17 Best Thai Food Dishes To Try in 2025
Thai food comprises a delightful blend of vivid colors, captivating scents, aromatic herbs and exciting flavor profiles. From spicy curries to refreshing papaya salads, each dish offers a unique tasting experience. With so many appetizing dishes to choose from, which do you try first?
Whether you're planning a visit to your local Thai restaurant or want to try your hand at making some delectable Thai food at home, this list of 17 best Thai foods will give you a lot of inspiration. To learn more about this delicious cuisine, read on for a helpful rundown of the best Thai dishes you can’t miss trying.
Jump to Section
What Is Thai Food?
It's no secret that Thai food is loved far beyond the shores of Southeast Asia; but what makes it so popular? This flavourful cuisine is known and loved for its bold flavors and the harmonious balance of sweet, spicy, salty and sour that is effortlessly woven into each dish.
Common ingredients that bring Thai food to life include creamy coconut milk, spicy chile peppers, refreshing fruits like papaya, savory fish sauce and plenty of fresh herbs, such as fragrant Thai basil. Popular dishes range from the well-known pad thai and Thai green curry to flavorful tom yum soup and moreish mango sticky rice.
Thai cooking methods vary from stir-frying, where flavors are infused in the wok, to steaming, grilling for a smoky touch and boiling, resulting in a wide selection of incredibly flavorful and aromatic dishes.
17 Best Thai Food Dishes
1. Pad Thai
It’s only fitting that pad thai occupies the top spot on this list of the best Thai foods. Despite what the name suggests, pad thai was created by Chinese immigrants during the 1930s. It has since grown to be one of the most recognizable dishes associated with Thailand. It’s so well-loved in the country that it is also the national dish of Thailand.
Pad thai typically features silky flat rice noodles, chicken, shrimp or pork, fresh bean sprouts, shallots and egg, all tossed in a tangy sauce and stir-fried. It's then served with a sprinkle of roasted peanuts to add crunch to every bite. You can also make vegetarian pad thai with tofu in place of meat or fish.
2. Thai Satay
While chicken satay originated in Indonesia, various countries across Asia now have their own twist on the dish, including Thailand. Thai satay is often served as street food, however, you’ll likely also find it served at sit-down restaurants.
While pork satay is generally more common than chicken satay in Thailand, chicken is the most likely variety you’ll find at Thai restaurants in the U.S. Beef, tofu and some other proteins may also be served satay style. No matter which protein you find on the menu, it’s well worth trying!
This delicious dish features meat marinated in a robust blend of ingredients like spices, brown sugar and tamarind paste. The meat is then skewered and grilled. It’s served with a peanut dipping sauce made with roasted peanuts and coconut milk, plus various other ingredients that may include more tamarind paste, fish sauce and red curry paste.
3. Tom Yum Goong
Tom yum goong perfectly embodies the sweet and sour flavors that Thai food is known for. This traditional Thai food is a sizzling, hot and spicy soup originating from Central Thailand.
Recipes vary but generally involve simmering goong (shrimp) and fish sauce with fragrant lemongrass, lime juice or kaffir lime leaves, red chile peppers and galangal (Thai ginger). Mushrooms and shallots may also be added to the mix to create a hearty and flavorful broth. Some recipes allow the ingredients to build the broth while others will also incorporate a pre-made chicken or fish broth.
You may additionally see coconut milk added to the soup, creating a creamy flavor profile that offsets some of the heat from the chiles. It’s served with a side of jasmine rice or on its own. If you don’t like shrimp, you can still enjoy this soup as there are many varieties of tom yum, including those with chicken or pork.
4. Som Tam
Som Tam, also known as Thai green papaya salad, is a spicy yet refreshing Thai food dish. This is another recipe that is said to have originated outside of Thailand, in this case, in Laos. Today, it’s widely enjoyed throughout Thailand, particularly in the northeastern region.
This Thai food offers a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors with an earthy blend of shredded green papaya, crunchy long beans and chopped fresh tomatoes. These fruits and vegetables are coated in a vibrant sauce made with ingredients like lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, garlic and Thai or bird’s eye chilies. Most recipes see a final ingredient of chopped roasted peanuts sprinkled over top for extra flavor and crunch.
As with many Thai dishes, you can find Thai papaya salad recipes with customizations and different ingredients. For example, some recipes may add shrimp or use shrimp paste in place of fish sauce. This dish can be enjoyed alone but is often served with glutinous rice and grilled meats like chicken or beef.
5. Thai Weeping Tiger Beef
You’ll be pleased to learn that there's no crying involved with Thai weeping tiger beef — just pure satisfaction! This Thai food is perfect for lovers of steak, featuring mouthwatering sliced beef seasoned to perfection in a delectable marinade of soy sauce, fish sauce or oyster sauce, coriander, sugar and garlic.
Once marinated, the meat is grilled or broiled to perfection and served with a delicious dipping sauce made with ingredients like lime juice, chiles, fish sauce and cilantro.
6. Thai Green Curry
Another Thai food on this list that needs no introduction is Thai green curry. This is a staple dish that originated in Central Thailand. It’s now consumed throughout the country and is very popular globally as well. In fact, it’s likely one of the most popular dishes at your local Thai restaurant!
At the heart of this Thai food recipe is an aromatic green curry paste, made from a spicy blend of green chilies, lemongrass, galangal and Thai basil. The paste is simmered with creamy coconut milk, the protein of your choice and fresh vegetables before being served with jasmine rice.
7. Black Sticky Rice Pudding
With a delicious serving of black sticky rice pudding, you can momentarily forget your worries, one spoonful at a time. While it’s absolutely perfect for dessert lovers, even those without a major sweet tooth will enjoy this treat.
