100 Thai Dishes Explained
Thai dishes are loved around the world for their perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. From quick bites at street food stalls to recipes once served in royal kitchens, Thai cuisine offers endless variety. In this guide, we’ll explore 100 essential Thai dishes that showcase the heart and soul of Thailand’s food culture.
Appetizers
1. Poh Pia Tod (ปอเปี๊ยะทอด)
Crispy spring rolls with vegetables and served with sweet and sour sauce.
2. Kanom Jeeb (ขนมจีบ)
Thai-style steamed dumplings with pork and shrimp.
3. Gai Tod (ไก่ทอด)
Crispy fried chicken marinated in Thai herbs.
4. Tod Mun Pla (ทอดมันปลา)
Deep-fried fish cakes with curry paste and herbs.
5. Hor Mok (ห่อหมก)
Steamed fish curry in banana leaves.
6. Miang Kham (เมี่ยงคำ)
Thai leaf wrap appetizer with various toppings.
7. Moo Krob (หมูกรอบ)
Crispy pork belly served with rice and dipping sauce.
Rice Dishes
8. Khao Pad (ข้าวผัด)
Classic Thai fried rice with jasmine rice, vegetables, and your choice of protein.
9. Pad Kra Pao (ผัดกะเพรา)
Spicy basil stir-fry typically served over rice with a fried egg on top.
10. Khao Pad Sapparot (ข้าวผัดสับปะรด)
Pineapple fried rice served in a carved pineapple shell.
11. Khao Mok Gai (ข้าวหมกไก่)
Thai-style chicken biryani with fragrant spiced rice.
12. Khao Kluk Kapi (ข้าวคลุกกะปิ)
Rice mixed with shrimp paste and served with various accompaniments.
13. Khao Pad Naem (ข้าวผัดแหนม)
Fried rice with fermented pork sausage.
14. Khao Mun Gai (ข้าวมันไก่)
Thai-style chicken rice with ginger sauce.
15. Khao Kha Moo (ข้าวขาหมู)
Braised pork leg served over rice with pickled mustard greens and hard-boiled egg.
Pad kra pao with fried egg is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand.
Noodle Dishes
16. Pad Thai (ผัดไทย)
Thailand’s most famous stir-fried noodle dish with tamarind, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic, and red chili pepper.
17. Pad See Ew (ผัดซีอิ๊ว)
Stir-fried wide rice noodles with dark soy sauce, Chinese broccoli, and egg.
18. Khao Soi (ข้าวซอย)
Northern Thai curry noodle soup with coconut milk and crispy noodles.
19. Pad Woon Sen (ผัดวุ้นเส้น)
Stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables and protein.
20. Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) (ผัดขี้เมา)
Spicy stir-fried wide noodles with Thai basil and chili.
21. Boat Noodles (Guay Teow Reua) (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ)
Small bowls of flavorful noodle soup with intense broth.
22. Guay Teow (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว)
Clear noodle soup with rice noodles and various toppings.
23. Guay Teow Tom Yum (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวต้มยำ)
Spicy and sour noodle soup with tom yum flavors.
24. Yen Ta Fo (เย็นตาโฟ)
Pink noodle soup with fermented bean curd and seafood.
25. Ba Mee Haeng (บะหมี่แห้ง)
Dry egg noodles with char siu pork and vegetables.
26. Kuay Jab (ก๋วยจั๊บ)
Rice noodle rolls in clear peppery broth.
27. Rad Na (ราดหน้า)
Wide noodles topped with thick gravy and Chinese broccoli.
Curries
28. Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan) (แกงเขียวหวาน)
Spicy green curry with coconut milk, Thai basil, and eggplant.
29. Red Curry (Gaeng Daeng) (แกงแดง)
Rich red curry with coconut milk and aromatic spices.
30. Yellow Curry (Gaeng Kari) (แกงกะหรี่)
Mild curry with turmeric, potatoes, and coconut milk.
31. Massaman Curry (แกงมัสมั่น)
Persian-influenced curry with peanuts, potatoes, and warm spices.
32. Panang Curry (แกงพะแนง)
Thick, creamy curry with ground peanuts and kaffir lime leaves.
33. Jungle Curry (Gaeng Pa) (แกงป่า)
Spicy curry without coconut milk, loaded with vegetables and herbs.
