Ready to level up your Thai food game and avoid those awkward cultural moments?
I’m about to spill all the tea on everything from street food adventures to essential Thai phrases that’ll make locals love you!
THAI FOOD 101: THE BASICS 🍜
Essential Thai Flavors:
- Spicy (Phet) 🌶️
- Sour (Priao) 🍋
- Sweet (Waan) 🍯
- Salty (Kem) 🧂
- Bitter (Khom) 🫘
Must-Try Dishes:
- Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) • The OG Thai street food • Pro tip: Add lime and crushed peanuts!
- Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง) • Spicy & sour shrimp soup • Hangover cure from the gods
- Green Curry (แกงเขียวหวาน) • Creamy, spicy, heavenly • Perfect with rice
- Som Tam (ส้มตำ) • Spicy papaya salad • Warning: “Thai spicy” is NEXT LEVEL
- Mango Sticky Rice (ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง) • Dessert of your dreams • Best during mango season (April-June)
STREET FOOD SURVIVAL GUIDE 🛵
Where to Find the Good Stuff:
- Night markets
- Food courts in malls
- Side street vendors
- Morning markets
Street Food Pro Tips:
- Look for long lines of locals
- Watch for vendors wearing gloves
- Go where it’s busy (fresh turnover)
- Clean display cases = good sign
- Keep small bills handy
Must-Try Street Snacks:
- Moo Ping (grilled pork skewers)
- Roti (Thai pancakes)
- Sai Krok (Thai sausage)
- Kluay Tod (fried bananas)
- Khao Niao Ma Muang (mango sticky rice)
CULTURAL DOS & DON’TS 🙏
The Do’s:
✅ Smile often (Thailand = Land of Smiles!)
✅ Greet with “wai” (hands together at chest)
✅ Remove shoes before entering homes/temples
✅ Dress modestly (especially in temples)
✅ Show respect for the Royal Family
✅ Be patient and calm (get that “sabai sabai” vibe)
The Don’ts:
❌ Touch anyone’s head
❌ Point with your feet
❌ Get angry in public
❌ Touch/point at Buddha images
❌ Wear shoes indoors
❌ Public PDA (keep it PG!)
TEMPLE ETIQUETTE 🏯
Dress Code:
- Cover shoulders
- Knee-length or longer bottoms
- No tight/revealing clothing
- Clean, respectful attire
- Shoes off before entering
Behavior:
- Speak quietly
- Don’t point
- Ask before photos
- Sit with feet tucked behind
- Never turn your back to Buddha
ESSENTIAL THAI PHRASES 🗣️
Greetings:
- Hello: Sawadee ka/krap (female/male)
- Thank you: Khob khun ka/krap
- Yes: Chai
- No: Mai
- Delicious: Aroi
- Spicy: Phet
- Not spicy: Mai phet
- Bathroom: Hong nam
- How much?: Tao rai?
- Too expensive!: Paeng pai!
Numbers (Essential for Haggling):
1 = Nueng
2 = Song
3 = Sam
4 = Si
5 = Ha
10 = Sip
100 = Roy
1000 = Pan
CULTURAL FESTIVALS 🎉
- Thai New Year
- World’s biggest water fight
- Pack a waterproof phone case!
- Festival of Lights
- Float candlelit offerings
- Super romantic vibes
DINING ETIQUETTE 🍽️
The Basics:
- Use spoon & fork (no knife needed)
- Spoon in right hand, fork in left
- Share dishes family-style
- Don’t eat directly from serving spoons
- Wait for eldest to start
- Leave a bit of food (clean plate = still hungry)
TIPPING CULTURE 💰
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge
- Street food: Round up/keep change
- Massage: 100 baht
- Taxis: Round up
- Hotels: 20-50 baht per service
PRO CULTURAL TIPS 💡
- “Mai pen rai” (no worries) is your new motto
- Thai time is… flexible
- Save face – avoid confrontation
- Respect monks (they can’t touch women)
- Keep your cool (anger = losing face)
Coming Up Next… Get ready for our guide to getting around Thailand like a pro! 🚂
Stay spicy! 🌶️
JaQuay
Check out our newest guide where Thailand makes a splash here.