Have you ever wondered what the most popular Thai dishes are? Every time you go to a Thai restaurant, do you think, “I always get the same thing! I want to try something new, but I don’t know what’s good and don’t want to risk it!”
Or maybe you’ve wanted to cook Thai food at home but didn’t know where to start?
If so, you’re in the right place dear!
Thai food is all about that magical balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, and that’s exactly what made me fall in love with Thai food over 20 years ago… and what still keeps me coming back for more every week.
So I put together this list of 35 popular Thai dishes I’ve come to love through cooking, teaching Thai cooking classes, and learning from Thai Hubby and his family.
Some are super easy weeknight recipes, some are comforting classics, and a few might stretch you just a little in just the right ways.
Let’s find your new favorite so you can stop ordering and cooking the same thing every week!
Popular Thai Dishes: Noodles
These Thai noodle dishes include some of the top favorites and a few hidden gems I can’t wait for you to try out. Some are quick and easy, and some are a perfect weekend project, but all of them are packed with flavor and fun!
1. Pad Thai (ผัดไทย)
No list of popular Thai dishes is complete without Shrimp Pad Thai!
This stir-fried noodle dish, with its perfect balance of sweet from palm sugar, salty from fish sauce, and sour from tamarind paste, is loved by the Americans I teach in my Thai Cooking Class, but also by Thai Hubby who always asks if there are any Pad Thai leftovers he can have after my class.
You can even just make Pad Thai Sauce and use it to marinate your favorite protein, or drizzle it over a noodle or rice bowl for a quick weeknight meal.
My most popular version is Chicken Pad Thai, but you can also make Pad Thai Beef, which is Thai Hubby’s fav, or Vegan Pad Thai with Tofu if you want a plant-based option. It’s one of the most flexible Thai dishes to make at home.
2. Khao Soi (ข้าวซอย)
Khao Soi is a northern Thai specialty and one of the most comforting Thai noodle soups of all time! This coconut curry noodle soup is topped with crispy noodles and often served with chicken.
I fell in love with Khao Soi while spending a month in Chiang Mai on a missions trip, and our whole team adored it. I adore making it in the winter because it’s so heartwarming and cozy.
3. Pad See Ew Chicken (ผัดซีอิ๊ว)
My oldest daughter says Chicken Pad See Ew is her favorite Thai noodle dish because she loves that it’s not spicy, and has gooey wide rice noodles, which are stir-fried with soy sauce, garlic, and Chinese broccoli, or kale, and often made with chicken.
If you love Pad See Ew too, I’ve got more ways to make it at home, including a cozy Beef Pad See Ew, which is Thai Hubby’s fav, an easy Vegan Pad See Ew that my vegan friends adore, a helpful guide for making Pad See Ew gluten-free, and even a fun Pad See Ew Spaghetti version for when wide rice noodles are hard to find.
4. Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao ผัดขี้เมา)
Pad Kee Mao, aka Drunken Noodles, is often made with wide rice noodles, fresh holy basil, and we like to put in red bell peppers and Chinese broccoli or kale. It’s bold, spicy, and packed with flavor.
It’s always been my favorite Thai noodle dish, and especially in the summer when our holy basil is growing like crazy since holy basil flavor is one of the stars of the dish. If you love spicy noodle dishes, order or make this one today.
5. Yum Woon Sen (ยำวุ้นเส้น)
Yum Woon Sen is a spicy salad made with glass noodles, shrimp, and fresh herbs, that I love to make it as a light refreshing weeknight meal. It’s also perfect for a potluck or to make earlier in the day and eat after getting home from all the evening activities since the glass noodles don’t stick together like rice noodles if you don’t eat it right away.
If you love glass noodles, be sure to try my Woon Sen Pad Thai too.
6. Sukhothai Noodle Soup (เกี๋ยวเตี๋ยวสุโขทัย)
If you ask my oldest son his favorite Thai dish, he will say Sukhothai Noodle Soup, which originates from Thai Hubby’s hometown of Sukhothai.
We love the heart-warming broth, and all the toppings: tender crisp green beans, crispy fried garlic topping, cilantro, green onion, Thai chili paste, peanuts and lime, perfect for a fall or winter night.
7. Pad Woon Sen (ผัดวุ้นเส้น)
Pad Woon Sen is one of my favorite Thai dishes to take to a potluck since it’s made with bean vermicelli noodles, which hold up well at room temperature. Unlike rice noodles, they don’t start to clump together if they aren’t served right away.
