[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Thai Lunch and Famous Dishes” heading_tag=”h1″ alignment=”center” spacer=”line_with_icon” spacer_position=”bottom” spacer_img_width=”48″ line_style=”solid” line_height=”1″ line_color=”#333333″ icon_type=”selector” icon=”Defaults-circle-blank” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″ line_icon_fixer=”10″][/ultimate_heading][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Most Thais do not cook for lunch. This is due to most people are at work and also because there are so many food stalls and restaurants in every corner of the streets to conveniently provide Thai lunch for all.
For lunch, Thai people tend to eat quick, simple meals or “Arharn Jarn Duan”, which can literally be translated as the “Express Plate” food. There are numerous places to eat lunch, some of the best local Thai food is found on the street. People would find restaurant with simple characteristic of one room which opens out onto the street. The food is cooked at the front and there are tables and chairs inside. Other types of food stalls are small carts at the side of the road.
Meals can be bought here and take home or back to office. In some areas, the cart will have plastic tables and chairs lined along the side of the street for people to sit and eat. There are also other alternatives to have Thai lunch, either in the food courts of department stores nearby offices or in the tent markets. It has become the norm over the past ten years that vendors would rent spaces available near office buildings, government institutions or even hospitals to sell food and drinks, snacks, clothes, shoes, handbags, household accessories, or even fresh fruits and vegetables. They would put up the roof like a tent and selling hours will be between 11 am. till 2 pm. only. Office workers, especially ladies, are attracted to these tent markets where they can have lunch and shop at the same time, all at affordable prices.
Quick meals for Thai lunch
The popular quick meals for Thai lunch that local Thai people usually have are varieties of noodles and rice with various made-to-order toppings.
Noodle (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว)
Noodles or “Guay Teow” come in various sizes; large (or wide), medium, small and thin in white colour. Then there are also yellow or egg noodles. These can be ordered with beef, pork, chicken or fish according to the customers’ preferences. They can be made into noodle soup or dry noodle (without the soup).[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3253″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Noodle with Pork” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]
Pad Thai (ผัดไทย)
“Pud Thai” is one type of fried noodles, which is well known to foreigners. Medium sized rice noodles are stir fried with eggs, tofu, peanuts, shrimps, green onions, bean sprouts, garlic, pepper, fish sauce and lime juice. To create more tastes, a squeeze of lime and ground peanuts can be added. Some sugar, chili flakes, and vinegar, are always an option as condiments. Our walking tour stop to taste Pad Thai at famous shop at the end.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3252″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Pad Thai add dry chilly on top” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]
Kanom Jeen (ขนมจีน)
“Kanom Jeen” are thin noodles made from fermented rice with mild tasting and very soft. They are served with different types of curry, such as fish balls red curry, chicken green curry and sweet chilli paste, then garnished with cabbages and cucumbers.
Kao Pud Kaprao (ข้าวผัดกระเพรา)
“Kao Pud Kaprao” is stir fried minced pork, chicken or beef. Its fabulous flavour is derived from garlic, chilies and holy basils. Fried egg is also usually ordered along side with “Pud Kaprao” to calm down the hot and spicy taste . This is the Thais’ most favourite “Express Plate” dish. Anytime when one runs of idea or cannot decide what to eat, “Kao Pud Kaprao” is always the first to come in mind.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3251″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Kao Kra proa Ped” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]
Kao Mun Gai (ข้าวมันไก่)
“Kao Mun Gai” or chicken rice is another preferred quick meal by the Thais. The rice is cooked with fatty chicken stock and boiled chicken is chopped onto a plate of rice. The garlic chilli and ginger vinaigrette enhances the taste of this “Kao Mun Gai” dish. It is always served with a light chicken soup.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3250″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Koa Man Kai – ข้าวมันไก่” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3249″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Koa Man Kai at Koa Tee Koa Man Kai – ข้าวมันไก่” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]
Kao Kai Jiew Moo Sub (ข้าวไข่เจียวหมูสับ)
“Kao Kai Jiew Moo Sub” or the Thai style omelette is one more simple meal for Thai lunch. Drops of fish sauce and soy sauce are added to beaten eggs with minced pork. The egg mixture is fried in very hot oil, which turns into golden omelette. It is best served with a squirt of chili sauce.
Som Tum (ส้มตำ)
“Som Tum” or papaya spicy salad is probably Thailand’s most famous salad. The mortar and pestle are used to pound garlic and chilies, to follow with other ingredients. They are dried shrimps, peanuts, tomatoes, string beans and handful of grated green papaya. To add to the special taste of Thai “Som Tum” are tamarind juice, sugar cane paste, fish sauce and lime juice. The sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours are blended well with the crisp crunch of the green papaya. Thais usually enjoy “Som Tum” with sticky rice and grilled chicken or “Kao Neow Gai Yang”.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3248″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Kai Yang – Grilled Chicken” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”3247″ css_animation=”fadeInUp” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” title=”Som Tam – Papaya Salad” img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Thai people also have a habit of eating snacks during the day, such as “Look Chin Ping” or grilled meat balls, frittered bananas, to freshly-squeezed orange juice and fresh fruits, at incredibly low prices. These are usually sold on the street carts.
Ask your tour guide, if you would like to experience the Thai lunch while you are in Bangkok.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