34. Gaeng Som (แกงส้ม)
Sour curry with tamarind and vegetables.
35. Gaeng Kua (แกงคั่ว)
Dry curry stir-fried until the coconut milk reduces.
Panang curry is a rich, creamy Thai dish made with coconut milk, aromatic spices, with a distinctive nutty flavor from ground peanuts.
Soups
36. Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง)
Spicy and sour soup with shrimp, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs.
37. Tom Kha Gai (ต้มข่าไก่)
Creamy coconut chicken soup with galangal and lime leaves.
38. Tom Saap (ต้มแซ่บ)
Spicy Isaan soup with pork ribs and herbs.
39. Gaeng Jued (แกงจืด)
Clear soup with vegetables and protein, often served with rice.
40. Tom Jued Woon Sen (ต้มจืดวุ้นเส้น)
Clear glass noodle soup with vegetables and tofu.
41. Tom Klong (ต้มโคล้ง)
Spicy soup with lemongrass and galangal.
42. Gaeng Liang (แกงเลียง)
Clear spicy soup with vegetables, shrimp paste, and basil.
Salads
43. Som Tam (ส้มตำ)
Spicy green papaya salad with tomatoes, green beans, and peanuts.
44. Larb (ลาบ)
Spicy meat salad with herbs, chili, and toasted rice powder.
45. Nam Tok (น้ำตก)
Spicy grilled beef salad with herbs, chili, and toasted rice powder.
46. Yam Woon Sen (ยำวุ้นเส้น)
Glass noodle salad with seafood or meat and fresh herbs.
47. Yam Neua (ยำเนื้อ)
Spicy beef salad with herbs and vegetables.
48. Yam Talay (ยำทะเล)
Mixed seafood salad with spicy lime dressing.
49. Yam Mamuang (ยำมะม่วง)
Spicy green mango salad with peanuts and dried shrimp.
50. Yam Tua Plu (ยำถั่วพลู)
Spicy winged bean salad with coconut, dried shrimp, and lime dressing.
51. Yam Hua Plee (ยำหัวปลี)
Banana blossom salad with herbs and peanuts.
52. Yam Pla Duk Fu (ยำปลาดุกฟู)
Spicy salad with crispy catfish flakes.
53. Khao Yam (ข้าวยำ)
Southern Thai rice salad with herbs and vegetables.
54. Koi Pla (ก้อยปลา)
Isan-style raw fish salad with herbs.
Nam tok is a flavorful Thai salad made with grilled beef or pork, tossed with fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted rice powder for a smoky, tangy, and slightly spicy kick.
Nam Prik (Thai Chili Dips)
55. Nam Prik Kapi (น้ำพริกกะปิ)
Shrimp paste chili dip served with fresh vegetables and fried fish.
56. Nam Prik Num (น้ำพริกหนุ่ม)
Northern Thai green chili dip with grilled chilies and garlic.
57. Nam Prik Ong (น้ำพริกอ่อง)
Northern Thai tomato and pork dip with herbs and spices.
58. Nam Prik Pla Ra (น้ำพริกปลาร้า)
Fermented fish chili dip from northeastern Thailand.
59. Nam Prik Ta Daeng (น้ำพริกตาแดง)
Dried chili and shrimp paste dip.
60. Nam Prik Pao (น้ำพริกเผา)
Roasted chili paste used as condiment and cooking ingredient.
61. Nam Prik Long Ruea (น้ำพริกลงเรือ)
Central Thai chili dip with dried shrimp and palm sugar.
62. Nam Prik Mamuang (น้ำพริกมะม่วง)
Green mango chili dip with sweet and spicy flavors.
63. Nam Prik Pla Tu (น้ำพริกปลาทู)
Mackerel chili dip with grilled fish, chilies, and lime juice.
64. Nam Prik Goong Siap (น้ำพริกกุ้งเสียบ)
Grilled shrimp chili dip with aromatic herbs.
Grilled Dishes
65. Gai Yang (ไก่ย่าง)
Grilled chicken marinated in herbs and spices.
66. Moo Ping (หมูปิ้ง)
Grilled pork skewers with sweet marinade.
67. Pla Pao (ปลาเผา)
Grilled whole fish stuffed with herbs.
68. Satay (สะเต๊ะ)
Grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce.
