Thai Food in Bangkok

An orientation to Thai Cusine

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food" (George Bernard Shaw)

 

Food is one of the reasons many tourists flock to Thailand. Not only for its affordability, but because the Kingdom's exotic cuisine offers an unrivaled culinary experience that is internationally famous for its distinctive flavours. Food is as much an integral part of Thai culture as kick boxing, traditional Thai massage, tuk-tuks and saffron-robed monks... In a city like Bangkok, you don't have to walk very far to find something to eat; food carts can be found on almost every street corner, at pavement eateries with fold-up tables and chairs, and in the smallest of sois (streets). In fact, the smell of food is omni-present in this sprawling metropolis, which is home to more than ten million people. 

In Thailand, it's not uncommon to greet someone with the phrase "Gin khao ru yang?" (have you eaten?) This, of course, is not meant to be taken literally. What lies underneath this phrase is simply the equivalent of "How are you?" It's not entirely illogical when you think about it; keeping your stomach full is after all an unfailing sign of well-being in the Land of Smiles. Thailand is an agricultural country where fresh produce is bountiful, and Thai people are renowned for their hospitality and generosity. It used to be common practice to place a jar of water in front of your house for thirsty passers-by to help themselves to a cup of water. These factors, combined with Thai people's penchant for food and ingenious gift for cooking, make for a delicious, healthy and definitely one of the most mouth-watering culinary experiences you'll ever have.

But, there's a lot more to Thai cuisine than the green, red and yellow curries that are served up at 'Westernised' Thai restaurants back home. For starters, the variety here is vast, and you should be prepared to see some strange-looking dishes. Absolutely nothing goes to waste. Fancy trying some boiled chicken legs or deep-fried water roaches? What about, uhm, grilled and skewered 'Parson's Noses' (chicken 'rear ends') or pork intestines in a broth that somewhat resembles dirty dishwater? For the most part though, the food is delicious, exotic, and prepared with a wonderful array of fresh herbs and spices like lemongrass, sweet basil, ginger, garlic and, of course, chili. Lots of it. Some dishes are so spiced up it will have you gasping for air, make the world around you spin and leave you with tears running down your cheeks. You will imagine that your tongue is on fire; that an Armageddon of some kind is happening right in your mouth...  This is not the norm though, and you are bound to find many dishes and snacks that will be more than kind to your taste buds, while restaurants generally go easy on the chili when preparing food for foreigners.

Another reason for the many snack-type stalls and food carts that can be found everywhere is the fact that Thai people are known to snack throughout the day and in between meals. The food is a visual feast too; colourful and beautifully presented. The skills of a simple street vendor chopping up fruit is enviable to say the least, and in restaurants you will be amazed by the delicate fruit and vegetable carvings that are used to garnish dishes.

Thai food is not just a culinary feast, but an unrivaled adventure. Arrive with an open mind and you will be hooked in no time. Don't hesitate to try something new or different. We only live once. In the West, anyway...

See Thai restaurants in our Tatler's reviews.

A trip to the Land of Smiles just wouldn't be complete without sampling some authentic Thai dishes, and it would be considered an act of sacrilege if you resort to fast food when you're in the city where tasty food can be found 24 hours on almost every street corner.  Due to its geographical location and cultural heritage, Thai food is often said to be a fusion of Indian and Chinese food. That's just a short-cut definition though, because many different influences are evident.... (READ MORE)

Imagine a plate of freshly-steamed Jasmine rice, served with luscious spicy shrimp soup and creamy chicken green curry. You're torn between the colourful and spicy papaya salad garnished with crisp vegetables on your right and a delectable dish of 'pad thai' on your left. Don't forget to leave some room for a delectable selection of Thai 'kanom' (dessert) or fresh tropical fruits. Treat yourself with the sweet-smelling sticky rice topped with succulent mango - very much worth the few extra pounds you'll be gaining in the process! (READ MORE)

Food stalls on the streets of Bangkok can look a little intimidating to foreigners, but they provide convenient, delicious and cheap meals to the locals. Wherever you go in the city, these food stalls are plentiful and very often you will find a high concentration of them in particularly busy areas. Some street vendors operate in groups, often in local markets, which means you can go to the same place every night and have a different choice of meal. Some even open around the clock. (READ MORE)

A stroll around Bangkok can be a surprise-filled adventure. Where else would you see an elephant walking among party-goers on the streets at midnight? To make your excursion even more exciting, take a closer look at the food stalls. You'll most likely see hungry night owls flocking around a noodles stall for a midnight snack. Hungry or not, take a good look to see what's else is cooking... (READ MORE)

Communication can be an uncomfortable barrier when traveling in a non-English speaking country. Although English is fairly understood, you still want to make sure that the food you order is really what you had in mind. Don't let your lack of Thai language become a hurdle; equip yourself with these basic and very useful phrases. Not only will you get your order right, Thai people will reward your efforts with a big smile and generous portion. (READ MORE)

Undoubtedly one of the most popular cuisine in the world, Thai food ranks high on anyone's food list. Not only it is tasty and spicy, it's nutritious and most of the dishes contain very little fat. Given these ideal qualities, people tend to think that cooking Thai food is a rocket science. In fact, Thai food is actually very simple as there are not many complicated techniques involved... (READ MORE)

Thai food is, without a doubt, among one of the most famous cuisines in the world. Most people are well acquainted with signature dishes like 'tom yum goong', 'pad thai', 'som tum' and so on. However, not many are familiar with look 'choob', 'thong yib', 'thong yod', 'foi thong' or 'khanom chun' - all of them very common, very traditional and very yummy Thai desserts... (READ MORE)

Like the charming people, Thailand's colourful, refreshing array of exotic fruits greet you on every corner. The country's fertile plains and hot tropical climate, as well as its more temperate northern regions, means that pretty much anything grows here. As a result, few places on earth can claim to have such a plentiful supply, and variety, of gorgeous tasting fruit.  (READ MORE)