The Atlas · Nº 19 ·Thailand

Most Popular Thai Food

Thai food chases four flavors at once, sweet, sour, salty, and hot: a bowl of tom yum sharp with lemongrass and lime, a coconut curry pounded from fresh paste, rice noodles seared fast in a wok as pad thai. It runs on chilies, fish sauce, and fistfuls of herbs, and no two cooks balance it quite the same.

142 dishes ranked·16 in the global top 1,000 ·3,664 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 43

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 142 ranked thai dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked Thai dishes, by global position.

Khao soi, noodle dish from Thailand
Plate IINoodle Dish · Thailand

1 Nº 43 worldwide

Khao soi

Noodle Dish · ข้าวซอย · ເຂົ້າຊອຍ · Khao Soy

Northern Thailand's coconut curry noodle soup, egg noodles in a rich, mildly spiced golden broth, topped with crisp fried noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallot, and lime. A Chiang Mai signature shaped by Burmese and Yunnanese hands, it is our top-ranked Thai dish.

★ 4.5|91% positive |117 ratings

Massaman Curry, stew from Thailand
Plate IIIStew · Thailand

2 Nº 63 worldwide

Massaman Curry

Stew · Matsaman · Gaeng Matsaman · Kaeng Matsaman

The mildest and sweetest of the Thai curries, a Muslim-influenced braise of beef or chicken in coconut milk with potatoes, peanuts, and warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom. Richer and gentler than the fiery curries, it often tops lists of the world's best dishes.

★ 4.5|89% positive |144 ratings

Phat kaphrao, stir-fry from Thailand

3Phat kaphraoNº 119

Stir-fry · Also ผัดกะเพรา

A fiery Thai stir-fry of minced pork, chicken, or seafood tossed with holy basil, garlic, and bird's-eye chili, salty-hot and finished in minutes over a screaming wok. Spooned over rice and crowned with a crispy fried egg as pad kaphrao khai dao, it is the go-to Thai fast lunch.

★ 4.4|51 ratings

Phanaeng Curry, stew from Thailand

4Phanaeng CurryNº 170

Stew · Also Panang Curry

A thick, dry Thai curry with a salty-sweet peanut flavor, the paste enriched with ground peanuts and less coconut liquid than a soupy curry, clinging to slices of beef or chicken. Milder than red or green, it is finished with kaffir lime leaf and a drizzle of coconut cream.

★ 4.3|113 ratings

Red Curry, stew from Thailand

5Red CurryNº 413

Stew · Also Thai Red Curry

One of Thailand's everyday curries, its red color and heat coming from dried red chilies pounded into the paste, then simmered with coconut milk, meat, and vegetables. Soupier than a phanaeng and hotter than a massaman, it is the workhorse of the Thai curry family.

★ 4.2|126 ratings

Green Curry, stew from Thailand

6Green CurryNº 466

Stew

Thailand's green curry, kaeng khiao wan, built on a paste of fresh green chilies, lemongrass, and galangal that gives it its color and its serious heat. Sweetened with coconut milk and studded with pea eggplant and basil, its name means sweet green but it bites.

★ 4.2|217 ratings

Curry Paste, sauce from Thailand

7Curry PasteNº 554

Sauce

The foundation of every Thai curry, a paste pounded in a stone mortar from chilies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shrimp paste, and spices, sorted by color and heat into red, green, and yellow. Fried in coconut cream to release its aroma, it is where a curry begins.

★ 4.1|66 ratings

Pad Thai, stir-fry from Thailand

8Pad ThaiNº 588

Stir-fry · Also Kway Teow Pad Thai

Thailand's national dish, thin rice noodles stir-fried with tamarind, fish sauce, and palm sugar, tossed with egg, tofu, dried shrimp, and bean sprouts, then finished with crushed peanuts and lime. Sweet, sour, and savory at once, it is the taste of a Bangkok street cart.

★ 4.1|599 ratings

Tom kha gai, chicken soup from Thailand

9Tom kha gaiNº 611

Chicken Soup · Also Tom kha kai

A creamy, tangy Thai soup of chicken in coconut milk, sharpened with galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime, and a squeeze of lime. Milder and rounder than its fiery cousin tom yum, it is soothing, fragrant, and one of the gentlest introductions to Thai flavor.

★ 4.1|124 ratings

Khao phat, rice dish from Thailand

10Khao phatNº 620

Rice Dish · Also ข้าวผัด

Thai fried rice, day-old jasmine rice stir-fried with egg, onion, and a little fish sauce and sugar, plus chicken, prawn, or crab. Simple and quick, it comes with a wedge of lime, sliced cucumber, and a small dish of chili fish sauce on the side.

