Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Thai food is internationally famous. Whether chilli-hot or comparatively blends, harmony is the guiding principle behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai.

There are hundreds of restaurants in Thailand, ranging from 5S-star gourmet havens to simple street eateries.

'A La carte' takes on a whole new meaning when its A La 'Carte' eating in Thailand. Even before a tourist arrives in Thailand, he or she may have been warned by friends about eating and drinking in Thailand. It is understandable that most become overly concerned about standards of hygiene or, the perceived lack of it. Some claims about hygienic standards, especially at roadside stalls, where your great Thai culinary adventure begins, are simply without basis.

In general, although they often look rather crude and possibly even, by Western standards, unhygienic, the food they prepare is fresh, tasty, often very spicy but always very cheap.

First, try to look before ordering anything. You'll notice that the food is fresh. Thais are sticklers for fresh foods. Also the food is prepared and cooked right before you so you know just how acceptable it is to your taste and stomach. You can even tell the cook how you want it done. So the best thing to do is relax and keep an open mind. Customers usually take their purchases home rather than eat as they stand or walk. In fact, Thais find the western habit of eating as you walk rather strange! The more sophisticated mobile food vendors use many variations of motorbike with or without sidecar. Permanent roadside food stalls offer an enormous range of edible delights.

In general, roadside establishments serve curries, Thai style stews, noodles, barbecued meats, and rice dishes of every sort. To have the spice content of a dish toned down, try saying 'my pet mahkƎ to the cook; it means 'not to spicy' and is not a term of endearment. If you want to end your meal with a Thai dessert you will need to visit a dessert stall, but you probably won't have to walk too far. Try stopping at a fresh fruit stall, which is a delightful way to end a meal.

Roadside eating is a friendly affair as you will almost certainly share your table with other people. All in all, roadside eating in Thailand is an enjoyable and interesting experience, and one that should be tried at least once by every visitor.

An array of beautiful carved Thai Vegetables just for the table.

Eating in Thailand is a treasure trove for gourmets. Amazingly inexpensive, there is a wealth and variety of restaurants. Typical Thai food bears some resemblance to both Indian and Chinese cuisine but has a distinctive taste of its own. It can be hot, it is often spicy and very tasty. Different kinds of chilli, coriander, garlic, basil and cardamom are used to give Thai food its characteristic tang. However don't despair if it is not to your liking as there are many western restaurants - including the obligatory MacDonald's and Pizza Hut.

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