This list of Thai breakfast recipes is perfect to start your day. Here, you’ll find traditional meals like Thai congee, and also quick bites like moo ping, popular street food for busy mornings.
Before we take a look at what meals Thai people enjoy in the morning, I want to share some insights about Thai breakfast food. Breakfast in Thailand is quite different from what you’d find in Western countries.
When my husband first met me, he was quite surprised to see me at the breakfast table with grilled chicken and a bowl of Thai sticky rice. By now, he’s gotten used to it, and we enjoy mornings filled with grilled meat, rice, and spicy dipping sauces together.
When you travel to Thailand, many hotels will offer breakfast. This often includes a mix of Thai and Western food, or sometimes just Western food. A great tip is to head out early in the morning to a local market, where you’ll find delicious and fresh local breakfast options. This way, you’re also supporting the local community!
What do Thai people eat for breakfast
In Thailand, we don’t really stick to fixed breakfast rituals like they do in Western countries like Belgium (where I grew up), eating bread every morning and even at lunch. In Thailand, we enjoy lots of different dishes in the morning. Think Thai noodles like pad mama, Thai breakfast soup like khao tom, and even street food like sai krok Isan.
I don’t know any Thai who eats the same thing every morning! However, there are popular morning meals, such as Thai jok and soups.
In this list of traditional Thai breakfasts, I’ve gathered my personal favorites. This doesn’t mean there aren’t other Thai breakfasts out there. I think it’s impossible to say what is or isn’t a suitable breakfast meal, as not all Thai people eat the same breakfast.
So, without further ado, here are my favorite Thai morning meals!
Thai breakfast recipes
Thai Congee Recipe (Rice Porridge) Jok
Thai congee, or jok, is a comforting rice porridge that's perfect for starting your day. It's a simple dish that combines rice, broth, and often pork meatballs and ginger for flavor. It's a breakfast favorite in Thailand, known for its soothing, creamy texture. Jok can be customized with many toppings like freshly chopped green onions, crispy fried garlic, or a soft boiled egg. This makes it a fun breakfast option perfect for families.
Thai roti is a popular dessert that can be served for breakfast too. It's a flatbread that can be customized with ingredients like banana, egg, or condensed milk, and can be found at food markets.I love roti for its crispy edges and soft center. Whenever I make or order it, I drizzle it with lots of sweetened condensed milk and sprinkle some sugar on top for a sweet touch. Yummy!
Moo ping, or Thai grilled pork skewers, is a street food favorite across Thailand. Pork gets marinated in a blend of creamy coconut milk and Thai spices and seasonings, and then grilled over charcoal.It's often sold together with a small plastic bag of Thai sticky rice at the morning markets in Thailand, making it one of my go-to breakfast options for when I'm traveling.
Kanom krok are delicious Thai coconut pancakes, enjoyed for dessert or as a snack throughout the day. They're small pancakes with a crispy outer layer and a soft inside made of coconut milk. Traditionally, they are cooked in a special cast-iron pan, and they're sold at many food markets. Even though they're a dessert, I find them perfect for breakfast too, as they are small, sweet, and filling bites!
Gai yang, or grilled chicken, is a popular choice for breakfast in the Northeastern part of Thailand, known as Isan, but it's also perfect for any time of the day. The chicken is known for being juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. While it's typically served with sticky rice, jasmine rice can be a great alternative as well.In Thailand, it's common to see vendors by the roadside preparing this grilled chicken from early in the morning until late at night.
Tom jued is a healthy Thai vegetable soup, perfect for a light and easy breakfast option. It's made with a clear broth and lots of vegetables, gently flavored with garlic, pepper, and oyster sauce (in my recipe).This soup is comforting and ideal for a simple start to your day. It's one of my grandmother's favorites, and she always prepares it with fresh veggies from her garden.