★ 4.1|34 ratings

Tom yum, seafood soup from Thailand

11Tom yumNº 654

Seafood Soup

The famous hot-and-sour Thai soup, a clear or creamy broth sharp with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, lime juice, and chili, usually loaded with prawns. Bracing, aromatic, and fiery, tom yum goong is one of the dishes the whole world knows Thailand by.

★ 4.1|355 ratings

Thai Curry, stew from Thailand

12Thai CurryNº 706

Stew

Thai curry in the general sense, a soupier dish than its Indian cousin, coconut milk or water loosened with a pounded curry paste and simmered with meat and vegetables. Red, green, yellow, or beyond, it is served ladled over rice, the everyday heart of the Thai table.

★ 4.1|245 ratings

The Departments

Every Thai dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 142 Thai dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

142 entries
  1. 43 Khao soi Noodle Dish Northern Thailand ★ 4.5
  2. 63 Massaman Curry Stew Thailand ★ 4.5
  3. 119 Phat kaphrao Stir-fry Thailand ★ 4.4
  4. 170 Phanaeng Curry Stew Thailand ★ 4.3
  5. 413 Red Curry Stew Thailand ★ 4.2
  6. 466 Green Curry Stew Central Thailand ★ 4.2
  7. 554 Curry Paste Sauce Thailand ★ 4.1
  8. 588 Pad Thai Stir-fry Thailand ★ 4.1
  9. 611 Tom kha gai Chicken Soup Central Thailand ★ 4.1
  10. 620 Khao phat Rice Dish Thailand ★ 4.1
  11. 654 Tom yum Seafood Soup Thailand ★ 4.1
  12. 706 Thai Curry Stew Thailand ★ 4.1
  13. 737 Khao kha mu Pork Dish Thailand ★ 4.1
  14. 750 Yellow Curry Stew Thailand ★ 4.1
  15. 751 Khao niao mamuang Pudding Thailand ★ 4.1
  16. 855 Sai krok Isan Sausage Northeastern Thailand ★ 4.0
  17. 1,038 Thung thong Dumplings Thailand ★ 4.0
  18. 1,254 Pa thong ko Sweet Pastry Thailand ★ 4.0
  19. 1,280 Phat si-io Stir-fry Thailand ★ 4.0
  20. 1,488 G Green Curry Paste (Gaeng kiew wan) Sauce Central Thailand ★ 3.9
  21. 1,511 Nam phrik Sauce Thailand ★ 3.9
  22. 1,528 Thai Grilled Chicken (Kai yang) Chicken Dish Northeastern Thailand ★ 3.9
  23. 1,534 Thot man kung Appetizer Thailand ★ 3.9
  24. 1,610 Sweet Chili Sauce (Nam chim kai) Dipping Sauce Thailand ★ 3.9
  25. 1,819 Khanom khrok Pancake Thailand ★ 3.9
  26. 1,838 Khua kling Stir-fry Southern Thailand ★ 3.9
  27. 1,895 Hang Lay Curry (Kaeng hang le) Stew Northern Thailand ★ 3.9
  28. 1,907 Nam phrik phao Sauce Thailand ★ 3.9
  29. 1,927 Suea rong hai Beef Dish Northeastern Thailand ★ 3.9
  30. 1,928 Mu manao Pork Dish Thailand ★ 3.9
  31. 1,957 Nang kai thot Snack Thailand ★ 3.9
  32. 1,986 Khao khluk kapi Rice Dish Thailand ★ 3.9
  33. 2,014 Thai Egg Stew (Khai phalo) Stew Thailand ★ 3.9
  34. 2,017 Khao mok gai Chicken Dish Thailand ★ 3.9
  35. 2,116 Phak bung fai daeng Vegetable Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  36. 2,117 Som tam Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  37. 2,167 Suki haeng Noodle Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  38. 2,223 Thot man khao phot Appetizer Thailand ★ 3.8
  39. 2,239 R Red Curry Paste (Phrik kaeng phet) Sauce Thailand ★ 3.8
  40. 2,365 Mee krob Noodle Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  41. 2,393 Khao lam Dessert Thailand ★ 3.8
  42. 2,406 Kluai thot Deep-fried Dessert Thailand ★ 3.8
  43. 2,521 Pla thot Fish Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  44. 2,531 Miang kham Assorted Small Dishes or Ritual Thailand ★ 3.8
  45. 2,551 Roti sai mai Pancake Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province ★ 3.8
  46. 2,678 Thai Pandan Chicken (Kai ho bai toei) Chicken Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  47. 2,685 Yam nuea yang Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  48. 2,686 Y Yellow Curry Paste (Nam prik gaeng karee) Sauce Thailand ★ 3.8
  49. 2,734 Deep-Fried Chicken and Lemongrass (Kai thot takhrai) Fried Chicken Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  50. 2,782 Pla duk phat phet Stir-fry Thailand ★ 3.8
  51. 2,784 Nam pla wan Dip Thailand ★ 3.8
  52. 2,793 Dara thong Dessert Thailand ★ 3.8
  53. 2,883 Steamed Fish with Lime Garlic Sauce (Pla neung manao) Fish Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  54. 2,909 Jungle Curry (Kaeng pa) Stew Northern Thailand ★ 3.8
  55. 2,922 Mu kratha Meat Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  56. 2,929 Phla kung Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  57. 2,974 Drunken noodles (Pad kee mao) Stir-fry Thailand ★ 3.8
  58. 2,981 Tom saep Soup Northern Thailand ★ 3.8
  59. 2,982 Sai ua Sausage Northern Thailand ★ 3.8
  60. 3,113 T Tom yum boran Noodle Soup Central Thailand ★ 3.8
  61. 3,117 H Ho mok maphrao on Stew Thailand ★ 3.8
  62. 3,142 Som tam mamuang Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  63. 3,192 Oh tao Street Food Phuket ★ 3.8
  64. 3,294 Yam kun chiang Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  65. 3,396 P Panang Curry Paste (Prik Gaeng Panang) Sauce Thailand ★ 3.8
  66. 3,402 K Khao phat amerikan Rice Dish Thailand ★ 3.8
