The Best Thai Dishes Food Lovers Should Try on a Trip

Must Try

Thailand is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, attracting numerous visitors from other countries. It boasts Buddhist temples, beautiful islands, beaches, and nightclubs. Thai dishes are renowned for their spiciness, variety, taste, and flavors, as they utilize herbs and other ingredients to create a distinctive culinary experience. Therefore, visitors should try the best Thai dishes on a trip to ensure a flavor-packed journey. Moreover, they can explore the taste of mouthwatering dishes that are sweet, sour, salty, and fragrant.

The best Thai dishes to taste on a trip

First-time visitors should try some of the best Thai dishes,which are purely magic. Furthermore, every meal has a story that will increase the desire to eat. From sizzling street food to fragrant curries, they let visitors enjoy the ultimate taste of dishes with others.

What are the best Thai dishes to try?

1. Guay Teow – The most popular street food dish in Thailand

Authentic Thai noodle soup with beef and scallions — among the best Thai dishes to enjoy for a comforting and flavorful meal.

Guay Teow is the most popular street food dish in Thailand, which can be found almost everywhere. What are the best Thai dishes to try on a trip? It describes any type of noodle soup that is made from chicken, beef, or pork and rice or noodles. Vegetables, mushrooms, cilantro, fish sauce, sugar, dried chili peppers, and lime juice are some condiments used for topping the dish to enhance the taste.

2. Khao Soi – A noodle soup to include in my favorite Thai dishes

A bowl of flavorful noodles with a piece of chicken, garnished with cilantro, served alongside a basket of crispy snacks, lime wedges, and pickled vegetables

Khao soi is a noodle soup that is listed in my favorite Thai dishes,which has a rich coconut curry base, boiled egg noodles, and other ingredients such as raw onion, mustard greens, shallots, lime, etc. The soup is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options for visitors,allowing them to find the taste difference.

3. Som Tom – One of the must-try Thai dishes

A plate of fresh, colorful papaya salad with red peppers, carrots, green beans, and peanuts, served with tomatoes and cabbage in the background

Som Tom is one of the must-try Thai dishes for first-time visitors,which comes in a variety of styles. On the other hand, the classic Som Tom dish consists of shredded green papaya, chillies, fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, dried shrimp, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, peanuts, tamarind pulp, and runner beans. The dish utilizes a mortar and pestle to mix ingredients together to amplify the flavors.

4. Massaman Curry – Listed as one of the best dishes in Thailand 

A bowl of Massaman Curry, a hearty Thai dish with beef, potatoes, carrots, and spices, garnished with cilantro and pumpkin seeds, served with a side of steamed white rice. One of the best dishes in Thailand

Massaman curry is one of the best dishes in Thailand to eat on a trip because it has the influence of Malaysian and Thai Muslim culture. It is a sweet curry that contains common local cuisine ingredients, with a mix of other ingredients. The most common Massaman curry is usually prepared with beef, but visitors can also try some other variants. Apart from that, the dish is accompanied by potatoes that absorb the curry like a sponge.

What is the most famous Thai dish to know?

First-time visitors should know what is the most famous Thai dish on a trip to experience the excellent taste.

Here are some dishes that are popular in Thailand.

1. Khao Pad – The Thai-style fried rice

A bowl of Khao Pad, a Thai shrimp fried rice dish, garnished with red chili, green onions, and sesame seeds, with a side of soy sauce

Visitors who tire of the spiciness of Thai dishes can try Khao Pad, which simply translates to “fried rice.” It is one of the best Thai dishes to try, and the meal is usually served with meat such as shrimp, chicken, crab, or beef together with egg and other ingredients. The dish uses cucumber slices and some other condiments to enhance the taste.

2. Laab (Larb) – A spicy meat salad made from various ingredients

A bowl of Laab, a spicy Thai minced meat salad, garnished with fresh red chilies, green onions, and sliced garlic, surrounded by chili peppers, tomatoes, and fresh herbs

Laab is an iconic dish of Thailand, which is made from ground meat and uses a lot of herbs such as mint, cilantro, green onions, mushrooms, coriander, shallots, fish sauce, lime juice, and toasted rice powder for crunch. The dish is also served with a lot of raw vegetables, such as cabbage, cucumber, long beans, etc., to reduce the spiciness.

3. Pad Thai – Thai-style stir-fried noodles

A plate of Pad Thai, a classic Thai stir-fried noodle dish with shrimp, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and cilantro, garnished with crushed peanuts and chili powder

Pad Thai makes the list of most famous Thai dishes, which literally refers to ‘Thai-style stir-fried noodles.’ It has a good combination of classic ingredients such as egg, peanuts, tofu, bean sprouts, etc. The dish involves soaking noodles before preparation and uses other ingredients like shallot, garlic, palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind paste. It is one of the best Thai dishes visitors should try on their trip. Pad Thai is available on almost every corner, where it serves as street food.

4. Tom Kha Gai – Coconut soup and chicken

A bowl of Tom Kha Gai, a Thai coconut soup with chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and red chili, garnished with fresh herbs and spices

Tom Kha Gai is in the list of the best Thai dishes visitors should try, which is excellent for those who don’t like too much spice. The key ingredients of this dish include galangal root, kaffir leaves, and lemongrass, which give a sour taste. It is the national dish from northern Thailand that bears the influence of neighboring Laos.

5. Rad Na – Thai-style Noodles in Gravy

A plate of Rad Na, a Thai stir-fried flat rice noodle dish with chicken, Chinese broccoli, and eggs, garnished with lime wedges

Rad Na is flat rice noodles and vegetables with thick gravy, which uses meat such as pork, chicken, or seafood. Visitors can put some additional fish sauce, sugar, and sliced chillies in white vinegar on the side when eating.

6. Yam Talay (spicy seafood salad)

A plate of Yam Talay, a Thai seafood salad with shrimp, squid, and vegetables, garnished with fresh herbs, lime wedges, and slices of tomato and onion

Yam Talay is a spicy seafood salad that has a lot of nutritional value for the body. It consists of shrimp, squid, crab, and juicy vegetables. The dish is perfect for a summer lunch or light dinner while making a trip to Thailand. It is even mixed with herbs, chili, fish sauce, and lime juice to ensure good taste.

Conclusion

Thailand is a perfect destination for spending the holidays and enjoying a honeymoon with loved ones. It is also famous for spicy desserts, soups, and dishes that cater to the needs of food lovers. However, anyone who wants to discover the tastes of foods should try some of the best Thai dishes because they come in different varieties. They are very tasty, spicy, and offer nutritional benefits. Some Thai dishes have an influence of regional flavors that are available in streets and restaurants. Traditional soups and noodles with a combination of meat and other condiments are some dishes to try in Thailand on a trip to experience the best taste.

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Catherine Whitmore
Catherine Whitmore is an elegant food and travel writer who brings a refined storytelling style to FoodFunTrip.com, blending culinary exploration with cultural discovery. With years of experience writing for lifestyle and travel platforms, she focuses on uncovering authentic flavors, hidden destinations, and meaningful experiences that inspire readers to explore the world with curiosity and joy. Catherine’s work combines research, creativity, and a warm narrative tone that turns everyday moments into memorable journeys. When not traveling or testing new recipes, she enjoys photography, reading, and discovering charming cafés across the globe—always seeking the next story worth sharing.

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