Beyond Pad Thai: 10 Underrated Thai Dishes Locals Love
🍲 Why Go Beyond Pad Thai?
While Pad Thai is Thailand’s global culinary ambassador, it’s only a fraction of what Thai cuisine has to offer. Across Bangkok’s sois, Chiang Mai’s markets, and Isaan’s countryside, there are hundreds of dishes just as delicious — often more so.
These are the flavours Thais crave: spicy, sour, smoky, and deeply regional. If you want to eat like a local in 2025, start here.
🌶️ Fun Fact: Pad Thai was actually introduced in the 1930s as a government campaign to promote Thai rice noodles — not a centuries-old recipe.
1. Khao Soi – Chiang Mai’s Curried Noodle Soup
This Northern Thai favourite is a rich coconut curry noodle soup topped with crispy egg noodles, shallots, and lime. It’s creamy, spicy, and aromatic.
Best Spot: Khao Soi Mae Sai, Chiang Mai Old Town
Try It With: Pickled mustard greens and a spoon of chili oil.
2. Moo Hong – Phuket’s Slow-Braised Pork
From Southern Thailand, Moo Hong is a melt-in-your-mouth pork belly stew simmered with garlic, peppercorns, and soy sauce — a Sino-Thai comfort food classic.
Best Spot: Local food stalls near Phuket Town market
Pair It With: Jasmine rice and a fried egg.
3. Som Tum Lao – Fermented Papaya Salad
Forget the mild tourist version. Som Tum Lao, from Thailand’s Isaan region, packs a punch with fermented fish sauce (pla ra) and sticky rice on the side.
Best Spot: Any Isaan street stall in Udon Thani or Khon Kaen
Tip: Locals often pair it with grilled chicken or pork skewers (Gai Yang).
4. Khanom Jeen Nam Ya – Rice Noodles with Curry Sauce
Soft fermented rice noodles topped with spicy fish curry — a breakfast staple in Central and Southern Thailand.
Best Spot: Local morning markets in Hua Hin or Nakhon Si Thammarat
Varieties: Nam Ya Tai (Southern style) and Nam Prik (sweet coconut curry).
5. Pad Kra Pao Moo Krob – Crispy Pork with Holy Basil
A Thai worker’s go-to lunch. Crispy pork belly stir-fried with holy basil, garlic, and chilies — intense, fragrant, and perfectly salty.
Best Spot: Any Bangkok street stall during lunch rush hour
Order Tip: Add a fried egg — locals call it “kai dao,” and it’s essential.
6. Gaeng Pa – Jungle Curry
Unlike coconut-based curries, Gaeng Pa (jungle curry) is fiery, herb-heavy, and fat-free — a hunter’s stew from Northern Thailand.
Best Spot: Small countryside restaurants in Chiang Rai or Lampang
Fun Fact: It was originally cooked with wild boar!
7. Larb Moo – Isaan Spicy Pork Salad
A rustic minced pork salad with lime, chili, roasted rice powder, and mint. Served with sticky rice, it’s both spicy and refreshing.
Best Spot: Isaan restaurants nationwide
Try It With: Som Tum and cold Beer Leo for the full local combo.
8. Pla Pao – Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish
Whole tilapia stuffed with lemongrass, coated in salt, and grilled over charcoal. Crisp on the outside, tender inside — a night market favourite.
Best Spot: Rod Fai Market, Bangkok
Dip It In: Spicy seafood nam jim sauce (lime, chili, garlic, fish sauce).
9. Kua Kling – Dry Southern Curry
This dry-fried pork or beef curry is one of Thailand’s spiciest dishes. Loaded with curry paste and herbs, it delivers pure southern fire.
Best Spot: Songkhla or Krabi local restaurants
Order Tip: Ask for “phet nit noi” if you can’t handle extreme spice!
10. Jok – Thai Rice Porridge
Thailand’s version of congee — soft rice porridge served with minced pork, ginger, and poached egg. Comfort food at its finest.
Best Spot: Morning street vendors near Bangkok’s Silom area
Try It With: Fried dough sticks (Pa Thong Ko) and soy sauce drizzle.
🧭 Regional Diversity: Thailand’s Secret Ingredient
Each of Thailand’s four regions has its own culinary identity:
- North: Creamy curries, herbs, and noodles
- Northeast (Isaan): Spicy salads, grilled meats, sticky rice
- Central: Balanced, sweet-salty dishes and soups
- South: Fiery curries, seafood, and coconut milk galore
Travelling across Thailand is a food journey in itself — every province adds a new flavour to the story.
✨ Final Bite: Eat Where Locals Eat
Skip the laminated tourist menus. Head to the smoky street stalls, the plastic tables, and the markets buzzing with locals.
That’s where Thailand’s true food magic lives.
Want to explore Thailand’s real flavours for yourself?
Download our free Travel Thailand Starter Pack — it includes:
- Basic Thai food phrases to order like a local
- Cultural do’s and don’ts for dining
- 10 must-use travel links for exploring Thailand’s food scene
👉 Get it now linked below or at NavigateThailand.com and start tasting the real Thailand.
Plan Your Trip the Smart Way
Download our 2026 Thailand Travel Guide, bundle it with our Budget Travel Itinerary Packs, and get insider tips on food, transport, and hidden gems.
Travel more. Spend less. Love Thailand.
Want to dig deeper into Thailand?
Check out our Thailand guide series below.
Discover our Thailand guide series:
Find out more about our Thai Culture & Travel guide collection here.
Explore Thailand with our Tailored Itineraries bundle.
Explore Thailands best and unexplored islands with our Island-hopping Thailand collection.
