Whats On the Menu Today? กินอะไรอร่อย

If you've dined out in Thailand, especially at the restaurants out of the Touristy areas you may have not had the luxury of having a bilingual menu. This can of course present its problems, and often people might end up with something a bit too hot to handle or worse still a somewhat less than palatable meat - I once heard a story who wanted to order a crispy pork dish with rice  -  ข้าวกับหมูทอด (Kow gab moo tort) but ended up with rice and frog - ข้าวกับกบ (Kow gab gorb)


Here are some of the more common Thai menu items for your delectation:


Tom Yam Kung  ต้มยำกุ้ง   Spicy Shrimp Soup
Tom Kha Guy ต้มข่าไก่ Chicken Soup with Coconut Milk
Pad Ka-Prao Moo/Guy ผัดกะเพราหมู/ไก่  Fried Rice with Basil and minced pork/chicken
Pad See-Ew Moo/Guy ผัดซีอิ๊วหมู/ผัดซีอิ๊วข้าวผัดหมู  "River Noodles" - Thick Noodles in Soy Sauce with pork/with chicken.
Pad Thai ผัดไทย Probably the best selling dish on Koh San Road - Fried noodles with egg, and usually a combination of tofu, chicken, shrimp, crushed peanuts, corriander and lime.


ข้าวต้ม - Kow Tom - A traditional Thai breakfast staple; rice soup (can be served with pork ข้าวต้มหมู)
ข้าวผัดหมู Kow Pad Moo - Fried rice with pork
ข้าวผัดขไก่ Kow Pad Gai - Fried rice with chicken
ข้าวผัดเนื้อวัว Kow Pad Neua - Fried rice with beef
ข้าวผัดกุ้ง  - Fried rice with shrimp


ส้มตำ  Som Tam - Papaya Salad (usually very spicy) To ask for it not spicy - ไม่เผ็ดครับ/ค่ะ
แกงส้มไก่หวาน   Kaeng Som Kai Wan  Sweet and Sour Chicken Soup
กุ้งกุลาดำนึ่งซีอิ๊ว Kung Kuladam Neung Si Io Tiger Prawns Steamed with Soy Sauce


For more reading on Thai food you may find the following books useful:



Quick & Easy Thai: 70 Everyday Recipes
Thai Food
Modern Thai Food: 100 Fabulous Thai Recipes for Contemporary Cooks