Your Thai Food Order Could Be Way More Interesting
Pad Thai is great, but Thailand’s food scene has way more to offer. The cuisine balances savory, sweet, sour, spicy, and herbal flavors in a way that keeps every meal feeling alive and fresh. If you want to branch out, here are 20 amazing dishes to try next time you're out for Thai food.
1. Tom Yum Goong
This hot-and-sour shrimp soup is bright, punchy, and fragrant in the best way. Lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaf make it taste like the whole kitchen woke up at once. If you like bold flavors, this one is far from shy.
2. Tom Kha Gai
Creamy coconut milk gives this chicken soup a softer, rounder taste than Tom Yum. It’s still packed with aromatics, but it feels cozy instead of sharp. Sip the broth slowly to make the warm comfort last longer.
Evan Joshua Swigart on Wikimedia
3. Som Tum
This green papaya salad is crunchy, spicy, tangy, and straight-up addictive. The dressing hits you with lime and fish sauce, then come the chilies to add even more life to the party. Order it with sticky rice if you want the perfect spicy-sour balance.
4. Larb
Larb is a minced meat salad that’s herby, zippy, and full of toasted rice powder for texture. It’s usually served with crisp vegetables, so every bite feels fresh and lively. If you love citrusy, savory flavors, this one will make your taste buds perk up immediately.
5. Pad Krapow
This is the holy grail of quick Thai meals: stir-fried meat with basil, chilies, and garlic over rice. It’s salty, spicy, and ridiculously satisfying, especially with a crispy fried egg on top. If you want something simple that still hits hard, order this.
6. Khao Soi
A Northern Thai curry noodle soup with a rich coconut broth and a tangle of textures. You get soft noodles underneath and crispy noodles on top, which is just good design. It’s warm, mildly spicy, and feels like an excellently seasoned hug.
7. Massaman Curry
Massaman is mellow, aromatic, and slightly sweet, with spices that hint at Thai and broader regional influences. Potatoes and peanuts make it feel hearty and almost stew-like. If you want curry without full heat intensity, this is a smart move.
8. Green Curry
Green curry is creamy, herbal, and often sneaky-spicy, so don’t underestimate the color. The flavor comes from green chilies, Thai basil, and fragrant aromatics that build as you eat. It’s one of those dishes that tastes richer with every bite.
9. Panang Curry
Panang is thicker and slightly sweeter than many other Thai curries, with a smooth, velvety texture. It often leans into peanutty warmth and gentle spice rather than sharp heat. If you like curries that feel luxurious, Panang delivers.
10. Gaeng Daeng
Red curry is bold and warming, with a deeper chili flavor and a little more edge. The coconut milk keeps it balanced, but it still has that confident kick. Pair it with jasmine rice, and you’re set.
11. Pad See Ew
These wide rice noodles get stir-fried with soy sauce, Chinese broccoli, and usually egg and meat. The flavor is savory and a little sweet, with that irresistible smoky wok taste when it’s done well. It’s a great option when you want comfort without a ton of heat.
12. Pad Kee Mao
Also called drunken noodles, this dish comes in hot with chilies, basil, and big, bold flavors. It’s spicy, garlicky, and built for people who like their noodles with personality. If you’re craving something loud and satisfying, this one will do the trick.
13. Khao Pad
Thai fried rice is simple on paper, but it’s all about balance and good technique. It often comes with lime, cucumber, and herbs that make it taste fresher than typical fried rice. Squeeze the lime over it, and you’ll see why it works.
14. Moo Ping
These grilled pork skewers are sweet, savory, and lightly smoky, often served with sticky rice. The marinade does a lot of work, and the char does the rest.
You can't walk down a street in Thailand and not see at least one person grilling it.
15. Satay Gai
Chicken satay comes with a rich peanut sauce and a bright cucumber relish that keeps things from feeling heavy. The grilling adds a little smokiness that makes it hard to stop at one skewer. It’s a classic for a reason.
16. Gai Tod
This Thai-style fried chicken is crisp, garlicky, and often served with a punchy dipping sauce. It’s crunchy without being greasy when it’s done right. If you’re ordering for a table, this is an instant crowd-pleaser.
17. Kai Jeow
This Thai omelet is fluffy, browned at the edges, and incredibly satisfying served over rice. It’s often seasoned with fish sauce and sometimes filled with minced meat or herbs. If you want something comforting and a little nostalgic, this is the move.
18. Yam Nua
Spicy beef salad brings together tender meat, lime, chilies, herbs, and a savory dressing. The flavors are bright and sharp, with enough heat to keep you paying attention. It’s the kind of dish that makes you feel like you’re eating something truly “alive”.
Sharon Chen from Austin, United States on Wikimedia
19. Pla Rad Prik
This dish features crispy fried fish topped with a bold chili sauce that’s sweet, spicy, and sticky. The contrast between crunchy fish and saucy topping is deeply satisfying.
If you like heat and texture, you’ll want to order this one again and again.
20. Khanom Jeen Nam Ya
Fermented rice noodles served with a fragrant curry sauce, often fish-based, plus fresh vegetables and herbs. It’s a little different from the noodle dishes most people start with, which is exactly why it’s fun. Once you get into the rhythm of mixing it your way, it becomes seriously addictive.
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