Food & Eating Guide
Thai cuisine is distinctive and is a favorite of many people around the world and for many people, the food alone is a good enough reason to visit. Places to eat traditional Thai food are plentiful and although prices can vary wildly, the quality is generally very good. Thai dishes can sometimes be quite spicy and when a dish is described as “hot” it will be. Although the food sold at roadside stalls can be cheap and often very good, meat and chicken should be thoroughly cooked, and be cautious with salads which may have been washed in contaminated water.
Other types of food are also widely available in the cities and tourist areas with McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC being easy to find. Also easy to find are local Thai restaurant chains offering different types of Thai and Japanese food at reasonable prices.
Thai food is meant to be shared, and all courses will generally arrive together. The cuisine is characterised by a balance of strong flavours, most notably, lime juice, fish sauce, lemongrass, chilli and fresh coriander, and is usually accompanied by rice and/or noodles.
Fruit juices and iced drinks are a delicious, inexpensive and healthy way too cool down on a hot day, and widely available at restaurants and street stalls. Favorites include Iced coconut water, iced tea and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Alcohol in Thailand is surprisingly expensive compared to the price of food and goods. If you are a lover of wine, you won’t find much in Thailand, and if you do it will be either of poor quality or very expensive (and occasionally both). Imported drinks, especially spirits are quite pricey, whereas the local “whiskey” is very potent and affordable. Local beers are usually around 6% alcohol with the top brands being Singha and Chang. If you prefer premium foreign beers, these are generally 10-50% more expensive than the local equivalent.
There is no minimum legal drinking age in Thailand, although a person has to be over 18 to buy alcohol.
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