Thai food - 20 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Thai food is perhaps one of the world's most beloved cuisines, and it's not hard to understand why. We Swedes also have an unusually strong relationship with Thailand, as our most popular holiday destination in Asia.

In this guide, we take a look at what to eat in Thailand - and list 20 classic Thai dishes you won't want to miss.

What to eat in Thailand? - a quick overview

We have previously written about Vietnamese food and Chinese food - and today it's all about Thailand! Thai cuisine is a favourite of many, and here are some typical features:

• Rice and noodles: Staple food in most dishes
• Meat and fish: Chicken, pork, seafood and fish
• Flavours: Chilli, lime, fish sauce, coconut milk and lemongrass
• Fresh herbs: Coriander, Thai basil and mint

We have - like many other Swedes - holidayed in Thailand, and we have also eaten Thai food in restaurants in other Asian countries (and in Sweden sometimes of course). There are many dishes and flavours to discover!

Typical Thai food - 20 classic dishes

Here we list Thai dishes that are interesting to try, including small dishes, street food, sweets and drinks.

1. pad thai

One of the most famous Thai dishes internationally and a favourite in Sweden too. The dish consists of fried rice noodles with egg, tofu or prawns, peanuts and lime which gives a perfect balance between sweet, sour and salty.

2. Green curry (green curry)

A creamy and rather strong curry with coconut milk, green curry paste and chicken or tofu. It is usually served with rice and is both aromatic and rich.

3. Red curry (red curry)

Similar to green curry but with a deeper and slightly sweeter flavour thanks to red curry paste. It is often a little milder but still rich in spices.

4. massaman curry

A milder curry with Middle Eastern and Indian influences. It often contains potatoes, peanuts and beef, and is perfect for those who don't like spicy food.

5. empty yum

A tangy and spicy soup with prawns, lemongrass, lime leaves and chilli. It is both refreshing and intense in flavour.

6. tom kha gai

A milder soup with coconut milk, chicken and galangal. It is creamy, sour and very popular with tourists.

7. pad kra pao

A classic street food dish with fried meat, chilli, garlic and Thai basil. It is often served with rice and a fried egg on top.

8. Khao pad (fried rice)

A simple but tasty dish made with rice, eggs, vegetables and meat or prawns. It's available everywhere and is perfect for a quick lunch.

9. Som tam (papaya salad)

A fresh and spicy salad with grated green papaya, lime, chilli and fish sauce. It has a clear balance between sweet, sour and spicy.

10. Satay (chicken skewers)

Grilled skewers served with peanut sauce and cucumber salad. Quite a simple dish really, but very tasty!

11. Spring rolls

Deep-fried rolls filled with vegetables or meat. They are crispy and often served with a sweet chilli sauce. A favourite we like to order when travelling in Asia, as a side dish or sometimes as a whole meal.

12. Fresh spring rolls

Fresh rice paper rolls filled with vegetables, herbs and sometimes prawns. They are lighter and fresher than the deep-fried varieties.

13. pad see ew

Wide rice noodles stir-fried with soya, egg and meat. The dish is less spicy than pad thai but very flavourful.

14. Khao moo daeng

Rice served with red pork and sweet sauce. It is a classic lunch dish often sold in simple eateries.

15. boat noodles

A hearty noodle soup traditionally served from boats. It is intense in flavour and often quite small in portion.

16. mango sticky rice

One of Thailand's most famous desserts with sweet mango and sticky rice in coconut milk. The combination of sweetness and creaminess is hard to beat.

17. coconut ice cream

Ice cream made from coconut milk often served in a coconut shell. It is sometimes topped with nuts or sweet corn.

18. banana roti

A type of pancake filled with banana and often topped with condensed milk or chocolate. It is often sold from street stalls.

19. Thai iced tea

Sweet iced tea with milk and spices served ice cold. It is both cooling and very popular in the warm climate.

20. Fresh fruit juices

Thailand is famous for its tropical fruits, and freshly squeezed juices are everywhere. Mango, pineapple and watermelon are particularly common.

Food in different parts of Thailand

Thai cuisine varies depending on the region:

• Northern Thailand: Milder dishes and lots of herbs
• North-east (Isan): Spicy food and salads like tam
• Central Thailand: Classic dishes like pad thai
• Southern Thailand: Spicy food with lots of coconut milk and fish

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Malaysian food - 15 Malaysian dishes
• Vietnamese food - 20 classic dishes
• Sri Lankan food - 15 dishes to try in Sri Lanka
• Filipino food - 15 Filipino specialities
• Chinese food - 20 Chinese dishes