  67. 3,455 Khanom chin nam ya Stew Central Thailand ★ 3.8
  68. 3,471 Papaya Salad (Som tam khai khem) Salad Thailand ★ 3.8
  69. 3,572 Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashews (Kai phat met mamuang himmaphan) Stir-fry Central Thailand ★ 3.7
  70. 3,577 Ruam mit Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  71. 3,593 Suki Soup Thailand ★ 3.7
  72. 3,850 K Khao mak Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  73. 3,865 Three-Flavor Fish (Pla sam rot) Saltwater Fish Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  74. 3,886 G Gai hor bai toey Chicken Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  75. 3,887 S Southern Thai Fried Chicken Fried Chicken Dish Hat Yai ★ 3.7
  76. 3,986 Kraya sat Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  77. 4,033 Rice Soaked in Cold Water (Khao chae) Rice Dish Phetchaburi Province ★ 3.7
  78. 4,088 Mu daet diao Pork Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  79. 4,090 Yam khai dao Salad Thailand ★ 3.7
  80. 4,149 Thong yip Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  81. 4,391 Thai Omelet (Khai yat sai) Egg Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  82. 4,398 Thai Congee (Chok) Porridge Thailand ★ 3.7
  83. 4,406 Yen ta fo Soup Thailand ★ 3.7
  84. 4,455 T Thai Crab Omelet (Kai jeow pu) Egg Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  85. 4,486 Mu thot krathiam Pork Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  86. 4,547 Isan-Style Curry (Kaeng om) Stew Northern Thailand ★ 3.7
  87. 4,633 Nam chim chaeo Sauce Thailand ★ 3.7
  88. 4,681 Lot chong nam kathi Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  89. 4,704 Khao khai chiao Egg Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  90. 4,719 Pla muek yang Squid Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  91. 4,739 Yum woon sen Salad Thailand ★ 3.7
  92. 4,776 Poo cha Crab Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  93. 4,833 Grass Jelly (Chao kuai) Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  94. 4,852 Steamed Coconut-Pandan Cake (Khanom chan) Dessert Thailand ★ 3.7
  95. 4,945 Son-in-Law Eggs (Khai luk khoei) Egg Dish Thailand ★ 3.7
  96. 5,183 Thai Shrimp and Glass Noodles (Goong ob woon sen) Noodle Dish Thailand ★ 3.6
  97. 5,254 Khanom tan Dessert Thailand ★ 3.6
  98. 5,441 Krathong thong Savory Pastry Thailand ★ 3.6
  99. 5,669 Sticky Rice with Custard (Khao niao sangkhaya) Dessert Thailand ★ 3.6
  100. 5,681 Yam mu krop Salad Thailand ★ 3.6
  101. 5,729 Khao tom Soup Thailand ★ 3.6
  102. 5,824 Massaman Curry Paste (Prik gaeng massaman) Sauce Thailand ★ 3.6
  103. 5,876 Khanom Tokyo Pancake Thailand ★ 3.6
  104. 5,943 Yam wun sen Salad Thailand ★ 3.6
  105. 5,956 Crispy Thai Pork Rinds (Khaep mu) Snack Thailand ★ 3.6
  106. 6,028 Thai Pumpkin Custard (Sangkhaya fak thong) Dessert Thailand ★ 3.6
  107. 6,071 Thai-Style Omelet with Mussels or Oysters (Hoy tod) Street Food Thailand ★ 3.6
  108. 6,073 Mu nam tok Salad Northeastern Thailand ★ 3.6
  109. 6,122 Luk chin ping Meatballs Thailand ★ 3.6
  110. 6,219 Khanom tom Dessert Thailand ★ 3.6
  111. 6,257 Tod man pla Snack Thailand ★ 3.5
  112. 6,438 Mu wan Pork Dish Thailand ★ 3.5
  113. 6,488 Tom chuet Vegetable Soup Thailand ★ 3.5
  114. 6,647 Pad woon sen Stir-fry Thailand ★ 3.5
  115. 6,744 Mu yang Pork Dish Thailand ★ 3.5
  116. 6,747 Mamuang nam pla wan Snack Thailand ★ 3.5
  117. 6,807 Kuai-tiao ruea Noodle Dish Central Thailand ★ 3.5
  118. 7,182 Khao op sapparot Rice Dish Thailand ★ 3.4
  119. 7,231 Thai Meat Hotpot with Galangal and Lemongrass (Chim chum) Meat Dish Thailand ★ 3.4
  120. 7,352 Phat phrik Meat Dish Thailand ★ 3.4
  121. 7,437 Khao phan phak Wrap Laplae District ★ 3.4
  122. 7,565 Golden Threads (Foi thong) Dessert Thailand ★ 3.4
  123. 7,717 Pla thot khamin Fish Dish Southern Thailand ★ 3.3
  124. 7,781 Malang tod Insect Dish Thailand ★ 3.3
  125. 7,833 Yam naem sot Salad Thailand ★ 3.3
  126. 8,165 Kung thot krathiam phrik thai Stir-fry Thailand
  127. 8,281 Thai Fish Entrails Sour Curry (Kaeng tai pla) Stew Southern Thailand ★ 3.1
  128. 8,348 Deep-Fried Silk Worms (Hon mhai) Insect Dish Thailand ★ 3.1
  129. 8,508 Sour Spicy Fish Curry (Kaeng som) Stew Central Thailand ★ 3.0
  130. 8,844 Phat phak khom Stir-fry Thailand
  131. 9,246 Tam khanun Salad Northern Thailand
  132. 9,474 T Thai beef noodles (Kuay teow neua) Meat Soup Thailand
  133. 9,546 P Phuket-Style Crab Curry Stew Phuket Province
  134. 9,704 N Nam phrik kha Dipping Sauce Northern Thailand
  135. 9,735 T Thong muan sot Pancake Kanchanaburi Province
  136. 9,772 T Tam makhuea Side Dish Northern Thailand
  137. 9,820 T Thai Pickled Mango (Mamuang dong) Pickling Thailand
  138. 10,020 T Thai crispy rolls (Thong muan) Dessert Thailand
  139. 10,385 Mod daeng Insect Dish Thailand
  140. 10,483 Rod duan Insect Dish Thailand
  141. 10,571 Khanom farang kutti chin Cake Bangkok
  142. 10,693 T Tai pla Sauce Southern Thailand
Leaf 1 of 4

Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of Thai Food

Where Thailand's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

Thai food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Thai food?
By ratings, the world's Thai favorites: Pad Thai, the sweet-sour stir-fried noodles that are the national dish, then the hot-and-sour Tom yum soup and Thai Curry. Our best-ranked Thai dish is Khao soi, Northern Thailand's coconut curry noodle soup. All 24 Thai soups & stews →
What food is Thailand known for?
Curries, stir-fries, and the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and hot. Thailand is curry country, from the mild Massaman Curry to the fiery Green Curry, and its stir-fries like Phat kaphrao and Pad Thai are everywhere. Soups like Tom yum tie the aromatics together.
What is Thailand's national dish?
Pad Thai, the tamarind-sweet stir-fried rice noodles, is Thailand's most famous national dish, promoted nationwide in the mid-20th century. Tom yum and Green Curry are the other global ambassadors. In our data the top-ranked Thai dish is Khao soi, the northern curry noodle soup.
What are the types of Thai curry?
Thai curries are sorted by their paste. Green Curry is the hottest, from fresh green chilies; Red Curry is the everyday hot one from dried chilies; Massaman Curry is mild, sweet, and rich with peanuts and warm spice; and Phanaeng Curry is thick, dry, and nutty.
What should I eat in Northern Thailand?
The north is milder and earthier than the fiery south. Its signature is Khao soi, a coconut curry noodle soup topped with crisp noodles, alongside the Burmese-influenced Hang Lay Curry of pork and ginger, and the herbal, coconut-free Jungle Curry.
What Thai dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
Street and market food beyond pad thai. Khao kha mu piles slow-braised pork leg over rice with pickles and a soft egg. Phat si-io stir-fries wide rice noodles in dark soy, and Nam phrik, a family of pungent chili dips eaten with raw vegetables, is the true taste of a Thai home.