Thai Cuisine & Cooking

Thai food has become one of the world's favorite cuisines. The sheer number of restaurants that have sprung up in major international capitals of the world attest to its phenomenal popularity. But to experience the real thing surrounded by the sights and sounds of Thailand is truly something else!
 

An exciting combination

Offering a variety of flavors and tastes, with enthusiastic use of herbs, spices, and market-fresh ingredients, Thai food is famed for its balance and harmony. An exciting combination of five fundamental tastes – hot, sweet, sour, salty, and bitter – brings contrasting yet complementing flavors and textures to each dish. Coconut milk, seafood, and fruit also play a key part in Thai cuisine.

Four regional cuisines

Thai food is better described according to the country’s four main regions: Northern, Northeastern, Central and Southern. With cultural and ethnic infusions over centuries, regional cuisines have absorbed Eastern and Western influences while maintaining their own unique and characters. Popular regional dishes are:

The North: Khao Soy (curry noodles), Kaeng Hang Le (pork curry), Sai Ua (spicy pork sausage), Khantoke dinner (a traditional form of meal during which diners sit around a small low table), and steamed glutinous rice

The Northeast: Som Tam (green papaya salad), Lap (spicy minced meat salad), Kai Yang (grilled chicken), and steamed glutinous rice

The Central: Kaeng Khiao Wan (green curry), Tom Yum (hot & sour soup), Tom Kha (creamy hot & sour soup), Yum (spicy salad), noodle dishes, and steamed rice

The South: Kaeng Tai Pla (spicy fish maw curry), Kaeng Leuang (yellow curry), Kaeng Mussaman (mild curry), Khao Yam Nam Budu (rice salad), Satay (skewered barbequed meat with spicy peanut sauce), and steamed rice

Discover dining venues

Restaurants serving authentic Thai cuisine are easy to find, and many dining venues offer a complete range of Thai cuisines. There is always something to try while visiting any province or region. Local restaurants and food stalls provide typical dishes and atmospheres. In big cities, stand alone restaurants, hotels, and shopping complexes offer more dining choices, such as non-Thai culinary delights, fusion food, vegetarian, organic, and spa cuisine.

For more information on where to eat in Thailand, please see the Dining Directory page.

Learning to cook Thai cuisine

Thailand has a variety of Thai cooking classes and schools, and finding them in Bangkok or the major provinces are easy. Most major hotels have their own Thai restaurants, which also offer cooking classes. Hands-on cooking classes are offered by hotels and resorts in major tourist destinations, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Hua Hin, and Pattaya. In addition, there are cooking schools that provide the basic skills to prepare a Thai meal in your own home, or even training to professional standards.

For cooking schools in Thailand, please view the Thailand Gourmet e-Brochure.

The amazing recipes

Delight your taste buds with a Thai dish prepared by yourself. Find out more on this world-renowned cuisine simply by following the recipes on the Thailand Gourmet e-Brochure.