69. Ko Mu Yang (คอหมูย่าง)
Grilled pork neck marinated in herbs and served with spicy dipping sauce.
Moo ping is a popular Thai street food featuring juicy, marinated pork skewers grilled over charcoal.
Stir-Fry Dishes
70. Pad Prik King (ผัดพริกขิง)
Stir-fried curry paste with green beans and meat.
71. Pad Preaw Wan (ผัดเปรี้ยวหวาน)
Sweet and sour stir-fry with pineapple and vegetables.
72. Pad Cha (ผัดฉ่า)
Spicy stir-fry with wild ginger and peppercorns.
73. Kana Moo Grob (คะน้าหมูกรอบ)
Stir-fried Chinese broccoli with crispy pork belly.
74. Stir-Fried Crab with Curry Powder (ปูผัดผงกะหรี่)
Stir-fried crab with curry powder, egg, and celery.
75. Muek Pad Kai Kem (หมึกผัดไข่เค็ม)
Stir-fried squid with salted egg yolk and curry powder.
76. Pad Pak Bung (ผัดผักบุ้ง)
Stir-fried morning glory with garlic and chili.
Seafood Specialties
77. Hoy Lai Prik Pao (หอยลายพริกเผา)
Stir-fried clams with roasted chili paste.
78. Goong Pad Makham (กุ้งผัดมะขาม)
Stir-fried shrimp with tamarind sauce.
79. Hoy Tod (หอยทอด)
Crispy oyster pancake with bean sprouts.
80. Or Suan (ออส่วน)
Soft oyster pancake with bean sprouts.
81. Pla Sam Rod (ปลาสามรส)
Deep-fried fish with three-flavor sauce.
82. Pla Tod Nam Pla (ปลาทอดน้ำปลา)
Deep-fried fish with fish sauce glaze and crispy herbs.
Hoy tod is a crispy Thai oyster omelette made with fresh oysters, eggs, and rice flour, cooked, served with a tangy chili sauce.
Egg Dishes
83. Kai Jeow (ไข่เจียว)
Fluffy Thai-style omelet often served over rice.
84. Kai Dao (ไข่ดาว)
Thai fried egg, crispy edges and runny yolk.
85. Kai Luk Koei (ไข่ลูกเขย)
So called “on-in-law eggs”, hard-boiled eggs in tamarind sauce.
86. Kai Palo (ไข่พะโล้)
Thai braised eggs in five-spice broth with pork.
87. Kai Tun (ไข่ตุ๋น)
Thai steamed egg custard with ground pork or seafood.
Desserts
88. Mango Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง)
Sweet sticky rice with fresh mango and coconut milk.
89. Thai Coconut Ice Cream (ไอติมกะทิ)
Creamy coconut ice cream often served in a coconut shell.
90. Tub Tim Grob (ทับทิมกรอบ)
Water chestnuts in coconut milk with crushed ice.
91. Kanom Krok (ขนมครก)
Coconut rice pancakes cooked in special pans.
92. Thong Yip (ทองหยิบ)
Traditional Thai egg yolk dessert shaped like flowers.
93. Foi Thong (ฝอยทอง)
Golden threads dessert made from beaten eggs in sugar syrup.
94. Kanom Chan (ขนมชั้น)
Layered steamed dessert with coconut milk.
95. Kanom Buang (ขนมเบื้อง)
Crispy Thai crepes with sweet and savory toppings.
96. Kanom Tokyo (ขนมโตเกียว)
Thai-style filled pancakes, popular street snack.
Drinks
97. Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen) (ชาเย็น)
Sweet and creamy iced tea with condensed milk.
98. Thai Iced Coffee (Oliang) (โอเลี้ยง)
Creamy coconut ice cream often served in a coconut shell.
99. Thai Lime Iced Tea (Cha Manao) (ชะมะนาว)
Thai iced tea with lime juice.
100. Nom Yen (นมเย็น)
Iced pink milk with sweet syrup and condensed milk.
Thai iced tea is a sweet and creamy drink made from strongly brewed black tea, mixed with condensed milk and served over ice.
Conclusion
From street food favorites to royal recipes, these Thai dishes capture the flavors, history, and heart of Thailand. Save this list for your next meal inspiration, and keep exploring the rich variety that makes Thai cuisine so unforgettable.