It also isn’t spicy and has simple, savory flavors, so everyone from kids to grown-ups tends to love it! It’s an easy crowd-pleasing Thai dish for parties, potlucks, or busy weeknights.
8. Pad Mama (ผัดมาม่า)
If you ask all my kids their favorite Thai dish, Pad Mama would be it, which is Stir-Fried Thai Instant Ramen that Thai Hubby makes most Sunday nights for us.
If you’ve never had Thai instant ramen Mama brand, it’s out of this world compared to Marchuan, and it’s packed with all the Thai flavors you love. It’s the easiest Thai meal there is, and you don’t even have to use any Thai sauces if you don’t want to.
Popular Thai Dishes: Curries and Soups
These Thai curries and soups are rich, comforting, and some of the most loved Thai dishes from my Thai cooking classes.
9. Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง)
Tom Yum Soup, a hot and sour shrimp soup is the ultimate comfort food with its tangy, spicy, and fragrant flavors that Thais adore.
I love to use fresh lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves from my garden, or if I need a quicker weeknight dinner, using my homemade Tom Yum paste is a great hack. I also love stirring it into my Tom Yum Soup Noodles, an easy, flavor-packed one-bowl meal that tastes like Thailand on a busy night.
10. Green Curry (แกงเขียวหวาน)
With its rich coconut milk base and spicy green curry paste, baby eggplants, and tender protein, Thai Green Curry is always a hit with my friends.
My favorite way to eat Thai Green Curry flavors though is by making Thai Green Curry Fried Rice. All those green curry flavors extra intensified. Or even Easy Green Curry Chicken Spaghetti is a quick and family friendly option too.
11. Massaman Curry (แกงมัสมั่น)
Massaman Chicken Curry is my favorite Thai curry to make for people who are new to Thai food or a little hesitant to try something unfamiliar. It isn’t spicy, has hearty meat and potatoes, is creamy from the coconut milk, and has just a touch of sweetness, which makes it super easy to love.
If you want to try it at home, my Slow Cooker Massaman Beef Curry is one of our family’s go-to, weeknight comfort dinners.
You can use a homemade Massaman curry paste or use store-bought Massaman paste to create rich, cozy, and full of those warm Thai flavors every one falls in love with!
12. Tom Kha Gai (ต้มข่าไก่)
Tom Kha Gai is a coconut milk-based soup with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir limes, and chicken is one of my Thai cooking class students most loved dishes because it’s creamy and comforting and flavor packed.
If you love cozy soups with bright Thai flavors, this one is always a winner and easier than. you think to make at home.
13. Beef Panang Curry (พะแนง)
Beef Panang Curry is packed with Thai herbs and Thai chilies and rich flavor. It’s creamy, bold, and one of those Thai curries that feels extra special, but is easy to make.
I teach how to make Panang curry paste in my Thai cooking class and students are shocked at how many ingredients are involved to make the paste. That’s why I love sharing easy ingredient swaps that still taste just as authentic.
Want my FREE Thai Ingredient Substitution Guide? Get it here!
14. Pad Prik King | Thai Red Curry Stir-Fry with Chicken and Green Beans (ผัดพริกขิง)
Thai Hubby is weird and doesn’t love Thai curries because he prefers coconut milk in sweet desserts rather than savory dishes.
But Pad Prik King aka Stir-Fried Red Curry with Green Beans, also known as Pad Ped Tua Fak Yao, is one curry-style dish he absolutely loves. Since it doesn’t use coconut milk, it eats more like a bold, flavor-packed stir-fry made with Thai curry paste, protein, and veggies.
15. Jok (โจ๊ก)
Thai jok is a savory porridge that sounds super boring, and looks like a bowl of gruel, but tastes out of this world heartwarming. It’s often served at breakfast in Thailand, but really you can eat it anytime, but I always make it on any special holiday for breakfast for Thai Hubby since it’s his fav.
Want to hear the sweet story behind Thai jok and why it means so much to our family? Listen to the Storied Recipe podcast episode Thai Hubby and I were interviewed on here!
Popular Thai Dishes: Salads
These fresh Thai dishes are light, vibrant, and packed with flavor, perfect when you want something refreshing but still super satisfying.
16. Som Tum (ส้มตำ)
Som Tum is a spicy green papaya salad and is a must-try, since it highlights all the intense Thai flavors I adore: spicy, sour, salty, umami, and a hint of sweet.
Since it’s hard for me to find unripe papaya where we live, I like to use cucumbers and carrots as a great sub! It still gives you that crisp, refreshing crunch, but easier to make at home.
