Food in Thailand

With such an array of wierd and wonderful food in Thailand, there are plenty of options to tickle your taste buds; from deep fried scorpions on Khao San road in Bangkok, to traditional and distinct dishes in Chiang Mai and mouth-watering banana pancakes served on idyllic island beaches.

Why not get a real taste of food in Thailand during your Thailand holiday? You can build your own Thailand trip using our bite-sized Thailand tours. Whether you want an active Thailand adventure or something a little more relaxed, you can set the pace of your trip.

If you need a little inspiration, take a look at our suggested Thailand holidays.

Food in Thailand: Vibrant Rice Paddies

Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice, and it is the staple part of a Thai diet. Rice is by no means just a food source in Thai culture, but is also associated with particular gods and traditions, differing in certain regions. It is unacceptable in Thailand to leave rice on your plate to be thrown away, as it is widely believed that it will anger the ‘god of rice’ a female deity who ensures that everyone will have enough food to survive upon.

During your holiday in Thailand, you're likely to come across the lush, green rolling rice paddies in Thailand's countryside. For instance, during a northern Thailand experience.

Food in Thailand: Thai Food Culture

The interest in Thai food culture has increased worldwide and is now a popular cuisine to eat in the Western world, with dishes such as Thai green curry and fried rice and noodles populating many menus. However, as many travellers to Thailand will be able to vouch for, the native Thai food will taste very different to recipes adapted for Western palates, where the presence of Chilli is often pared down and restaurants often divide their menus into starters, mains and desserts, which is uncommon in Thailand.

Eating out in Thailand is often a social affair as dining alone is considered to be bad luck. Individuals will usually order one dish each and will share the meals between then group. It is considered a mark of respect and sophistication when an individual listens carefully to the orders of others around him and chooses a dish to complement his companion’s choices. A typical Thai dining experience will include four different flavours all consumed together, salty, spicy, sweet and sour.

Food in Thailand: Culture and Customs

A common ritual in Thailand is to remove shoes before entering a restaurant or house, and to sit cross-legged on the floor to enjoy a meal. Dining tables are mostly used by the very wealthy and are even then close to the floor and usually made from teak.

Contrary to popular Western beliefs, most Thai’s do not use chopsticks to eat (apart from noodles) but favour spoons and often only use forks to shovel food onto the spoon, rarely placing it into their mouth. Many Thai recipes are created using bite-sized portions of food so the need for knives is exempt.

Once a meal has been eaten, it is likely that the person deemed most wealthy or senior in the group to pay the bill. If a foreign person is dining with a group it is often considered to be them, so remember this if you are invited to a meal out whilst on your Thailand trip.

Food in Thailand: Street Cuisine

Snacking in Thailand is a cultural norm, with street stalls offering a variety of choices, from chicken and beef satay, to spring rolls, and sticky rice. Most people will have heard of the slightly unusual delicacies which are usually served in Thailand’s bustling streets and markets, especially on Kho San road in Bangkok. If you've got an adventurous taste for unusual food in Thailand, keep an eye out for the deep fried creepy crawlies such as scorpions, beetles, grasshoppers and a variety of other critters. If the thought of eating insects leaves you more queasy than ravenous, there are plenty of other delicious options available from street vendors, such as rice porridge with meatballs and ginger, Pad Thai- fried noodles with diced shrimp and tofu, or Som Tam- spicy salad with shredded papaya.

Please note: Not all street vendors are great, to avoid getting sick on your Thailand holiday, keep an eye on the cleanliness of the vendor themself and the area around them and try to eat food that has been prepared freshly in front of you.

Food in Thailand: Cooking the Thai Way

For a real taste of local food in Thailand, why not opt for a traditional Thai cooking lesson during your Thailand holiday? During one of our northern Chiang Mai day tours, you can head to the home of our local Thai cook. Here you can choose the dish you'd like to prepare and head to the local market to pick up your list of fresh ingredients. You'll learn all about the traditional herbs and spices used in authentic Thai cuisine before getting the chance to whip up your own home-made food in Thailand.

After cooking and polishing off your delicious Thai meal, you'll receive a recipe book so you can brush up your Thailand culinary skills at home.