Travel Tips for Thailand Food
Thailand food is cheap and delicious. While many people are only familiar with pad thai, the food in Thailand goes far beyond simple noodles!
Read tips for what to eat, how to eat it, and what exactly makes Thai food so damn good.
Mama Noodles
Any menu item with the name “Mama” in it such as Mama noodles refers to the instant, Ramen-style noodles often given to kids in soup cups. These are obviously the cheapest noodles, and are deep-fried – not the best of Thai noodles.
No Alcohol on Holidays and Election Days
Expect no legal alcohol sales on election days, the King’s Birthday, and during a few other holidays in Thailand. Of course, you can still find people willing to sell on Khao San Road in Bangkok and in some bars/restaurants.
No Alcohol Sales After Midnight
Strangely, you now cannot buy alcohol in 7-11 or shops between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Also all sales stop in shops after midnight. This new law is strictly enforced by 7-11, so prepare for a big queue during peak times!
Buddhist Calendar Expiration Dates
When buying yogurt and other items you’ll notice many time the expiration date doesn’t make sense. Thailand uses a Buddhist calendar; the year 2554 refers to 2011 and so on.
Bangkok Street Food
You’ll find a great row of street carts with seating one block away from Khao San Road on the temple side of Soi Rambuttri. Turn right at the end of Khao San Road onto the main road, take your first left and walk until Rambuttri bends to the left.
Avoid Western Food
Western food is nearly always an expensive letdown. We all get tired of rice and noodles eventually, but remember: If they can’t spell it on a menu correctly, they probably can’t cook it correctly!
Choose Restaurants that Are Busy
When choosing a place to eat, look for volume. Busy restaurants with higher turnover buy fresh ingredients constantly; your chances of getting sick from bad food are less. These places are usually busy for a reason!
No Need to Tip
With only a few exceptions in Western hotels and five-star restaurants, tipping is never expected or required in bars, cafes, and restaurants.
How to Eat Properly
Although no one would ever say anything, the proper way to eat in Southeast Asia is with spoon in your right hand and fork in your left. The fork never goes into the mouth. Chopsticks are only used for noodles and soup.
Beware for Peanut Allergies
Nearly all dishes – including pad thai – in Thailand are cooked with peanut oil in the wok. If you suffer from peanut allergies, beware, and preferably eat at Western restaurants where you can clearly communicate the allergy.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai is the default noodle dish in Thailand. Expect rice noodles with egg, your choice of meat, bean sprouts, other vegetables, and lots of seasonings. Pad Thai varies from place to place, but nearly every variation is delicious.
Street Food (Click to read more)
Yes, it’s safe to eat the street food in Thailand! Read about how to find safe street food and see a few pictures…