17. Larb (ลาบ)
Larb is a spicy Thai salad made with minced meat, usually pork or chicken, and flavored with lime, fish sauce, roasted rice powder, Thai chili flakes, and fresh herbs, so it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular Thai dishes.
It’s our favorite summer dish since my kids can pick the mint and cilantro for it from our herb garden.
18. Moo Nam Tok (น้ำตก)
Moo Nam Tok is similar to Larb, but it’s often made with grilled pork and tossed in a spicy, tangy dressing. It’s packed with bold flavors and finished with fresh mint and cilantro, which we love picking straight from our herb garden.
If I’m not in the mood to grill, I make the pork in my cast iron skillet instead, and it still turns out amazing with those smoky, savory flavors.
Popular Thai Dishes: Street Food
These are the kinds of Thai street food you’ll find all over Thailand, simple, flavorful, and always a crowd favorite.
19. Moo Ping (หมูปิ้ง)
Moo Ping are marinated pork skewers, a popular street food that’s smoky and savory and served with Thai sticky rice.
They’re one of my kids’ favorite breakfasts in Thailand every time we visit, and whenever we grill them at home for friends, they quickly become one of their favorite Thai dishes too.
20. Thai Satay (สะเต๊ะ)
Thai Satay is grilled skewers of chicken or pork, served with a rich Thai peanut sauce and a tangy cucumber salad. It’s one of those Thai dishes that always feels fun to eat and is packed with savory, slightly sweet flavor.
At home, I like to bake it in the oven and then broil it for the last few minutes when we’re not in the mood to grill. It still comes out juicy, flavorful, and perfect for dipping.
21. Thai Beef Jerky (เนื้อแดดเดียว)
Thai Beef Jerky is one of those dishes that takes a little time and effort, but after the first bite, and seeing the joy on everyone’s faces, you quickly decide it was totally worth it. It’s chewy, savory, slightly sweet, and packed with bold Thai flavor.
It’s mind-blowingly better than American beef jerky and one of those homemade treats people never forget.
22. Thai Sausage Sai Ua (ไส้อั่ว)
Sai Ua is a northern Thai sausage that’s packed with Thai herbs and chilies, and served with a smoky, spicy Thai dipping sauce and Thai sticky rice. It’s savory, and full of the incredible flavors northern Thailand is known for.
It’s really a week night version of Thai sausage that you can make on the stove in simple patties and it always makes our family happy!
Popular Thai Dishes: Stir-Fry
These Thai stir-fry dishes are quick, flavorful, and perfect for busy nights when you want something easy but still packed with bold Thai flavor.
23. Son-n-Law Eggs (ไข่ลูกเขย)
After a long day of school, my Thai Hubby’s grandma would make him Son-in-Law Eggs (aka Kai Look Keuy), which are hard boiled eggs that are fried, sliced and then a lip-smacking, tangy, tamarind sauce is ladled on top and sprinkled with fried shallots and Thai dried chilis.
Now I make them for Thai Hubby and our four kids after a long day of work or school, and they’re still just as heartwarming and comforting.
24. Pad Krapaw (ผัดกะเพรา)
If you ask most Thai people what their favorite Thai dish is, they will most likely say Pad Krapaw aka Thai Spicy Stir-Fried Holy Basil with Chicken, and of course it has to be topped with a Thai crispy fried egg.
It’s one of the most popular Thai dishes with Thais, easy and heart-warming and definitely Thai Hubby’s top request in the summer when our garden is bursting with holy basil.
25. Thai Khao Pad (ข้าวผัด)
Thai Khao Pad, aka Thai fried rice is one of our favorite ways to use up leftover protein, veggies or day old rice in our fridge, and is so easy to make on a weeknight.
It can be a little tricky to get just right though, so if you’ve ever struggled with soggy or bland fried rice, here are my 5 tips for making perfect fried rice every time.
26. Thai Stir-Fried Morning Glory (ผัดผักบุ้งไฟแดง)
Love how Thai morning glory, aka water spinach, is so easy to make and so full of umami flavor from Thai yellow bean paste plus a spicy zing from Thai chili peppers. It’s quick, and easy, which is one reason it’s such a favorite in Thailand.
Thais also love this dish because the tender-crisp greens soak up all that spicy, garlicky sauce, making it the perfect side dish to eat with rice and balance out richer curries or grilled meats. Easy weeknight veggies really don’t get much better than this!
