Joanna James
Thai cuisine is famous the world over. Bangkok in addition to being the most vibrant city in the nation is a foodie's haven. From bustling street food markets to floating river food stalls and restaurants the place offers variety for the food connoisseur to savour, here are the best must-try dishes.
A very popular dish served at the lovely Chao Phraya riverside restaurants, Bangkok is famous for; Tom Yum Goong is a spicy prawn soup. Enjoy the authentic aroma of Thai food, even before you have your first taste of this soup which is made with chilli, fragrant lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal, shallots and fish sauce. The prawns, of course, are the star of the dish and taste fresh and succulent; perfect to enjoy at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort or other riverside restaurants promising exotic views across the scenic Chao Phraya.
Quite the refresher this spicy green papaya salad is a favourite amongst foreigners and locals. Flavours to contend with this is a 'must try and decide' type of dish. The flavours are unique with a lovely sweet and spicy taste to relish. Green beans, chillies, garlic, cherry tomato and lots of shredded green papaya go into this fresh salad.
A traditional favourite, this is a quintessential Thai dish which uses coconut as a top ingredient in Thailand. Tom Kha Kai or Chicken in Coconut Soup is made with hot chillies, crushed shallots, slices of tender galangal, lemongrass stalks and strips of tender chicken. The spicy punch is mellowed out with dollops of thick coconut cream, which renders a sweet and exotic flavour to the dish. The soup is served topped with lime leaves and is a thick creamy soup that's just perfect to enjoy after a day of sightseeing.
The classic 'Red Curry' of Thai cuisine this dish is made with meat, red curry paste, rich coconut cream and bits of kaffir lime leaves sprinkled on top. Perfect when eaten with a bowl of steamed rice, this dish is packed with flavour, with the meat cooked to a tender consistency offering one a delicately fragrant and flavoursome experience.
You cannot leave Bangkok without eating at least one dish of Pad Thai. A popular food served at the floating markets, pad Thai is deftly cooked up inside the wooden boats floating on the canals. It is available just about everywhere though, including the nearest street food stall to your hotel in Bangkok. The tempered noodles are made by stir-frying flat or thin noodles in a hot wok, together with onion, egg and crunchy beansprouts, with lots of sugar, chilli, fish sauce and ground peanuts sprinkled on top.
The quintessential fried rice dish of Thailand Khao Pad is rice stir-fried with vegetables, egg, onions and herbs. You decide on whether you want crab, prawns, beef, fish or chicken or all of it, added to the rice. Best enjoyed steaming hot, with chilli paste this is one of the top comfort foods to savour in Bangkok.
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