If there’s one word that best describes Thai food, it would be “aromatic.” That’s because most Thai dishes smell as tantalizing as they taste due to unique staple ingredients, including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, ginger, and chilies. There are a number of dishes that feature these flavors and show why Thai cuisine is now a favorite around the world.

Which Thai Foods Do You Need to Taste?

1. Pad Thai

Perhaps the most recognizable meal of all, pad Thai is a hearty dish of rice noodles, tofu, shrimp, peanuts, eggs, beansprouts, shallots, green onions, pepper, and garlic. The ingredients are then dressed with fish sauce and lime juice or tamarind paste. It tickles the taste buds with its sweet, sour, spicy, and salty flavors. 

The delectable dish was meant to establish the nation’s identity. In 1930, then-Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram declared pad Thai as a national food, to be eaten by everyone.

2. Tom Yum

Another staple Thai food is the tom yum, a tasty soup brimming with spicy, sour, salty, and sweet flavors, thanks to its blend of Thai chilies, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, lime juice, and fish sauce. It comes with shrimp, chicken, pork, or seafood, but if you want a healthier option for protein, swap out the meat for straw or oyster mushrooms.  

3. Tom Kah Gai

Like tom yum, tom kah gai is another Thai delicacy famed for its unique, elaborate taste. Translated to mean “chicken galangal soup,” it features coconut milk or cream that adds body and flavor to the dish while toning down the heat of chilies. The soup also has mushrooms, lemongrass, galangal, and cilantro or coriander leaves, giving it a fresh taste.  

4. Green Papaya Salad

When it comes to salad, Thai chefs do it differently. Instead of leafy vegetables, they use unripe papayas as the main ingredient. Called som tam or som tum, the shredded green papaya goes well with lime juice, crushed peanuts, sugar or sugar cane paste, fish sauce, tomatoes, string beans, pounded garlic and fresh chilies. Some variations include shrimp, crab, or fermented fish sauce for extra flavor. 

5. Pineapple Fried Rice

Because Thailand is a rice-producing country, it’s no surprise that the ingredient is found in dishes that range from salty to sweet. Pineapple fried rice is a wonderful surprise—a plate of yellow curry-infused fragrant rice stir-fried with pineapples, raisins, cashew nuts, and onions. Shrimp and meat are optional, as you may find the meatless version perfectly delicious and satisfying on its own.   

When you’re ready to try any of the iconic dishes that Thailand has to offer, visit Noi Thai Cuisine. Located in Honolulu, HI, this upscale restaurant offers authentic, world-famous Thai food for lunch, dinner, and catering. Browse their extensive menu online and call (808) 664-4039 to find out how you can enjoy their dishes at home.