Joanna James
Located on Thailand's east coast, Pattaya is a renowned fishing village famed for its sandy beaches and bustling nightlife. It is also home to several restaurants serving delicious Thai cuisine, but the highlight is its street food. Here are 10 street food delicacies to try in Pattaya.
This world-famous Thai dish is essentially a Thai take on papaya salad. It consists of slices of raw papaya marinated in a dressing made of lemon juice, lemon zest, spices, sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, and Thai chilli. Titillating your tastebuds with its sweet, sour, and spicy flavour, Som Tum is served with dried shrimp or salt crab and drizzled with peanuts.
A popular Thai street food delicacy, satay can be found on any street corner in Pattaya. If you are staying at a Pattaya beach resort, the likes of Avani Pattaya Resort, laneways dotted with street food stalls are within walking distance, making it easy to find satays of all shapes and kinds. Satays are skewered on a larger-than-life toothpick and feature chicken, sausages, pork, fish, beef, or fruits.
Pad Thai can be easily found at any street stall or food cart. This globally-renowned Thai dish is made with flat noodles, eggs, onions, prawns or chicken, tofu, and sweet and sour sauce. The crunchiness of the dish is achieved by the addition of bean sprouts.
Gai Yang is a simple Thai street food delicacy featuring grilled chicken marinated in garlic, lemongrass, Thai soy sauce, and fish sauce. It is typically served with a sweet chilli sauce and sticky rice.
Translating to 'rice covered with curry', Khao Gaeng is famous among Pattaya locals as a readymade dish. The dish comprises stir-fried rice coated with curry and topped with either vegetables or a variety of meats. It is an ideal dish for when you are in a hurry and need something whipped up in a matter of minutes.
This street food delicacy is equivalent to a quick bite. Moo Ping is grilled pork on a wooden skewer accompanied by sticky rice and a spicy, sour dipping sauce. The dish may also be made with other types of meat, such as flat chicken.
You've probably had tons of omelette made in different ways at home or various destinations worldwide. However, a Thai omelette is a must. Kai Jeow is a light, airy omelette served on cooked rice and seasoned with fish sauce or chillies.
Pla Pao is a popular street food meal in Pattaya. The highlight of the dish is the fish, a whole fish coated with a thick layer of salt to keep the fish tender and juicy. It is seasoned with spices, while lemongrass is stuffed in the fish to infuse a sour, fruity flavour. Pla Pao is generally served with a garlic-chilli seafood dipping sauce and sticky rice.
This stir-fry dish is a lesser-known street food delicacy in Pattaya. Pad Krapow Moo Saap comprises minced pork, garlic, chilli, onions, green beans, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Some local vendors enhance the dish by adding basil or garnishing it with a fried egg.
You cannot leave Pattaya without trying this classic Thai dessert, particularly famous during the summer months. This delicacy is made with chopped fresh mangoes, sticky rice, coconut milk, and palm sugar.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
