Joanna James
It's almost a rite of passage as a tourist when visiting a country, to discover the local flavours, herbs, and cuisines of the country. Some feel that the best and most authentic way to do this is to try out street food, arguably the truest and most down-to-earth (literally!) expression of simple cuisine in a locality, and who are we to argue? When it comes to Thailand, this is not only true, but a gateway to some of the most delicious foods that you could ever find - as well as get a deep-dived insight into the culture of the country you chose to visit.
Khai Krata, or fried eggs on a pan, is a popular and delicious breakfast dish in Thailand. As explained in the namesake, the dish consists of fried eggs that come in a pan, sprinkled with additions of diced meats like sizzling pork, cha lua, and garnished with veggies and/or garlic. The dish itself is sold on various carts and hole-in-the-wall restaurants as early as 5 in the morning, so if you want a headstart like the locals do, you can wake as the roosters do, and head out into the streets for yourself.
This fried dough is the Thai equivalent of doughnuts! Made and sold in the streets of Thailand in the mornings as well, the Patonngo come in various shapes and sizes that depend on the seller! Although you'll find a bit of a debate on whether the larger or smaller ones taste the best, there's no doubt that they're all a certain level of delicious - and you can find most sellers in and around any good hotel in Chiang Mai if you looked hard enough, as there's always a bit of a demand for these.
These heavenly little Thai desserts are some of the most exotic, and yet visually simplified foods you can get in Thailand! Basically, they are coconut rice pancakes that have been split in two and presented on a leaf for a little traditional flair, filled with condensed coconut milk, flour, and herbs, and grilled in an indented frying pan. Consider stepping out of such hotels like the Travelodge Nimman and exploring the area for a stall or two that sells these - it's worth the effort.
A staple through and through, the Khao Mun Ghai, or Thai Chicken Rice, is an extremely popular meal served almost everywhere, at almost any time. Its affordability and great taste are what make it truly a staple in Thailand and within the culture itself. It's also representative of the distillation of culture from China and other eastern sources, itself being a variant of Hainanese chicken rice. Truly a dish that's both delicious and contains multitudes within.
A Thai dish with a certain Chinese influence, this meal is almost rivalled in popularity by the previous entry. Khao Ka Moo, also referred to as Braised Pork on Rice, is served in nearly all the same places as Thai Chicken Rice, but not consumed with the same impunity - it's a heavier meal that's mostly eaten for lunch and dinner, featuring thinly sliced pork rinds along with bisected boiled eggs, and various greens. What makes it different from Thai Chicken Rice is the extremely delicious broth that you can pour over the dish!
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.
