5 delicious foods you just have to try in Thailand

Article by program consultant Cara Suriyamongkol.

Due to the vast majority of my father’s family being in Thailand, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to visit multiple times over the last couple years. And while I love the golden-glinting temples and the hum of the tut-tuts buzzing in the streets as much as any other visitor, my true love, and the highlight of every trip, is immersing myself in the spicy-citrusy explosion of flavor that is Thai cuisine.

I also understand if you’re new to Thai food it can be a bit overwhelming sifting through the foreign names and ingredients, so here are a couple suggestions that I never leave without getting:

#5 Tom Yum Soup

The official “national dish” of Thailand, Tom Yum soup is probably the most quintessential Thai food you can dig into. It’s spicy and tangy, flavored with lemongrass, lime, coconut milk and ginger (amongst lots of other good stuff). You usually can get it with any kind of meat, but the more traditional style is with shrimp and/or other kinds of seafood.

#4 Thai Iced Coffee

This one is a winner for me because of my hopeless sweet tooth. Thai iced coffee is usually made with espresso or a strong, dark coffee paired with the overpowering sweetness of condensed milk. Throw in some shaved ice and you have yourself one of the most ridiculously flavorful coffees in the world.

#3 Som Tam

If you’re not into spicy, this is probably not going to do it for you. Otherwise, do not leave Thailand without tasting Green Papaya Salad! Unripe green papaya is shredded into thin slices (the thinner, the better – in fact, I always found the thinner the cut, the higher quality the papaya salad) and pounded with fish sauce, chili pepper, tamarind, lime juice and more. Som Tam also happens to be super accessible and inexpensive – it’s one of the most common street foods you’ll find.

#2 Curry

Of course, if you’re heading out to Thailand in search of good food, you’re likely a curry fan. There are lots of Thai curries and all of them are delicious – red, Phanaeng, green, Matsaman. However, if you’re new to the scene and are uncertain as to which one to order, go for green curry. It’s not as spicy as red, not as sweet as Matsaman, and just an all-around good choice.

#1 Kao Niow Mamuang

This is probably my all-time favorite food, otherwise known as “coconut sticky rice”. Its sweet sticky rice with coconut cream sauce poured on top and served with a side of fresh, juicy mango. It’s the perfect balance of flavor. On the one hand you have the creamy, soft and sweet thickness of the rice and on the other the bright freshness of the mango.

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Guest blogger: Cara Suriyamongkol, Explorica Program Consultant

Meet Cara, one of Explorica’s dedicated program consultants. Cara has had her fair share of adventures jet-setting across the globe, including a year and a half living in China. So, to get the scoop on China tours, just ask Cara!