27. Sweet and Sour Shrimp (กุ้งผัดเปรี้ยวหวาน)
Thai Sweet and Sour Shrimp is a quick week night meal full of a rainbow of veggies and fruit like cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions and pineapples. It has that magical sweet, tangy, savory flavor combo that makes Thai food so fun to eat.
Every bite makes me feel like I’m getting whisked away to the sunny beaches of Thailand. It’s bright, cheerful, and one of those easy dinners that feels way more special than the effort it takes to make it.
28. Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken (ข้าวผัดสับปะรดไก่)
Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken is the first Thai dish I ever had, and my life was completely transformed after my first bite! It was my delicious gateway into the world of Thai food, and I’ve been head over heels in love ever since.
I loved all the flavors, and still do, the sweet pineapple, the bright squeeze of lime, the savory depth from fish sauce, and the spicy kick from Thai chilies. It’s fun, flavor-packed, and one of those dishes that makes dinner feel like a celebration.
29. Khao Man Gai (ข้าวมันไก่)
Khao Man Gai is Thai-style Hainanese chicken and rice, served with a flavorful ginger sauce and a side of chicken broth. It may look simple, but one bite and you’ll see why so many people love it, the flavor is completely out of this world.
It’s heart-warming, and one of those humble dishes that surprises people with how good it is. My American friends who went to Thailand with us came home saying it was their favorite Thai dish.
30. Thai-Style Omelette (ไข่เจียว)
A Thai-style omelette that’s crispy on the edges and fluffy inside, often served with jasmine rice and a drizzle of Thai sriracha. It’s simple, comforting, and one of those everyday Thai foods that so many Thais grow up loving, especially my Thai Hubby.
We make it all the time at our house, either as a side dish or the main meal, usually at least twice a week. It’s quick, yummy, and a huge crowd pleaser!
31. Garlic and Pepper Chicken (ไก่ผัดกระเทียมพริกไทย)
Garlic and Pepper chicken is my go-to weeknight stir-fry when I need dinner to be a few ingredients, easy, but still make me happy to eat it. It’s one of those simple meals that makes you feel like a dinner hero without much effort.
I love that it doesn’t take many ingredients, but the ones it does use, crispy fried garlic, white pepper, and oyster sauce, bring so much bold, savory flavor. Thai Hubby adores this one because he is obsessed with garlic, so it’s always a win at our house.
32. Stir-Fried Thai Cashew Chicken (ไก่ผัดเม็ดมะม่วงหิมพานต์)
Thai Hubby loves Thai Cashew Chicken, especially now that I make the chicken in our air fryer. It feels like such a fun little kitchen win because it’s healthier, not as messy, and still tastes so good.
The chicken still gets that magical crunch and coating that holds onto the savory-sweet sauce so well, and even my kid love it! This one always feels like takeout night at home, but wayyy better.
33. Nam Prik Ong (น้ำพริกอ่อง)
Nam Prik Ong is a life-changing northern Thai dish made with pork, tomatoes, and that magical spicy, sweet, and sour flavor combo that’s irresistible. It’s rich and comforting tucked into a crisp lettuce wrap or spooned over rice.
This recipe is the way Thai Hubby’s grandma used to make it for us, and every time it starts to sizzle in the wok, I miss her and smile at the same time.
Popular Thai Dishes: Desserts & Drinks
No Thai meal is complete without something sweet or refreshing, and these Thai desserts and drinks are the perfect way to end your meal.
34. Mango Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง)
Want to know one of the most popular Thai dishes from my Thai cooking class?
Mango Sticky Rice, which is sticky rice soaked in a sweet coconut milk sauce, and served alongside fresh golden mango slices.
I’ve had Thai cooking class students tell me they dream about it at night and even lick the coconut sauce off the plate because they love it that much!
35. Thai Milk Tea (ชาไทย)
You can’t have a list of popular Thai dishes without Thai Milk Tea! You probably have your favorite version of it from your favorite Thai place, but my favorite way to have Thai Milk Tea or Cha Yen is to make it at home, so I can add however much sweetened condense milk or milk to it that I want.
It’s sweet, creamy, refreshing, and one of those fun little treats that makes any day happier. Or if you can’t do dairy, Cha Ma Nao, aka Thai Lime Tea is a great option, and a newer Thai drink that’s my fav at the moment is Thai Tea Green Milk Tea.
What’s your favorite out of these 35 popular Thai dishes? Let me know in the comments!
Let’s Stay Connected Dear!
And if you want to learn how to make any of these Thai dishes in person, come join one of my Thai cooking classes in Boone, NC!
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If you make these dishes, I want to see! Take a pic and tag me on Instagram @thaifoodie!
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