Thai street food is one of the world’s most celebrated culinary experiences, offering an explosion of flavors that are both complex and comforting. Whether you’re strolling through the bustling markets of Bangkok or exploring the night bazaars of Chiang Mai, Thai street food is as diverse as it is delicious. From spicy soups to savory snacks, these foods showcase the vibrant culture and deep culinary heritage of Thailand.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 must-try Thai street foods and their recipes, highlighting the essential dishes that every food lover should sample. We’ll also include helpful tips for preparing them at home, and the nutritional facts to give you a better idea of what you’re indulging in. So, let’s dive in and start your culinary journey through the streets of Thailand!
1. Pad Thai
One of the most iconic Thai dishes, Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish that perfectly balances sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors. It’s typically made with rice noodles, eggs, tofu or shrimp, peanuts, bean sprouts, and a tamarind-based sauce. Served with lime wedges and fresh cilantro, this dish is a quintessential example of Thai street food.
Recipe for Pad Thai:
- Ingredients: Rice noodles, shrimp or tofu, garlic, egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, lime, tamarind paste, fish sauce, sugar.
- Cooking Method: Stir-fry noodles and protein of choice with garlic, adding the sauce ingredients as the noodles cook. Top with peanuts and fresh herbs.
- Servings: 3-4 people
- Nutrition: Around 400-500 calories per serving, depending on the protein used.
2. Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)
A refreshing, spicy, and tangy dish, Som Tum is a green papaya salad that packs a punch. Made with shredded green papaya, tomatoes, peanuts, chilies, and a sauce of fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar, it’s a perfect balance of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy.
Recipe for Som Tum:
- Ingredients: Green papaya, tomatoes, peanuts, chilies, garlic, fish sauce, lime, palm sugar.
- Cooking Method: Using a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic, chilies, and sugar together. Add the papaya and other ingredients, tossing to coat.
- Servings: 4 people
- Nutrition: Approximately 150-200 calories per serving, with high fiber content.
3. Satay Skewers
Grilled Satay skewers are a street food favorite in Thailand, typically made with chicken or pork marinated in turmeric and coconut milk. The skewers are grilled to perfection and served with a creamy peanut sauce.
Recipe for Satay Skewers:
- Ingredients: Chicken or pork, coconut milk, turmeric, garlic, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice.
- Cooking Method: Marinate the meat, skewer it, then grill. Serve with peanut sauce on the side.
- Servings: 3-4 people
- Nutrition: Roughly 250-300 calories for 3 skewers, rich in protein.
4. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
Tom Yum Goong is a fragrant and spicy shrimp soup that’s bursting with flavor. The soup is made with shrimp, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, chilies, and fish sauce, offering a balance of heat, tang, and umami.
Recipe for Tom Yum Goong:
- Ingredients: Shrimp, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, mushrooms, chilies, fish sauce, lime juice.
- Cooking Method: Simmer the herbs in water to create a flavorful broth, then add shrimp and other ingredients.
- Servings: 4 people
- Nutrition: Around 150-200 calories per serving, packed with protein and antioxidants from herbs.
5. Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice)
Khao Pad is Thai fried rice, often served as a quick meal or snack. It’s made with jasmine rice, a protein of choice (such as shrimp, chicken, or pork), and seasoned with fish sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice. It’s simple, satisfying, and full of flavor.
Recipe for Khao Pad:
- Ingredients: Jasmine rice, eggs, protein of choice, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime.
- Cooking Method: Stir-fry the rice with protein and eggs, seasoning with fish sauce and soy sauce.
- Servings: 2-3 people
- Nutrition: Approximately 350-450 calories per serving, offering a good balance of protein and carbs.
6. Mango Sticky Rice
For dessert, Mango Sticky Rice is a must-try. This dish consists of sticky rice served with sweetened coconut milk and topped with ripe mango slices. It’s a perfect blend of textures and flavors—creamy, sweet, and satisfying.
Recipe for Mango Sticky Rice:
- Ingredients: Sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar, ripe mangoes.
- Cooking Method: Cook the sticky rice, mix it with sweetened coconut milk, and serve with fresh mango.
- Servings: 4 people
- Nutrition: Roughly 200-250 calories per serving, mostly from carbs and healthy fats.
7. Guay Teow (Thai Noodle Soup)
Guay Teow is a comforting noodle soup served on the streets of Thailand. It’s made with thin rice noodles, a savory broth, and your choice of protein (usually beef, pork, or chicken), garnished with cilantro and lime.
Recipe for Guay Teow:
- Ingredients: Rice noodles, broth, beef/pork/chicken, cilantro, lime, fish sauce.
- Cooking Method: Prepare a broth, cook noodles, and add protein. Serve with fresh herbs and lime.
- Servings: 3-4 people
- Nutrition: Approximately 250-350 calories per serving, depending on protein choice.
8. Khanom Krok (Coconut Pancakes)
These small coconut pancakes, or Khanom Krok, are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Made with a rice flour batter, they’re cooked in a special pan and served with a variety of toppings like green onions or corn.
Recipe for Khanom Krok:
- Ingredients: Rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, green onions.
- Cooking Method: Pour the batter into a special pan and cook until golden brown, adding toppings as desired.
- Servings: 4 people
- Nutrition: About 150-200 calories per serving, depending on the toppings.
9. Pla Pao (Grilled Fish)
Pla Pao is a whole fish grilled with aromatic herbs and served with a spicy dipping sauce. The fish is typically stuffed with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and garlic before being wrapped in salt and grilled to perfection.
Recipe for Pla Pao:
- Ingredients: Whole fish, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, salt, chili paste.
- Cooking Method: Stuff the fish with herbs, salt-crust it, and grill until cooked through. Serve with a dipping sauce.
- Servings: 4 people
- Nutrition: Approximately 250-350 calories per serving, high in protein and omega-3s.
10. Roti (Thai Pancakes)
A popular street snack, Roti is a thin, crispy pancake filled with a variety of sweet fillings like condensed milk, banana, or chocolate. It’s fried to perfection, creating a crispy exterior with a gooey, sweet center.
Recipe for Roti:
- Ingredients: Flour, eggs, condensed milk, bananas, sugar, chocolate.
- Cooking Method: Roll out the dough, cook it on a flat griddle, and fill with your desired toppings.
- Servings: 2-3 people
- Nutrition: Roughly 200-300 calories per serving, mainly from sugar and carbs.
