Thailand is one of the most diverse nations in the world when it comes to food. Each region has its own specialties, and they are all incredibly delicious! Flavors abound, especially when it comes to grilled food.
When you visit Thailand, you might expect that most of their famous grilled foods come from the many street vendors selling grilled chicken on a stick everywhere you turn. While you can undoubtedly find tasty grilled foods from local street vendors, you can also find plenty of them in Thailand’s many restaurants. From the casual restaurant on the corner to the high-end dining establishments in the heart of Bangkok, delicious grilled food is everywhere!
Here we will cover some of Thailand’s most popular grilled foods. The chefs of Thailand are famous for using a unique blend of spices, sauces, and meats to create genuinely outstanding dishes that we can’t get enough of! So plan your trip to Thailand and experience some of the best-grilled foods in the world!
Chicken Satay
Chicken Satay is essentially the Thai version of a grilled chicken skewer. It’s seasoned with a blend of spices that give it a distinct Thai grilled flavor. A paste is made by combining lemongrass, chilies, galangal, turmeric, coriander, salt, and sugar. The pieces of meat are kneaded in with the paste and marinated for at least 12 hours.
It’s quite the popular appetizer; you’ll often find this dish served with a delicious peanut sauce that’s truly amazing. While you can order this dish at a restaurant, it’s even easier to make at home!
Khao Jee
This Thai grilled sticky rice dish combines two of our favorite things: sticky rice and eggs! The glutinous sticky rice can be formed into balls, patties, or pressed onto skewers. It is then egg dipped and grilled. The grilled sticky rice will form a crispy and nutty outer layer while its center is hot and chewy.
Your trip to Thailand will be well worth it, just to experience this mouthwatering and unique snack!
Thai Grilled Pork with Sticky Rice (Khao Niaow Moo Ping)
Another grilled Thai dish that also involves sticky rice is this sweet and spicy grilled pork. The pork is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and the famous spice mixture known as Sahm Kler, or, “Three Buddies”: coriander root, garlic,and black pepper, mashed into a paste. (In fact, Sahm Kler is the basis of most Thai recipes!) This sticky rice dish involves the same sticky rice used in the Khao Jee, but here is used as a complement to the dish, and on the side.
Khao Niao Ping Sai Kluai (Grilled Sweet Sticky Rice With Banana Filling)
When roaming through the vibrant streets of Bangkok, you’ll happen upon vendors flipping singed banana leaf packets on the grill. Do not let looks deceive you – inside the rough exterior used to grill this dessert lies a sticky, gooey, banana-flavored surprise.
Grilled sweet sticky rice is a delicacy when it comes to street food; warm, sweet, and perfumed with the char from the vendor’s grill, the sticky rice houses a morsel of nam wa banana in the center. Slightly tangy, slightly tart, this is a dessert that is decidedly Thai if there ever was one.
Pla Pao
Many chefs believe that the Thai way of grilling a whole fish is the best method that exists. A very thick, crusted layer of salt protects the fish inside, keeping it moist and succulent throughout the grilling process. Verdant herbs and aromatics (think Lemongrass and Kaffir leaves) are stuffed inside the fish to bring out the ultimate flavor of the filet.
To top it all off, you’ll never see Pla Pao without its best friend: Thai Seafood dipping sauce. This chili garlic sauce is tangy, spicy, and sweet – the perfect combination to compliment seafood.
Is Your Mouth Watering Yet? Start Planning Your Trip to Thailand Today!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best-grilled foods from Thailand. If you love Thai food, then you’re lucky because these are some of their most delicious dishes.
One of the things that people love about Thai food is that it is made with fresh ingredients. With fresh ingredients, masterful chefs, and street vendors that have honed their craft over multiple generations, Thailand is one of the best places to go if you want the ultimate grilled food experience.
Besides being healthy, people also love Thai food because it is deliciously flavorful. There are many different types of Thai food, so you will never have to eat the same thing twice!
Now that you know more about the tasty grilled dishes of Thailand, it’s time to plan your trip and try these meals for yourself.
