If I can sum up Thai food, I can only think of one word: spicy. Most of the dishes we've tried are strong in terms of spiciness.
And if there's anything not spicy that's worth trying, it's the sticky mango rice.
Sticky Mango Rice
Sticky Mango Rice
The dessert is as literal as the name sounds. Sticky rice cooked in coconut milk is served with ripe mango and a coconut cream dip. The local Thai mango is nowhere close to our local manggang kalabaw (carabao manggo) variety. It's somewhat similar to how an apple mango or even Pico manggo.
Popular Thai Dishes
Other popular Thai dishes recommended by the website www.bangkok.com include the following:
- Tom Yum or Spicy Shrimp Soup - this one's plenty in the Philippines; at least in instant noodles form
- Pad Thai or Thai Fried Noodles - it's also served in some restaurants here
- Khao Pad or Fried Rice
- Yam Nua or Spicy Beef Salad
- Tom Kha Kai or Chicken Coconut Soup
- Gaeng Daeng or Red Curry
- Som Tum or Spicy Green Papaya Salad
- Pad Krapow Moo Saap or Fried Basil and Pork
- Gaeng Keow Wan Kai or Green Chicken Curry
- Kai Med Ma Muang or Chicken with Cashew Nuts
Notice how most of the well known dishes listed above have one description in common? Yes, again, "spicy!" In terms of level, its definitely spicier than similar Filipino dishes like Bicol Express. I've observed that the residents of Thailand can tolerate the heat from such food without effort though, even little kids.
Fast Food
You'll find the usual known fast food chains like McDonalds so there's at least something familiar for the tummy if you don't feel like experimenting on meals. This one below is from Burger King at the Suvarnabhumi Airport arrivals area.
Yes! There's good ol' Starbucks for the coffee lovers; also at the airport area.
Even the coffee cups and mugs feature Thailand and it's major cities or attractions.
Sadly, I have no budget to buy this premium Belgian chocolate brand. ☹️
Breakfast at the Hotel
It was always a generous breakfast meal at the hotel. While they serve familiar dishes, the sausage is quite distinctly Thai, along with the tea and coffee drink sachets.
Lat Krabang
Just took a snap of the fruit below out of curiosity. I have no idea what it is. It looks like some form of rambutan. It's from one of the mini-malls in Lat Krabang, some walking distance from where we stayed.
Drinks
Communication is a bit of a problem. Most people in Thailand can't speak English well so I ended up with this drink which I didn't really like. It's from a stall just outside the mall.
What I did like are these drinks below.
No, this one below isn't gulaman. It's actually iced coffee. Well, I like coffee anywhere and whatever it is. 😉 This one's from one of the carinderia-like food stalls in Chatuchak.
Not sure if it means palm or plum but these ones from a mall (Amarin Plaza, that less populated mall right next to the contrastingly busy Erawan).
Amarin Plaza
Speaking of this quiet mall, the drinks came with this very spicy coconut base noodle soups. It tastes almost like Singapore's Laksa.
Chatuchak Market
The cold coffee above was served with these large grilled shrimp.
Thai Grilled Shrimp
More food trip around the market...
I love their coconut milk based ice cream. 🤤
Fruits for street food? Now, that's a commendable healthy lifestyle to follow.
Sadly, I didn't get to try more exotic street foods such as insects in skewers.
More Thai Dishes Sampled
This is just a traditional Thai pork meal.
Traditional Thai Pork
All the images below were from a local eatery around Lat Krabang. We just happened to drop by each night on our way back to the hostel daily.
Spicy Beef Salad
Thai Coconut Shrimp
Fried Rice
Thai food isn't too unfamiliar. They do taste like other Asian dishes (Filipino in particular) except with a spicier kick. So don't be afraid to sample any on your Thailand trip.
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