Travel Tips

Best Thai Foods: popular and cheap menus Table of Contents Local Thai Dishes You Must Try Everyone knows Thailand is known for its delicious cuisine. However, you may not realize that there are regional differences in our cuisine. Each region’s residents love a distinct type of food and flavor. In Isaan Thailand (Northeastern Thailand), for example, spicy tasty foods such as Som Tam (papaya salad), Larb, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Park Neck, and sticky rice are favored. Isaan people really love sticky rice; it is always their first choice. Southerners, on the other hand, prefer soft-boiled rice with curries or stir-fries. The main ingredients in southern cuisine are herbs, vegetables, and seafood, and they favor saltier dishes. However, there are some common Thai cuisines that locals love regardless of region. This post will introduce “Types of Cheap Thai Foods” that are popular and open across Thailand. I’d like to encourage you to try them when you visit Thailand. Some of the local restaurants have unique decorating styles that you can realize when you see them. But I think only a few foreigners have tried them because most local eateries do not have English menus, making it difficult for foreigners to order the foods they desire. So, in case you’re interested in attempting one, I try to provide as many pictures and descriptions as possible. 1. Boat Noodle [ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ] What Makes a Hit I read through many sources and try to figure out how the boat noodle becomes the most beloved Thai dish (in my opinion). Here is what I can conclude from those sources. The origin of the boat noodle was back in 1942. Our prime minister, Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram, released many State Policies aiming to improve social and economic for citizens. That year, Thailand had a big flood, the prime minister had to take a boat to work at the Government House, and some people took a boat to bring him meals. Of course, that dish was a noodle, as you could expect…haha. Then he had the brilliant notion of persuading people to eat more noodles because they are delicious and simple to prepare. If millions of Thais eat noodles every day, Thailand’s economy will benefit greatly. As a result, he began providing free food carts to anyone who wanted to sell noodles. Highlight & How to Order Many boat noodle restaurants share a similar décor concept, making it easy for customers to recognize what they’re serving. They like to place a boat (mock-up) in front of their restaurants or utilize it as a food stall. As a result, we’ll recognize that these are boat noodle restaurants right away. Ordering boat noodles is simple. Choose noodles: small noodles [in Thai >>> เส้นเล็ก] vermicelli [เส้นหมี่ขาว] glass noodles [วุ้นเส้น] egg noodles [เส้นบะหมี่] big flat noodles [เส้นใหญ่] instant noodles [เส้นมาม่า] 2. Choose meat: pork [หมู] pork ball [ลูกชิ้นหมู] beef [เนื้อ] beef ball [ลูกชิ้นเนื้อ] (no fish ball in boat noodle restaurants) 3. Choose a level of spicy: normal spicy [เผ็ดปกติ] less spicy [เผ็ดน้อย] no spicy [ไม่เผ็ดเลย] The flavor is slightly sour and sweet, but not always, depending on the recipes of each restaurant. Many Boat Noodle restaurants add chili as the main ingredient, so if you can’t eat spicy at all, make sure you tell them “no spicy [ไม่เผ็ดเลย]” The boat noodle is served in a small bowl, which is another unique selling point. I usually order two bowls first to see how big portions they are. If you’ve never had boat noodles before, I recommend ordering just one bowl first, in case that you can’t handle it… The price per bowl is around 15-25 baht for local restaurants. By the way, do not forget to order fried pork rince (pork snack). It’s a typical side dish for boat noodles. Another signature thing is you probably see several pairs of tiny bowls on the table. They are a common dessert served in boat noodle restaurants, called Kanom Tuay (Coconut Milk Custard). The dessert has two layers: a little salty coconut cream on top and a sweet pandan-based layer underneath. Vermicelli and Big Flat Noodles Small noodles with Pork and Pork Ball [เส้นเล็กหมู+ลูกชิ้นหมู] Kanom Tuay: Coconut Cream & Pandan Layer Pork Snack All Gone. This meal cost us only 200 baht Boat Noodle from other restaurants, small portion also Experience an unforgettable journey with our comprehensive travel itinerary. Download it now to unlock the best of your trip! DOWNLOAD FREE Bangkok Travel Guide More Thailand Travel Guide Information 2. Rice Porridge with Side Dishes [ข้ามต้มกุ๊ย] What Makes a Hit To be honest, I’m not sure what word to use to describe this type of eatery. “Boiled Rice with Side Dishes” is the best title for me, but other people may use “Rice Porridge with Side Dishes.” This kind of restaurant ONLY OPENS at NIGHT, from about 6 PM until midnight (or maybe up to 2 AM). The trademark is that they usually have white slim neon lights, perhaps pink and green, in front of eateries. You will also see a showcase cabinet full of raw food ingredients, like vegetables, that’s covered by a red fabric is placed at the front. It’s easy to be recognized at night. It’s also a great place to meet up with friends for a few beers because Thais love to eat side dishes while drinking, and this type of restaurant offers a wide range of plates at reasonable costs. Highlight & How to Order Sometimes when I order my favorite dishes from different restaurants, the food can vary from a very delicious dish to tasting like crap. But when it comes to the “Rice Porridge with Side Dishes,” I’m never disappointed when I dine at this type of eatery. I think I’ve tried around 20 restaurants in various provinces, including Bangkok, Rayong, Pattaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao, and Samut Prakarn (why am I listing so many…ha) and they’re all good. What are the menus then? Hmm…it’s tough to explain because there are so many menu