Thailand is famous for many things – bustling cities, bright blue waters, and fresh, delicious produce. This product is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for its sterling culinary highlights. Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city, is celebrated for its fresh flavours. Everything from gourmet food to fast food and street food in Bangkok is delicious!
Are you heading there soon? If so, take a look at our list of the best food in Bangkok. Be sure to carve some time out in your travels for sampling all of the delights this vibrant city has to offer.
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Mango Sticky Rice
Who says dessert can’t come first? If you have a sweet tooth, mango sticky rice is the perfect dish for you. Yes, it’s sweet – but not overbearingly so. This dish consists of coconut milk that has slowly been mixed with sugar and a bit of salt to cut through the sweetness. Once it’s been simmered to perfection, this sauce is then poured over some freshly prepared sticky rice. When this settles and becomes firm to the touch, ripe, peeled mango slices are placed on top. It’s a delicious, tropical dessert that you won’t soon forget.
Green Papaya Salad
Also known as som tum, green papaya salad is a staple in Thai cuisine and is perhaps the most famous food in Bangkok. While it’s a strong mix of flavours, it’s not at all overbearing, so it’s the perfect dish for even the pickiest eaters in your travel group. Som Tum is made from a mixture of fresh green papaya, chillies, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, and sticky rice. Once this base has been created, the salad is then dressed with a delectable mix of garlic, tamarind juice, lime juice, fish sauce, and a bit of sugar. The result? A salad that is zesty, fresh, light, and tasty. However, it can be a bit on the spicy side, so if you prefer something a bit tamer, be sure to ask them for a bit less spice.
Pad Thai
If you’ve grabbed a Thai takeout, you’ve probably had your fair share of pad thai. It’s one of those dishes available at almost every Asian fusion restaurant around the world. But of course, no matter how good your local Thai eatery may be, nothing will ever come close to the real thing. No one can cook pad thai quite like the people of Thailand! As a fairly popular food in Bangkok, traditional pad thai is made with thin rice noodles that have been stir-fried with tofu, seafood or meat (or even both!). To this rice noodle mixture, beansprouts, eggs and peanuts are added before a sauce of tamarind paste, sugar, fish sauce and chillies is mixed in.
Spicy Shrimp Soup
Also known as tom yum goong, spicy shrimp soup is a cornerstone of Thai cuisine. If you’re travelling through Thailand, you simply cannot leave before trying some of the country’s most famous dish. A warm, hearty combination of lime leaves, lemongrass, chillies, galangal ginger and shrimp cooked together in a flavourful broth, several different variations of this dish exist – and each one of them is absolutely delicious!
Pork Noodle Soup
Pork is one of the most commonly consumed meats in Thailand, so it comes as no surprise that kuay teow reua, or pork noodle soup, features on our list of the best food in Bangkok. The broth created in this dish is traditionally infused with garlic and chillies, but there are several variations of this dish. Like many other Thai dishes, this one can also be customised to your preferences. Interestingly, kuay teow reua is also often referred to as “boat noodles” owing to the fact that this dish was commonly served on boats.
Beef Noodle Soup
If you’re not a fan of pork, or if you just love noodle soup and would like to try it with another meet, beef noodle soup in Thailand is also a must-try. The meat is so tender that it falls apart! Served in broth with a bed of rice noodles, this delicious meal is also known as kuay teow neua. The beef adds a very different flavour than the pork, but is equally delicious, so be sure to get your hands on a big, hot bowl of this flavourful soup.
Massaman Curry
Thai curries are delicious and flavourful, but for many, there is only a choice between green or red curry when ordering out. Once you land in Bangkok, however, you’ll be opened up to a whole new world of culinary delights. One such delight is massaman curry, or kaeng mus sa mun, as it’s locally known. This curry is made from a delicious combination of tender meat, prawns or tofu that have been cooked together with a blend of onions, potatoes and coconut milk. Just like with other curries, your massaman is best served with a side of fluffy rice.
Stir-Fried Meat And Basil
Also known as pad ka prao, this is a go-to if you’re looking for food in Bangkok. The key ingredient in this dish is basil, which really helps to elevate the flavours. Ground meat, usually pork, is stir-fried with the basil, along with plenty of chillies and garlic. Once ready to be plated, the dish is served up hot with rice and a fried egg.
Sweet Toast
Known by the locals as kanom pang ping wan, sweet toast is perfect for anyone looking for a sugary delight. Most commonly available from street vendors, sweet toast is made from buttered bread that has been lightly toasted. It’s then topped off with all manner of deliciousness, including creams, custards and fruit. Most vendors let you choose your own toppings too, so you can fully customise your sweet toast according to your preferences.
Slow-Cooked Pork
Also known as khao kha mood or pork trotters rice, this dish consists of the most tender slow-cooked pork leg you can imagine. The meat is boiled very slowly in a mixture of cinnamon and soy sauce. Once the stew is ready, it’s served with rice and steamed vegetables or boiled eggs. It’s just as flavourful as you can imagine – no wonder it’s one of Thailand’s favourite dishes!
Hungry? Now you know about the best food in Bangkok maybe it’s time to plan a visit!
Sources
https://www.thespruceeats.com/mango-sticky-rice-dessert-3217361
https://www.klook.com/en-MY/blog/best-local-food-bangkok/
Penny is a sought-after wedding and party planner, known primarily for her exquisite culinary knowledge, sharp palette and inventive pairings of wine and drink.
She has traveled the world hunting for the best food and drink to share with her clients on their special day.