So you feel like a culinary adventure...
There are many delicious dishes to be tried on the side of the road. I am not just talking about street carts, but also the small shops that provide cheap tasty food of all kinds. Some places have menus with pictures; in Lat Krabang some places have English on their menus. Here is a selection of some of the most common types of street food. Some shops will serve most, or all, of these; others only serve a certain range. Usually, the only drink available at street stands is water.
Meat (and Veg)
Just to help you customise a little, these are the different meats available, in Thai. Because Thai is a tonal language you should also pitch your voice as instructed to get it just right (I know, you weren't expecting a language lesson right? Don't sweat it!) You can add one of the meat words in place of --- in the lists below. If you want to ask about vegetarian food say mii ahaan mang sawi rat mai? But be warned, the range will likely be lacking.
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Noodles
There are a vast number of different types of noodle recipe in Thailand, from a range of different soups
Guai Dtiao (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว) |
Noodle Soup (Various Forms) |
There are many different types of guai dtiao, but they all come under the heading of "noodle soup". The main one available around Lat Krabang is guai dtiao reua which has quite a strong soup. Some tiny street stalls serve guai dtiao luk chin (with meat balls) or ba mii moo daeng (see below). Guai Dtiao is one of the most common street foods and every stall is slightly different.
There are 4 different common noodle types: 3 sizes of noodle (sen yai large, sen lek small and sen mii angel hair) and egg noodles (ba mii) |
Ba Mii Moo Daeng (บะหมี่หมูแดง)A particular kind of guai dtiao with egg noodles and red glazed pork. The clear soup and green vegetables make this (to me, at least) a good warming comfort food. Some places also serve ba mii giao which is the same but with pork wontons added.
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Egg noodle soup with pork |
Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) |
Stir Fried Noodles |
Often found in restaurants pad Thai has its heart on the street. Traditionally made with shrimp (even other kinds often come with small dried shrimp in) it is a stir fried noodle with a few vegetables and often crushed peanuts.
Kanom Jiin (ขนมจีน) |
Chinese Noodles |
Kanom Jiin are a rice noodle that is served as a light meal or snack with a variety of different sauces. The most popular is a rich red curry sauce but there are many different types.
Raat Naa (ราดหน้า) |
Noodle "Stew" |
Rice
The Thai word for rice is kaao (ข้าว) which is pronounced with a falling tone. Many of these dishes are available in ahaan dtaam sang (อาหารตามสั่ง) shops (literally, 'food to order') which can usually make all the basics. Others are only available in special shops.
Kaao Pat --- (ข้าวผัด---) |
--- Fried Rice |
Kaao Pad Ga Prao --- (ผัดกะเพรา) |
Thai Basil Stir Fried --- |
Kaao Moo Daeng (ข้าวหมูแดง) |
Red Pork on Rice |
Kaao Kaa Moo (ข้าวขาหมู) |
Pork Leg on Rice |
Kaao Pad Prik Gaeng (ผัดพริกแกง) |
Red Curry Stir Fry |
This is stir fried meat (usually chicken or pork) that has been seasoned with something like red curry paste and often beans and galangal leaves. It can be quite spicy and you can opt to have it with a fried egg (add kai dao). FUN FACT: Egg actually helps to soften spicy food, as does cucumber - another common side in Thailand.
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Spicy Salad
Som Dtam (ส้มตำ) |
Spicy Papaya Salad |
Som dtam is an iconic Thai dish; unripe papaya, grated and pounded with tomato, chili and other vegetables. It frequently includes dried shrimp and peanuts. It is also usually very spicy, with some Thais having up to 12 chilis in a single dish! Useful phrases include:
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Laab (ลาบ) |
Spicy Meat Salad |
Although it is mainly meat this is really still a salad at heart. Often eaten with kaao niao (sticky rice) laab is a mix of shallow fried meat, chopped raw shallots and mint and chili. Beware however, the shallots are very finely chopped and what looks like large pieces of onion may in fact be bits of tripe. It's not bad - but fair warning. For the really adventurous you might be able to find laab goi - which is the same, only made with raw pork. Bon appetit!
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Yam bplaa gra bpong (ยำปลากระปง) |
Tinned fish salad |