Thailand is washed by seas on all sides, the seafood menu pleases with maximum variety. They are very tasty and healthy, but low in calories. This oysters, clams, squid, crabs, shrimp, octopus, lobsters, lobsters . In fish restaurants you can choose the fish you like right in the aquarium and the chef will get to work.

• Fruits

The harvest is harvested three times a year, so the fruit is very fresh and healthy. Juices and cocktails are also prepared from them.

• Rice

The following types of rice are consumed: sticky rice and fluffy rice "jasmine".

Local residents consider rice to be the main dish, and everything else is only an addition to it.

• Meat

Mainly poultry meat. Thais do not support the consumption of meat dishes from large animals.

• Coconut milk

Added to many dishes. They replace dairy products of animal origin.

• Spicy dishes with lots of seasonings.

• Exotic dishes

Insects, crocodile meat, snakes, and scorpions can surprise any traveler.

The history of Thai food is very ancient. It was influenced by countries such as India, China, Japan and Portugal. The inhabitants of this paradise maintain their traditions, which have developed over centuries. This is also reflected in gastronomic culture. Let's talk about the dishes that are consumed most often.

1. Green Papaya Salad Papaya Salad . Prepared with the addition of lime, coconut sugar, ginger, shrimp, fish, and peanuts.
2. Hot and sour ginger soup Tom Yam . Very spicy, served in a lighter version for tourists. Prepared with the addition of ginger, chili pepper, lemon grass, lemon zest, and shrimp paste. Can be boiled with chicken, mushrooms, rice noodles.
3. Pad Thai Fried Rice Noodles . Considered a daily dish for Thai people. Prepared with the addition of bean sprouts, fresh vegetables, soy cheese, lime juice, green onions.
   Another version of this dish adds eggs, chicken, shrimp or pork. Dressed with tamarind sauce. Even children can eat the dish, as it is not spicy. Spicy seasonings are added as desired.
4. Khao Pad Fried Rice you can try it anywhere. Chicken, tomatoes, onions or shrimp, small fish, vegetables, and raw eggs are added to it. And, of course, sauces and seasonings.
5. Rice flour pancakes Roti . With banana, pineapple, coconut filling for dessert, topped with cream or chocolate. Or stuffed with cheese, tomatoes and onions for main courses. There are a lot of options for preparing these delicacies.

• Try it crabs, crayfish, fish, shellfish, shrimp, lobsters . When you go on a tour with a Thai guide, ask him to show you a place where there are no tourists. Let him help you choose good products and dishes.
• In hotels in Thailand not a very popular service "All inclusive" . Mostly they offer breakfast in the form of a buffet. The rest is up to your taste and for extra money.
• Since the food is extremely spicy, if you do not like it, you need to warn about it in English ( NO SPICY- not hot). Although the concepts of Europeans and Thais "about the spicy" differ considerably. And the dish can still be heavily seasoned.
• For very spicy dishes, order a cup of rice or plain water with ice.
• Thais don't eat bread , it is sold in supermarkets. It is bought mainly only by tourists.
• For those who stubbornly refuse to try local dishes, there are European options. Such as scrambled eggs and bacon, fried chop with mashed potatoes, mushroom dishes.

You can be sure that you will not go hungry! With high quality and variety, prices remain affordable.