Joanna James
Tipped to be Thailand's most popular beach holiday hub, Pattaya is also a dream come true for foodies and Thai culinary enthusiasts. From seafood delicacies to crunchy salads, here are 8 local dishes every tourist must try in Pattaya.
When it comes to delicious desserts, there's nothing quite as refreshing as a bowl of Kha Niao Mamuang. Often featured on buffet dessert menus at Travelodge Pattaya and countless other hotels near Pattaya Beach, this delectable treat made with coconut milk, sticky rice and ripe mangoes is the perfect way to end a meal. Those who venture down Pattaya town's streets during the heat of summer will also find street food vendors selling this juicy and wholesome dessert drizzled with palm sugar.
Those on the lookout for the best prawn-infused soup in Pattaya will find no finer alternative to the classic Tom Yum Goong. Widely available in nearly every Thai restaurant in the beach capital, this flavourful dish is both spicy and tangy and is often considered the perfect starter soup before a rice meal as it whets the appetite. Some restaurants will also include mushrooms and other veggies in the soup although fresh prawns are the main ingredient.
When it comes to rice meals, one cannot go wrong with grilled chicken and steamed rice. Considered a street food staple in Pattaya, this rice dish is both spicy and sweet. The chicken meat is marinated in both lemongrass and garlic before being grilled. Lathered in soy sauce and fish sauce, the grilled chicken pairs perfectly with both noodles and rice.
Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand, and no trip to Pattaya would be complete without sampling the local variation of this most popular noodle dish. Thai fried noodle meals in Pattaya typically include both chicken and prawn meat in addition to onions and scrambled eggs. Tofu is also piled onto Pattaya's Pad Thai plates in generous amounts.
Seafood lovers based in Pattaya must order this authentic Thai fish meal the next time they are in a local restaurant. The grilled fish is not only covered in a thick spice mix to create this dish but is also slathered with salt to keep the fishy flavour intact. Lemongrass is also added to the spice mix to give Pla Pao its unique flavour. Often served with rice and garlic or chilli sauce, it is a popular lunch meal option for locals.
Moo Ping is grilled pork served on a skewer that's usually sold by street food stalls in Pattaya. It is a well-loved street food option among the local populace.
This zesty and crunchy salad is made using shredded papaya and also includes prawns and a special spice mix that gives the dish its tangy flavour. Som Tum is one of the healthier dishes in the Thai canon. Pattaya restaurants usually list Som Tum as an appetiser.
Another street food favourite in Pattaya, Satay is any marinated meat item skewered and sold on a stick.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
