Today, I’ve put together a list of the 10 most popular Thai dishes that you can find both in Thailand and abroad! Among these dishes, you’ll find true classics like tom yum and pad Thai, along with a few of my personal favorites.
PS, If you’re craving more Thai food after reading this post, be sure to check out my popular articles on easy Thai recipes and healthy Thai food recipes!
What are the most popular Thai dishes
Thai cuisine is a delicious blend of spicy, sweet, salty, and sour flavors. Here are Thailand’s most famous dishes that are loved by both locals and food lovers around the world!
1. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is undoubtedly the best-known Thai dish outside of Thailand. You might be surprised to learn that many Thai people live without pad Thai, but there are plenty who absolutely love it!
This classic Thai dish is a delicious stir-fry made with rice noodles, a protein like chicken or beef, pad Thai sauce, and bean sprouts.
In my authentic chicken pad Thai recipe, you’ll also find tofu, mini shrimp, preserved radish, garlic chives, and egg. Fresh lime juice, Thai chili flakes, and crushed peanuts are often added as garnishes.
2. Som tum Thai (Thai papaya salad)
Green papaya salad is a favorite among those who love Thai food.
It’s a famous Thai dish made with shredded green papaya, tomatoes, yard long beans, peanuts, and dried shrimp, all tossed in a spicy, tangy dressing made from lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chilies.
Papaya salad can be found on almost every street corner in Thailand. In the United States and Europe, many Thai restaurants also offer this classic.
This salad is definitely worth making at home if you own a Thai mortar and pestle!
3. Pad kra pao (holy basil stir-fry)
Ask a Thai person what their favorite street food is, and there’s a good chance they’ll say pad kra pao!
Pad kra pao is a true staple in Thai cuisine, featuring stir-fried minced meat with holy basil, garlic, and usually lots of chilies. It’s best enjoyed served over steamed jasmine rice with a Thai fried egg (kai dao) on top.
4. Spring rolls
Spring rolls are a favorite appetizer at many Thai restaurants, especially in the West.
These crunchy rolls are filled with a mix of fresh vegetables and sometimes meat, served with a tasty Thai sweet chili sauce. Whether you prefer them rolled big or small, they’re the perfect start to your Thai meal!
5. Tom yum soup
Tom yum soup is a hot and sour Thai soup that’s a real favorite, often served with shrimp.
It’s flavored with fragrant spices and herbs like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed red chili peppers. This soup is the epitome of Thai flavors – spicy, sour, and incredibly aromatic.
Search my Thai food blog for tons of recipes featuring that mouthwatering spicy sour tom yum flavor, like tom yum talay (seafood soup), tom yum fried rice, and dry tom yum noodles!
6. Fried rice (khao pad)
Thai fried rice, also known as khao pad, is a street food dish with endless variations.
You can make it with almost any protein, spicy or not, vegetarian, and more.
Feel free to add your favorite vegetables like carrots and onions, and get creative with the seasonings!
If you love fried rice as much as I do, then try one of my many fried rice recipes: Thai green curry fried rice, khao pad krapow, and chicken pineapple fried rice!
7. Pad see ew
Pad see ew is a favorite noodle dish for many Thai people, even more so than pad Thai.
This popular Thai street food dish is made with wide rice noodles (sen yai), dark soy sauce, Chinese broccoli, and your choice of protein. The noodles are stir-fried until they have a slightly charred flavor, making this dish both smoky and savory.
Also check out my recipe for sen mee pad see ew using thin rice vermicelli for a unique twist.
8. Mango sticky rice dessert
You’ve probably heard of mango sticky rice, right?
It’s a classic Thai dessert made with sweet ripe mangoes and Thai sticky rice cooked in coconut milk. This combination is absolutely irresistible, and it’s one of my personal favorites (plus, it’s pretty easy to make!).
9. Thai green curry
Thai green curry and Thai red curry are two of the most popular Thai dishes that never fail to impress.
Both curries start with a spicy curry paste mixed with creamy coconut milk. You can choose your protein, whether it’s chicken, pork, or tofu.
These curries are also packed with healthy veggies like Thai eggplants or bamboo shoots, adding a yummy crunch and flavor.
10. Khao soi
Khao soi is a northern Thai dish featuring a rich and creamy curry soup with both boiled and crispy egg noodles. It’s usually made with chicken or beef and garnished with pickled mustard greens, lime, shallots, and chili oil.
Best Thai dishes to try
In the previous list, you’ll find 10 famous Thai dishes. BUT, this post wouldn’t be complete without me sharing a few of my own favorites, right?!
Here are 4 more delicious Thai dishes that I think you must try!
Thai boat noodles
Noodle soup is my favorite Thai street food!
In Thailand, Thai boat noodles is a common Thai dish that’s incredibly delicious and packed with aromas and flavors, even featuring pork blood (optional) that adds a ton of depth.
In street food stalls, it’s typically served with meatballs, fresh herbs, and sometimes crispy pork rinds.
Khua kling
I love khua kling more than I love pad kra pao. There, I said it!
This tasty dish is a southern Thai dry curry that’s packed with flavor and heat.
It’s made with minced pork or beef stir-fried with a spicy curry paste, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. This fiery dish is balanced by aromatic herbs, making it a must-try for spice lovers.
Nam tok neua
Nam tok beef, one of my favorite Thai salads, is a grilled beef salad full of flavor.
Thinly sliced beef is tossed with a mix of lime juice, fish sauce, chili, and toasted rice powder, then combined with fresh herbs and vegetables.
I love making this dish whenever I have guests over, and it’s always a hit!
Larb salad
Larb salad is another popular Thai dish made with minced meat like pork or chicken, mixed with lime juice, fish sauce, and ground toasted glutinous rice.
This spicy, tangy salad is loaded with fresh herbs like mint and cilantro, creating a refreshing and zesty flavor profile. It’s often served with sticky rice or fresh vegetables, making it a perfect light meal or appetizer.
Try one of my many larb recipes: Thai pork larb recipe, larb gai, Thai tofu larb.
More recipe roundups
Can’t get enough? Head over to one of these posts for more deliciousness!
- Thai recipes with coconut milk
- Mortar and pestle recipes
- Thai street food recipes
- Issan Thai food recipes
- Thai breakfast recipes
- Thai meat recipes
Conclusion
What was your favorite among this list of 10 most popular Thai dishes? Share your favorite one in the comments below, and follow me on social media for more Thai recipes! Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
