This Thai food guide for travellers is written for anyone who believes food is one of the best ways to understand a place. From roadside stalls and night markets to small family-run cafés and beachside eateries, Thai food is fresh, full of flavour and deeply connected to daily life. You don’t need to be adventurous or love spicy food to eat well here — Thailand makes it easy to enjoy incredible meals every day, often for just a few dollars.
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❓What Makes Thai Food So Authentic?
Thai food stands out because of its balance of flavours rather than just heat. Most dishes bring together sweet, salty, sour and spicy elements in a way that feels bold but not overwhelming. Ingredients are usually fresh, meals are cooked quickly and food is made to be eaten straight away. Across Thailand, recipes are passed down through families, adjusted by region and shaped by what grows locally, which gives Thai food its strong sense of place and authenticity.
👣 Our Experience with Thai Food
Thai food is one of our absolute favourites. We love the simplicity of the dishes and the unique flavour combinations — when you taste it, you immediately know it’s Thai food. What really drew us in was discovering how each region has its own cooking style, from the hotter, chilli-heavy dishes of southern Thailand to the more balanced flavours found elsewhere.
That’s why we love Bangkok so much. You can truly eat your way around the entire city, sampling dishes from every region alongside well-loved favourites. Some of the meals we kept coming back to included Thai red and green curries, pad kra pao, tom yum soups, crispy pork dishes and pork hock on rice. What really elevates these meals are the condiments served alongside them — chilli flakes, vinegar, sugar and fish sauce — allowing you to adjust the flavours and spice exactly how you like.
Honestly, the hardest part is deciding where to eat.
A Few Food Tips from Tohu Travellers
When choosing street food or casual cafés, we follow a few simple rules. We always check that hygiene looks good and that there’s a steady turnover of food, which usually means it’s being cooked fresh. We try not to eat between 2pm and 5pm, as food can sometimes sit longer during quieter hours. If a stall is busy with locals, that’s usually a great sign. We also read reviews and ask for recommendations where we can — it quickly eliminates many of the risks people worry about with street food.
Some days we don’t feel like eating out. When that happens, we head to local markets and pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, washing everything in filtered water back at our accommodation. We’ll often buy cooked pork or chicken and prepare simple meals at our Airbnb. And when we really want a night in, Grab Food makes it easy to have great local meals delivered straight to the door.
🔥 Spice Levels & How to Order
If you don’t like spicy food, don’t worry — just say:
- “Mai phet” = not spicy
- (sounds like: my pet)
- “Phet nit noi” = a little spicy
- (sounds like: pet nit noy)
- If you love heat, ask for:
- “Phet mak” = very spicy
- (sounds like: pet mark)
Be aware that “a little spicy” in Thailand can still be hot by Western standards.
🥢 Eating Etiquette in Thailand
- A spoon is the main utensil, with a fork used to push food onto the spoon
- Chopsticks are usually only for noodle soups
- Sharing dishes is common when eating with others
- Don’t stick utensils upright in rice — it resembles funeral rituals
Eating is relaxed and informal, but manners are appreciated.
🥗 Vegetarian, Vegan & Dietary Needs
Thailand is surprisingly good for vegetarian and vegan travellers.
Helpful phrases:
- “Jay” = strict vegetarian (no meat, fish sauce or eggs)
- (sounds like: jay, as in “jaybird”)
- “Mai sai nam pla” = no fish sauce
- (sounds like: my sigh nam plah)
Many curries and stir-fries can be adapted easily. Just double-check sauces, as fish sauce is common.
💧 Drinks, Ice & Food Safety
- Tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink, even in hotels. If you’re ever unsure about water quality, it’s best to check first or avoid it altogether.
- Bottled water is cheap and widely available, and staying hydrated is easy. In many areas, especially where Airbnbs and local apartments are located, you’ll find water refill stations on the street. We regularly filled our 5-litre bottle plus two 1.25-litre bottles for around 5 baht in total (about 30 cents NZD), which makes it both affordable and practical. While we prefer to avoid plastic where possible, the reality is that bottled water is unavoidable in many parts of Thailand. Refilling larger bottles helps reduce waste and saves money.
- Ice is generally safe in restaurants and cafés, as it’s usually made from purified water and delivered commercially. If you’re making ice yourself, always use filtered or bottled water to be safe.
- Staying mindful of water quality is one of the simplest ways to avoid stomach issues while travelling in Thailand.
Food safety is good, especially in busy places. Trust your instincts — if something looks like it’s been sitting too long, skip it.
🍍 Desserts & Sweet Treats
Thailand has a serious sweet tooth. Sugar shows up everywhere — not just in desserts, but also in sauces, iced drinks and smoothies. Thai tea, iced coffees and many fruit smoothies are often made with condensed milk or syrup, so they can be much sweeter than travellers expect.
If you love sweet treats, you’ll be in heaven. If you don’t, the good news is you can usually adjust it.
What to try
- Mango sticky rice – the classic, rich and delicious
- Coconut ice cream – refreshing in the heat
- Roti pancakes – usually topped with banana and condensed milk
- Sweet snacks at markets – everything from crispy bites to jelly-style desserts
- My ultimate Favourite – Coconut Smoothies.
How to order it less sweet
- Ask for (waan noi) = less sweet
(sounds like: wahn noy) - Or (mai waan) = not sweet
(sounds like: my wahn)
Tip: If you order a smoothie, you can also ask for no condensed milk if you want it more fruit-forward.
🌿 Final Thoughts on Thai Food for Travellers
You don’t need to be a foodie to enjoy Thai food. Stick to dishes you recognise at first, build confidence and try new things as you go. Thailand makes eating easy, affordable and enjoyable, and food often becomes one of the strongest travel memories.
Eat where locals eat, stay curious and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
🔗 More Thailand Travel Guides
Want more Thailand Inspiration?
Explore all our Thailand blogs in one place – from laid-back islands and beaches to local towns and the energy of Bangkok.
👉 Read all our Thailand Destination Guides & Thailand Travel Essentials Guides Here
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
- 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
- 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
“Taste is often the strongest souvenir we bring home.”