Must-Try Local Food in Thailand - Adventures in Eating

Here's a plate of freshness that is going to send your eyebrows and your taste buds into a tizzy. Som Tum is Green Papaya Salad and noticeably not a dish that is often served up to unassuming customers. No, this is one that is signature to Thailand with its bizarre ingredients and flavours that jump out at you without any prior warning. Chilli, green beans, garlic, tomato and of course, the essential element- cut up pieces of fresh papaya all go into this unique preparation. There are a couple of places of star class accommodation around the region such as Anantara Sathorn Bangkok Hotel which offer tasty Thai-inspired cuisine to their hungry guests.

Curry lovers are far from forgotten on Thailand's ever-incredible menu. This a meaty curry made with creamy coconut milk and red curry paste with a dash of kaffir lime. It is said that this fragrant and thick curry is guaranteed to set your taste buds on fire. The meat is cooked to perfection; soft, sweet-tasting and deliciously aromatic. Those who taste it always come back for more.

Whenever anyone speaks of Thai cuisine, there is usually a good chance that this favourite preparation will pop up. It is for good reason that Pad Thai is loved by locals and tourists alike and any Sathorn restaurants are bound to serve these up. Cups of noodles are emptied into a steaming wok with bean sprouts, onions and eggs until they are loaded onto plates and served. A rather simple preparation for such a celebrated dish which echoes the famous notion of "less is more". Diners can add extra spices, sauces, nuts and other condiments of their choosing to customise the dish according to their palate.

A fried rice dish. Yet another simple dish whose strength lies in that it is nothing more than what it is. Yet the dish demands the usual suspects for ingredients- eggs, onions, herbs, and the fried rice. Diners get to pick how they enjoy their meal when it comes to this dish as well. You can dress it however way you want with your choice of meat or seafood and vegetables too.

This curry uses eggplant, bamboo shoots, fresh chicken, coriander and basil for flavour. Though fairly simple ingredients, it is a very fine green curry in the end. It is the mixture of green curry paste and thick coconut milk which gives it that leafy colour. Geng Keow Wan Kai is usually served with a bowlful of aromatic rice.

This is easily the king of salads. Yam Nua or spicy beef salad is Thailand born and bred. One taste and you will know the Thai flavours from a mile away. Chilli. Lime, spearmint, onion. Coriander and chunks of beef dominate this dish and is a great first expression of the kind of salad Thailand can offer you.