Thailand’s cuisine is a delightful journey through a spectrum of flavors and textures. While popular dishes like Pad Thai and Tom Yum Goong are beloved worldwide, there are many hidden gems that often go unnoticed.

Here are eight underrated Thai dishes that you simply must try to truly experience the depth of Thai culinary artistry.

1. Yum Naem Khao Tod

Yum Naem Khao Tod is a crispy rice salad that combines deep-fried rice balls, fermented pork sausage, fresh herbs, and roasted peanuts. The dish offers a delightful mix of textures and a burst of flavours with every bite. It’s often served with fresh lettuce leaves for wrapping​​.

2. Hoi Tod

Hoi Tod is a crispy oyster omelette that is both a popular street food and a beloved comfort dish in Thailand. The omelette is made with a batter of rice flour, eggs, and fresh oysters, then fried to a crispy perfection. It’s served with a tangy chilli sauce, adding a perfect balance to the rich flavours of the omelette​​.

3. Khao Kluk Kapi

Khao Kluk Kapi is a flavourful rice dish that is often overlooked but offers a delightful mix of textures and tastes. The dish features rice stir-fried with shrimp paste, giving it a rich and savoury flavour. It’s typically served with a variety of toppings such as sweet pork, green mango, dried shrimp, sweet Thai sausage, red onions, chillies, and long beans.

4. Kaeng Tai Pla

Kaeng Tai Pla is a robust and intensely flavoured curry from Southern Thailand, known for its deep, complex taste. The dish uses fermented fish innards (tai pla) as a base, mixed with a variety of local vegetables and spices, creating a thick and aromatic curry. Often served with rice or kanomjeen (rice noodles), Kaeng Tai Pla is a must-try for those who appreciate bold and spicy flavours​​.

5. Yum Som-O

Yum Som-O is a refreshing pomelo salad that perfectly balances sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavours. The dish combines juicy pomelo segments with shrimp, coconut, peanuts, and a tangy lime dressing. Often garnished with fried shallots and fresh herbs, Yum Som-O is a delightful appetizer that showcases the complexity of Thai salads​​.

6. Goong Chae Nampla

7. Tom Khlong

Tom Khlong is a lesser-known Thai soup that has a smoky, spicy, and sour profile. Made with dried fish, herbs, and tamarind, this soup is a flavourful alternative to the more commonly known Tom Yum. Its robust flavour is a comforting and hearty option, perfect for those who enjoy traditional Thai soups with a twist​​.

8. Khao Kha Moo

Khao Kha Moo is a beloved street food dish consisting of braised pork legs served over rice. The pork is slow-cooked until tender in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and spices. It’s typically accompanied by a hard-boiled egg, pickled mustard greens, and a spicy vinegar-based sauce, making it a savoury and satisfying meal​​.

Your Thai Food Adventure Has Just Begun

Thailand’s culinary landscape is vast and varied, with many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. These eight underrated dishes offer a taste of Thai cuisine’s rich diversity and complexity. Next time you find yourself in Thailand or at a Thai restaurant, venture beyond the familiar and explore these lesser-known delights. You’ll broaden your culinary horizons and gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry of Thai cooking.

Similar read:

• Thai Food 101: 8 Dishes Every Foodie Must Try
• Thailand’s Soup Symphony: Discovering Delicious Varieties Beyond Tom Yum
• Beyond Pad Thai: Unraveling the Diversity of Thai Noodle Dishes

Sources: CNN Travel, Thrillist, Lifestyle Asia