Making Thaim for Thai Cuisine

Traveling to Thailand with Under30Experiences taught me that Thai food is about more than just Pad Thai. I still ordered my favorite stir-fried rice noodles at every opportunity on our trip, but I also gained an appreciation for the distinctive dishes and cuisines of central, northern, and southern Thailand. The complex flavors, spices, and aromatics of the food in Thailand make this Southeast Asian country a must-visit bucket-list destination for any foodie worth their salt. Plus, Thai restaurants and dining out in Thailand are relatively inexpensive compared to the United States!

Culinary Gems, National Dishes, Thai Curries, and More...

Read on to find out my top picks for what regional dishes to eat while you're in Thailand.  

Central Thailand: Thai Cuisine in Bangkok, Thailand

Our trip began in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. After exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, our tour guide, “M”, took our group for lunch at Lung Lek Boat Noodle, an open-air stall serving Kuai Tiao Ruea, or boat noodles. The name of these noodles comes from vendors who originally prepared and served them out of small boats along Bangkok’s canals. 

Pig’s blood or cow’s blood traditionally enriches and thickens the broth, but we were given a choice between pork, beef, and vegetarian broth to accommodate any dietary restrictions. As for noodles, we had a choice between thin rice noodles, wide rice noodles, and egg noodles. I chose beef broth with egg noodles. As the final touch, I topped my bowl with sweet basil and beansprouts. Some other group members turned up the heat by adding a pinch of chili flakes or chili sauce.

On our last night in Bangkok, “M” brought our group to Pratu Chai Night Market to fuel up before boarding an overnight train. We knew we were in for an authentic eating experience because this night market was buzzing with locals, not tourists. I bought crispy fried chicken made on the spot at one of the many food stalls lining the street. It was a cheap and filling dinner for 35 Thai Baht (THB), or about 1.00 USD, per piece. I sprinkled on a scoop of fried shallots for added crunch. I also picked up a large cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice that was sweet and satisfying. 

Northern Thailand: Thai food in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Our group slept in open bunk compartments on the 12-hour overnight train ride to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand. Upon arriving in the morning, we revived our energy with a big breakfast at Siri Chai, a restaurant specializing in Khao Soi. This noodle soup has Chinese-Muslim origins and features a rich curry soup base, creamy coconut milk, and crispy egg noodles. It is often served with chicken or beef. Our chicken Khao Soi came in steaming hot bowls and was served alongside cold shallots and pickled greens. It was an affordable taste of northern Thailand's traditional fare at a cost of 50 THB, or about 1.38 USD, per bowl. We also filled up on plates of fried chicken and steamed chicken served over steamed rice, which cost 50 THB per plate. 

During our afternoon of free time, another group member and I stopped for a leisurely lunch at See You Soon, a colorful café, boutique hotel, and souvenir shop located in the old city district of Chiang Mai. We ordered Pad See Ew, a stir-fried rice noodle dish made with light and dark soy sauce, vegetables, egg, and a choice of protein. Ours included both chicken and shrimp for 250 THB, or about 6.93 USD. We also tried a Thai take on Eggs Benedict, which consisted of a croissant, a poached egg, avocado slices, and lemon yogurt for 195 THB, or about 5.41 USD. For drinks, we were delighted to discover that our mango banana lassi and mango tequila sunrise came in cups adorned with fresh half-mangos. This space is also home to Stoner CNX, a cannabis dispensary with an extensive menu setting out potency, flavors, effects, and common uses for each strain it sells.

After seeing a striking sunset at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a mountaintop Buddhist temple, “M” took our group to Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market for street food and souvenirs. One of the most popular stalls was selling gyoza, a type of Chinese dumpling. I ordered chicken and vegetarian gyoza. I took my place in line and watched as the vendor pan-fried a seemingly endless stream of gyoza for local customers and tourists alike. Chicken, pork, and vegetarian gyoza cost 50 THB, or about 1.38 USD, for five pieces. Shrimp gyoza costs 80 THB, or about 2.21 USD, for five pieces. These budget-friendly bites packed a punch and were worth the wait.

As one of our optional activities in Chiang Mai, our Trip Leader assisted us with a culinary adventure by booking a cooking class at Mama Noi Thai Cookery School. Our session started with a trip to a local market to taste essential Thai ingredients. We then walked through Mama Noi’s organic, eco-friendly garden to gather fresh herbs and vegetables for the recipes we were whipping up. I even had the chance to feed long beans to one of the tortoises that lived next to Mama Noi’s garden. Once we had all our ingredients ready, a local chef taught us how to prepare three Thai courses of our choice. I chose Khao Soi and Pad Thai, along with a dish I had yet to try called Tom Kha Gai, or chicken coconut soup. It has a creamy texture from coconut milk and a sour tang from kaffir lime. We ended the evening by learning to make khao niao mamuang, or mango sticky rice. Under the guidance of our local chef, we used butterfly pea flowers from Mama Noi’s garden to dye the sticky rice a brilliant blue color. We cooked the sticky rice with coconut milk and paired it with freshly sliced mango to create this classic Thai dessert.

On our last night in Chiang Mai, our group wandered through Anusarn Market, a night bazaar with food stalls, artisans, and live music. One group member and I were drawn to stir-fried ice cream, or rolled ice cream, a frozen dessert that originated in Thailand. We watched the vendor pour a milk, cream, and sugar base onto a freezing-cold stainless-steel pan chilled by a refrigeration unit. He used two metal spatulas to chop up and mix in additional ingredients like fruit, cookies, and chocolate. He facilitated a light, airy texture by continuously stirring this mixture as it cooled. The result was a semisolid ice cream, which he spread thinly over the surface of the pan and rolled into five spirals. He transferred each spiral into a cup and added any desired toppings. I selected a cookie and cream base with mixed Lotus Biscoff cookies, while my friend opted for matcha with strawberries. Our treats were topped with a drizzle of condensed milk.

Southern Thailand: Where to Eat in Krabi, Thailand

For the last portion of our trip, our group took a two-hour flight to Krabi, a beach town in Southern Thailand near the Andaman coast. From there, we took a long-tailed boat to a small peninsula called Railay Beach. It is only accessible by boat because high limestone karsts jut up from the sea and cut off mainland access. Although this area is breathtakingly beautiful, it is too touristy for travelers to enjoy authentic southern Thai food. The main street running inland from the beach is lined with cafes and bars catering to tourists, offering everything from mushroom shakes to margarita pizza. We waited out an afternoon thunderstorm at Jen Bar, a Rastafarian-style bar with live music on the first level and floor-cushion seating on the second. I ordered a tall glass of Thai tea, a Thai drink made from Ceylon black tea. It was sweetened with sugar and condensed milk and served over ice. 

On our last full day at Railay Beach, our group spent the morning rock-climbing up limestone crags and exploring nearby caves. The peak of our adventure was rappelling out of the mouth of a cave from a jaw-dropping viewpoint. Once we were safely on the ground again, another group member and I went to D’Oasis Café, a coffee shop next to the rock-climbing school. We ordered Thai dishes of shrimp bites, banana coconut samosas, crispy chicken, vegetarian spring rolls, a fresh young coconut, and a mango passionfruit smoothie. Exhausted and covered in mud but proud of our first-time climb, we downed our deep-fried appetizers and tropical drinks while gazing out at the long-tail boats near the floating pier. It was perhaps the most perfect moment of our trip. 

Want to taste all that Thailand has to offer? Check out Under30Experiences trip for people ages 21-35!