Kai jeow, a Thai egg breakfast, is flavorful and easy to make. Eggs are fried with minced pork until golden and slightly crispy.This omelette is versatile and can be customized to your taste. It's perfect for a quick meal any time of the day, so not just reserved for breakfast. I like it best with a side of steamed jasmine rice and some spicy Thai hot sauce.
Khao tom is a popular Thai breakfast option. This Thai rice soup is perfect for any morning or a tasty meal throughout the day. It's a savory broth filled with rice, often with chicken, fish, or pork. It's easy to digest, soothing, and warm, making it ideal for colder days.
Kai dao, or Thai fried egg, is often served with other Thai food to add richness and flavor. The key is to fry the egg in plenty of hot oil, which puffs up the whites while keeping the yolk just the right consistency.A Thai fried egg is perfect for serving over Thai fried rice and pad kra pao, but can also be enjoyed on its own or with jasmine rice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Kai look are hard-boiled eggs that are fried until the exterior is crispy, and then drizlled with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce. You can top it with crispy fried shallots and fresh chilies for some spice.It's a combination of sweet, sour, and spicy notes, the key flavors of Thai cuisine.
Khao jee brings back so many childhood memories. My grandmother used to make these grilled rice egg patties for breakfast during the winter months. It's a simple-to-make, traditional Thai food that's perfect for breakfast. It combines sticky rice and egg, grilled or fried until the outside is crispy with a soft inside. It's a popular street food option in Thailand that's easy to make at home.
Thai steamed egg with vegetables is a fun-to-make Thai egg breakfast that's healthy and perfect for the family. It combines smooth, soft eggs with fresh vegetables, steamed to perfection. It's lightly seasoned, offering a warm, gentle flavor that's just right for a light meal or side dish.
Kai luak, or Thai soft-boiled eggs, are something you'd grab at the side of the road or food markets. It's harder to find these days, but there's still one place near my house that serves them. They're seen as a quick energy boost for breakfast, often served in a shot glass. It's just egg, but it's really good, unique, and gives you the protein and energy you need to start your day. Simple and tasty!
This is a unique Thai omelette prepared with acacia leaves, giving it a distinct, slightly bitter flavor. It's easy to make, just beat the eggs with the leaves and fry it until fluffy. It's a special taste but definitely worth trying if you like traditional Thai food.
Moo yang is a favorite in my family. The pork is marinated in a mix of Thai sauces and seasonings, then grilled until it's smoky. We eat it with sticky rice and a spicy sauce like nam jim jaew. It's delicious and full of flavor!
Every single morning, my grandfather is up super early, around 4 am, to start making sticky rice for the day. He's been doing this since I was little. Sticky rice is a big deal in Northeastern Thailand, Isan, where it's a staple for many people's daily meals. Around here, lots of people prefer it even more than jasmine rice.
Sweet Sticky Rice With Thai Custard (Sangkaya Recipe)
Okay, okay, I know it's more of a dessert than a breakfast, but you're going to love it. You've got the coconut milk-infused sticky rice, but then you top it with this perfect egg custard. It's sweet but not too heavy, making it an ideal way to finish off a meal or start your day.
I've saved the best for last. Thai boat noodles, or kuay teow reua, is my favorite Thai dish. It's a rich, tasty broth with pork blood, rice noodles, and meat. It's pretty much every Thai's favorite street food and is perfect at any time of the day. Each bowl is packed with spices, herbs, and a good kick of heat.
As you can see, Thai breakfast recipes are a world of its own. Be sure to try making one of my favorites at home, or visit a morning market when you travel to Thailand. Also, take a look at my collection of Issan Thai food recipes and healthy Thai recipes.
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Hi, I’m Praew! I was born in Isan, Northeastern Thailand, where I started helping my grandmother cook from a young age. When I was six, I moved to Belgium and later spent my years working in Thai takeout restaurants. I even ran my own Thai restaurant there! Now I'm back in Thailand, sharing everything I’ve learned over a lifetime of cooking Thai food on this blog!
