Best Thai Street Food Dishes

Street food is everywhere in Thailand but if you don't know what to order it can be a little overwhelming. Here are five top Thai street food dishes to try when you visit.

1. Som Tam(papaya salad)

Som Tam, a sweet, sour, spicy, salty salad made from shredded green papayas, tomatoes, garlic, shrimp, peanuts and chili peppers is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand. You can find it in almost any area where street food is sold. The flavor combination might not be familiar but it's delicious, refreshing and very healthy. Most Thais like their Som Tam spicy so if you order it make sure to ask for a mild version!

2. Noodle Soup

Guay Teow or noodle soup, is the most popular Thai street food dish. It comes from China(hence the Chinese name) but has become uniquely Thai over the years. The soup is made from a chicken, pork or beef stock and the noodles are either rice noodles or egg noodles(you get to pick). Most vendors throw in some vegetables and either sliced meat, meat balls or wontons. So how is it uniquely Thai? The dried chili peppers, sugar, lime juice and fish sauce you use as condiments!

3. Pad Thai

Everyone knows Pad Thai, Thailand's famous stir fried noodle dish with shrimp and tofu and a hit of tamarind. Pad Thai isn't as popular in Thailand as it is abroad but most street food vendors that make stir fries also offer Pad Thai.

4. Grilled Meats

Moo Ping, or grilled pork skewers, is another hugely popular street food, but it's not just skewers of pork you'll find being grilled on the street. There's also grilled chicken and even sometimes grilled buffalo! Every street food vendor has his or her own recipe for the marinade, but it's usually sweet and garlicky.

5. Thai Desserts

Thai street food is convenient, but it can be indulgent, too! You'll find plenty of sweets and desserts being sold along side the noodles and grilled meats. Mango sticky rice is only available in very busy areas, but you can always find fresh fruit, fried bananas and Thai sweets.

Suzanne Nam