Thai Food: What to Try First and What to Watch Out For

I run restaurants in Pattaya, but I'll admit I don't eat as much Thai food as I should. Here's what I'd tell anyone trying it for the first time.

What should you try first?

If you're fine with spice, tom yum goong. Goong means prawns, and it's a hot and sour prawn soup. The creamy version, made with milk or coconut milk, is the one I'd go for.

What if you don't like spicy food?

A panang curry with chicken and rice, ordered "mai phet", which means not spicy. You still get that lovely Thai curry paste, without the heat. It's pretty tame by Thai standards, but it's a good start, and one of my favourites.

Is street food safe?

It is once your stomach has adjusted to the local bacteria. If you're here for a two-week holiday, I'd play it safe: experience Thai food in clean, well-established restaurants. Jump straight into street food before your stomach has adjusted, and you may well end up with food poisoning. For more, read healthcare in Pattaya.

What should you watch out for?

The spice. Thai food is naturally spicy, and even if you eat spicy food back home, it's a different level here. If you don't say how hot you want it, it can ruin your meal. A few words help, as I've written in learning Thai.

My advice

Definitely try Thai food. It's something I wish I'd done more. I like my creature comforts, and the restaurants I go to often offer Western food too, so I usually pick that. But if you get into Thai food, it's one of the best cuisines in the world, right up there with Indian and Mexican.

For more, read where a restaurant owner eats in Pattaya and eating healthily in Pattaya.