When I first started my Thai cooking journey over a decade and a half ago, there weren’t many Thai recipe blogs in English, so using the best Thai cooking books in English by Thai food obsessed chefs was essential.
Even though now there are many amazing Thai recipe blogs in English out there, if given the choice, I’d take a Thai cookbook I can touch and feel over the internet.
Maybe that means I should make my own Thai cooking book? What do you think?
Until then, I’ve narrowed down the 5 best Thai cooking books that are on my bookshelves that I think you’ll love too:
1. Pok Pok by Andy Ricker
Author: Andy Ricker, chef of Pok Pok restaurant
Focus: Northern Thai street food with authentic recipes, ingredient guides, and personal stories
Why I Love It:
- Andy, a farang, aka foreigner, like me, explains Thai dishes in a way Westerners can easily understand, but also the Thai recipes are all legit to what he ate while living in Thailand and now uses at his Thai restaurant
- He is very exact in his recipes, which is helpful especially when you are just learning how to cook Thai food and don’t know how to add to your preferred taste yet
- Must-Try Recipe: Si Khrong Muu Yang (Thai-style pork ribs)—a family favorite!
2. Thai Food by David Thompson
Author: David Thompson, a renowned Thai cuisine expert
Focus: Deep dive into Thai food history, culture, and traditional recipes
Why I Love It:
- Feels like a textbook on Thai cuisine and culture—I learned so much beyond just recipes like fun Thai history facts I get to share with Thai Hubby that he doesn’t even know about!
- Shares many old school lesser known Thai recipes that were used long-ago in the Thai palace kitchens
- Best For: Serious cooks who want an in-depth, authentic Thai cooking experience
3. Simple Thai Food by Leela Punyaratabandhu
Author: Leela Punyaratabandhu, Thai food writer and blogger
Focus: Authentic Thai flavors with a practical, easy-to-follow approach
Why I Love It:
- Leela balances tradition and simplicity—every recipe is well-researched and reliable. I feel like she has the in-depth knowledge and history of Thai food like David Thompson does, but shares Thai recipes that are more accessible for the average home cook
- This cookbook lived on my kitchen counter when I first started cooking Thai food, and was one of my best teachers. It really helped get me to where I am today as a confident Thai cook.
- Must-Try Recipe: Thai Cashew Chicken—a family favorite that I based my Thai cashew chicken recipe off of!
4. True Thai by Hong Thaimee
Author: Hong Thaimee, Thai chef based in New York
Focus: Classic Thai dishes with a modern, approachable twist
Why I Love It:
- Perfect for those who want to experiment with Thai flavors while keeping things authentic. I love how Chef Hong loves to be creative with Thai food, like how she has a New York section in the cookbook that has fun fusions dishes like her My Thai Burger, and Thai Red Curry Pumpkin Pie!
- She introduced me to Thai mushroom soy sauce, which I now use all the time and prefer it over Thai light soy sauce for its rich umami flavor!
5. Sabai by Pailin Chongchitnant
Author: Pailin Chongchitnant, creator of my fav YouTube channel, Hot Thai Kitchen
Focus: Stress-free, beginner-friendly Thai cooking
Why I Love It:
- This was on my Christmas list this year, and I was so happy when I unwrapped it! It’s been so fun to have new ideas for Thai recipes to try that are easy for the weeknight like her Leftover Anything Laab!
- I love following her YouTube channel because she explains the history of Thai food and also how to make it if you don’t live in Thailand and don’t have access to ingredients, and this cooking book also does the same!
- Best For: Beginners or anyone looking for simple, delicious Thai food you can make on a weeknight
Which Thai Cooking Book is best for you?
Choosing from the best Thai cooking books depends on your experience level and what you’re looking for:
- For super in-depth Thai culture and history and lesser known Thai dishes: Thai Food by David Thompson
- For very precise recipes and how to cook amazing Thai food as foreigner: Pok Pok by Andy Ricker
- For easy, quick and well-researched Thai recipes: Simple Thai Food by Leela Punyaratabandhu
- For a mix of traditional and modern: True Thai by Hong Thaimee
- For beginner-friendly, relaxed cooking: Sabai by Pailin Chongchitnant
Whether you want to master complex Thai dishes or whip up quick weeknight meals, these best Thai cooking books have got you covered.
If you get one, I’d love to hear about it! Take a pic and tag me on Instagram @thaifoodie!
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