This Thai food derives its striking color from black glutinous rice, soaked overnight to achieve a tender, creamy texture. It’s then simmered with palm sugar and coconut milk before being served with fresh mango or toasted coconut garnish.
8. Khao Soi
Khao soi is a Northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup that’s particularly popular in the Chiang Mai district of Thailand. This rich and comforting Thai food is made with egg noodles soaked in an aromatic coconut milk curry broth (made with beef, seafood or chicken) and a spice blend that includes red curry paste and turmeric. It’s then garnished with crispy fried noodles, pickled vegetables and shallots for added texture.
9. Laab
Next on this list of scrumptious Thai food is laab, a northeastern dish from Thailand's Isaan region that translates to “minced meat salad.” It's no surprise that the key ingredient is meat, which is seasoned with a fresh blend of spicy, tangy and salty flavors from chilies, lime juice, mushrooms and mint leaves.
Various kinds of meat may be used, with options including pork, chicken or even fish. You may also be able to find a version with mushrooms as the primary protein in place of meat or fish. Enjoy your laab with a side of sticky or steamed rice and indulge in the balance of spicy, sour and savory notes.
10. Khao Pad
Khao pad is a classic Thai fried rice, often enjoyed for lunch or dinner. Quick and easy to prepare, khao pad is made with your choice of pork, beef, chicken, seafood or tofu, stir-fried with jasmine rice and eggs, plus fish sauce, garlic and onions.
A selection of other vegetables are also fried with the rice. The simplicity, combined with rich, earthy flavors, makes khao pad one of the top Thai food dishes to try.
11. Thai Grilled Whole Fish
Smoky, tender and flaky best describe Thai grilled whole fish, also known as pla pao. This flavorful Thai food is typically made with tilapia or sea bass and is often lightly seasoned with salt before being slow-roasted over charcoal or pan-fried on the stove.
It’s then coated with a cooked sauce made from water mixed with garlic, sugar, galangal and coriander. Fish sauce, tamarind and chilies are also added to the sauce and the fish is served alongside jasmine rice.
12. Gaeng Daeng
If you're looking for a moderate level of spiciness, gaeng daeng (red curry) is your best bet. This rich curry won’t have you reaching for a glass of milk like green curry might, but it still packs a punch.
Popular in Central Thailand, gaeng daeng is made with red curry paste, lemongrass, galangal, garlic and chicken or beef, all combined with familiar Thai flavors. You can also make vegetarian Thai red curry with tofu or just vegetables. This is another Thai food that’s best served over fluffy steamed rice.
13. Pad Kra Pao Moo
Pad kra pao moo is another of the of best Thai dishes that’s well worth trying at least once. It features a tantalizing combination of stir-fried Thai basil and pork that balances spicy and sweet into one wholesome meal.
Minced pork and basil leaves are stir-fried with red chiles, garlic, palm sugar, green beans and fish sauce, then served over white rice and garnished with a crispy fried egg. It’s simple and quick, but most importantly, this Thai food doesn’t skimp on flavor.
14. Thai Drunken Noodles
If you’re a fan of flavorful noodle dishes, Thai drunken noodles (also known as pad kee mao) will definitely appeal to you. This stir-fried Thai food, cheekily known as a remedy for a long night out, features wide rice noodles combined with Thai basil, oyster sauce, garlic, fish sauce, green onions and chile. The protein can vary, but chicken is common. The ingredients are all quickly stir-fried in a hot wok and the dish is served steaming hot.
15. Khao Niao Mamuang
Next on this list is a popular Thai dessert: khao niao mamuang, which you may know as mango sticky rice. This rich treat originates from Central Thailand and beautifully combines glutinous sticky rice with a sweet coconut sauce made from coconut milk and sugar simmered in a saucepan. This indulgent Thai food is served with fresh mango slices and garnished with sesame seeds for added texture.
16. Thai Sticky Rice
A staple in many Thai food recipes, Thai sticky rice is a versatile and easy-to-prepare dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of flavors. Made by rinsing rice and allowing it to soak overnight for a minimum of six hours, Thai sticky rice is then steamed until translucent and ready to serve. This Thai food dish is typically served with spicy salads, coconut desserts and grilled meats.
17. Kaeng Lueang
With origins in Southern Thailand, kaeng lueang is an aromatic Thai food known for its bold yellow color, which comes from the generous helping of turmeric infused in the curry.
This yellow curry is made by sautéing yellow curry paste, spices and onions in oil, followed by your choice of meat and vegetables. Coconut milk is then added and simmered until everything is evenly cooked. Rich, nourishing and subtly spicy, kaeng lueang is often served with round rice noodles or steamed rice.
Learn To Cook Traditional Thai Food
While there are many restaurants serving Thai food, learning how to make Thai dishes allows you to enjoy them whenever you want. Cooking classes near you offer hands-on experiences with skilled chefs eagerly waiting to share their culinary expertise on everything Thai food-related.
There are plenty of classes, including online cooking classes, that explore traditional techniques and ingredients, allowing you to perfectly prepare beloved Thai dishes like pad thai and tom yum goong in your own kitchen.
Now that you know which Thai foods to look out for, you’ll be well-equipped for your next trip to your local Thai restaurant, preparing your homemade Thai feast or perhaps even while planning a trip to this Southeast Asian country to experience these popular Thai foods in their most authentic form. Whatever the case may be, you’ll be ready to explore the best of Thai cuisine, its plentiful flavorful offerings and beyond!
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Join the conversation.