Some Thai dishes are well-known to foreign visitors, but there are other regional specialities that don't always get the recognition they perhaps deserve. One such dish is khao soi which is synonymous with northern Thailand and particularly Chiang … [Read more...]

Kuay jab noodle soup isn’t as widely available as many other noodle dishes such as Phat Thai, but is worth trying if you haven’t done so before. It makes for a satisfying meal at any time of the day, but especially for breakfast served with a glass … [Read more...]

Thai fish cakes, known as thod mun pla, are a tasty treat which are popular with locals as well as tourists. Prices can vary greatly depending on whether you are buying the fish cakes as a quick snack from a Thai street hawker or as an appetizer in … [Read more...]

A few months ago I asked readers on the Thaizer Facebook page whether they liked Singha Beer. Plenty of people responded to say they did like Singha, but what surprised me was the number of readers who said they preferred Chang Beer.The rise in … [Read more...]

It might look peculiar, but the hairy red exterior of the rambutan hides a succulent, sweet fruit which is rich in vitamin C. Known in Thai as ngaw, the taste of the rambutan is sometimes compared to grapes with the flesh of the fruit translucent … [Read more...]

Most Thailand guide books will tell you that the national dish is phat thai, kaeng kiao wan or tom yam kung. And whilst that may be true, if you ask just about any Thai person they will tell you there is another candidate that makes a good case for … [Read more...]

In season from July to October, longans (known in Thai as lam yai) are a popular fruit in Thailand, particularly the north of the country with Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces both renowned for their lam yai crops. So much so, that Lamphun has become … [Read more...]

There are a number of variations of salad in Thailand with ingredients and preparation varying greatly depending on the individual chef, restaurant or hawker stall. A Thai salad is often given the name yam or yum, but there are regional variations … [Read more...]

Although fresh spring rolls are more commonly associated with Vietnam or China, they do feature as appetizers in a number of restaurants in Thailand. Fresh spring rolls (known as paw pia sot in Thai) can be found at some hawker stalls and many … [Read more...]

Khao phat is a simple one-plate dish which is ideal for those who don't enjoy some of the spicier Thai food, but it's also a dish commonly eaten by Thai people too so there's no need to think you are not being adventurous by ordering it. The word … [Read more...]

Pad krapao gai is an extremely popular one-plate dish served at many roadside stalls and restaurants throughout Thailand. The main ingredient is usually chicken (gai), but pork (moo) or shrimps (kung) are also common alternatives to chicken. Using … [Read more...]

Arguably Thailand’s most famous dish, tom yam kung (also written as tom yum goong/gung) has a reputation for being universally loved by Thais as well as overseas visitors to Thailand. The classic spicy shrimp soup can vary in terms of spiciness and … [Read more...]

The title of this Thai cookery book caused a bit of a stir online earlier this year when it was awarded a prize for the 'Oddest Book Title of the Year'. The author of the book, Saiyuud Diwong, is a Thai chef whose nickname in her native language … [Read more...]

Available year-round in Thailand, coconuts (maphrao) are a versatile fruit and are used in a number of different ways. On the street, you’ll see young coconuts being sold by vendors and at hawker stalls. The vendor will chop off the top for you … [Read more...]

In Thailand, food is never far away although some overseas visitors are reluctant to eat street food or buy from hawker stalls because of concerns that the food may be unhygienic. That’s a bit of a shame, but at the same time I remember it was … [Read more...]

Like many people around the world, some Thai people are partial to a beer or two. But unlike most other countries that I’ve visited, in Thailand the beer will often be accompanied by ice (in Thai, ice is 'nam keng'). For visitors from a different … [Read more...]

This particular cocktail is made with Mekhong Thai spirit, but if you want to try your hand at making it and don’t have Mekhong to hand you can always experiment with other spirits like gin, bourbon or rum. The recipe in the picture is slightly … [Read more...]

This simple and tasty dish has been voted as one of the most popular Thai dishes for foreign visitors to eat when visiting Thailand. As with a number of Thai dishes, there are regional variations in the way the food is prepared. The Thai word for … [Read more...]

This particular curry is richer and creamier than most other Thai curries so if you find some Thai food to be too spicy, try a panang curry which is still savoury and tasty but without the kick found in other Thai dishes. The name of the curry is … [Read more...]

The world-famous brand, Red Bull, can trace its origins back to the time when it was simply a pick-me-up tonic for Thai workers. Red Bull, or Krating Daeng in Thai, was invented by Thai businessman Chaleo Yoovidhya in 1981. The caffeine-rich drink … [Read more...]

In parts of south-east Asia the durian fruit is held in such high esteem that locals may refer to it as the ‘king of fruits’. There are many different types of durian, with popular Thai varieties including mong thong (golden pillow), gan yao (long … [Read more...]

The first time I tasted these little savoury snacks was a revelation and they have rapidly become a personal favourite of mine. They aren’t served everywhere, but if you find a Thai restaurant that does dim-sum type dishes, kuay thiao lord are likely … [Read more...]

Thai coffee might not be as famous as some other international blends, but there is still some excellent coffee to be found in Thailand. Some of the best Thai coffee is grown locally in the mountain provinces of the north and sold throughout Thailand … [Read more...]

One of Thailand’s signature dishes, the Thai Green Curry, has also become one of the country’s most famous culinary exports. With the spread of Thai cuisine throughout the world, people who have never set foot in Thailand may well have tasted a Thai … [Read more...]

In Thailand, if you sit in one place long enough you will see all types of food vendors and hawkers pushing their carts and selling their food. One of my personal favourites are the ice cream vendors who are always a welcome sight on a hot day or … [Read more...]

Phat Thai, which can also be written in a number of different ways (including pad Thai or phad Thai), is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes. In Thailand it is usually eaten alone as a one-dish meal rather than with rice or any other food. Some … [Read more...]

It is true to say that Thailand is better known for its food rather than its beer, but there are a number of locally produced beers that visitors might enjoy during their trip to Thailand. One of these is Singha beer which is often marketed as being … [Read more...]

The simple and classic dish of khao man kai is one of my personal favourites. Usually eaten in the morning or at lunchtime, khao man kai is a dish of Hainanese origin that has established itself as an all-time Thai classic.The chicken is boiled … [Read more...]

These deep-fried dough sticks are popular at breakfast time and are particularly good taken with coffee. For foreign visitors who can't get used to the idea of eating soup or noodles for breakfast, look out for the pa thong koh stalls which often set … [Read more...]

Also written as 'khanom jiip', these delicious treats originate from China (where they are known known as 'siu mai'). If you find that some Thai food is just too spicy for you, try some of the Chinese-style dishes such as khanom jeeb or salapao which … [Read more...]

White steamed buns called 'salapao' are a popular snack in Thailand. They are sold at hawker stalls and roadside eateries as well as Chinese restaurants. Fillings for the buns can be savoury or sweet. Savoury salapao usually consist of barbecued or … [Read more...]