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10 Thai Breakfasts to Try

What are the best breakfast foods in Thailand? In Thailand, Breakfast is defined as any food you eat in the morning.

It’s breakfast if you eat a spicy curry first thing in the morning.

A few dishes are more popular in the morning.

People hurry through the markets on the way to work in order to get a grab-and-go item.

Hot soups and porridge are more enjoyable in the morning when you have time to sit for a meal.

You won’t need to ask for a breakfast menu if you say “again chow” in Thai.

Order what you like to eat.

1- Jok (Rice Porridge)

Jok, also known as Thai-style omelets, is probably the Thai breakfast food most similar to a Western breakfast dish.

This rice porridge gets spiced up with ginger, eggs, green onions, and pork.

It’s a comfort food best enjoyed before the heat of the day because of the thick texture and hot temperature.

Vendors are cooking large batches of Jok in the morning market.

2- Khao Tom (Rice Soup)

A thin and less congealed version of rice soup is called Khao tom.

Rice soup does contain some broken rice, but the real stars of the dish are the thinly sliced ginger, Chinese celery and either pork, chicken or shrimp.

As a thin, salty soup that is easy to digest on the stomach, khao tom is often used as a hangover remedy.

After too much late-night fun with friends, it is a go to morning dish.

3- Kai Jeow (Thai-Style Omelet)

omelets in Thailand are not folded as in the Western world.

Simple ingredients get beaten into the eggs and then fried until the edges are crisp.

The omelet is thick and fluffy because of flour or starches.

The omelet is more of a deep-fried texture because of the liberal amounts of hot oil.

omelets are typically served on top of jasmine rice.

You are likely to see locals eating kai jeow at any time of the day, not just in the morning.

4- Pa Thong Ko (Chinese Doughnuts)

The closest thing to doughnuts you will find is the Thai snack pa thong ko, which was borrowed from China.

If you see white flour scattered across a big surface next to a wide vat of frying oil, you might have stumbled upon a pa thong ko cart.

The dough is deep-fried to produce this inexpensive snack.

Sometimes Pa thong ko is even dipped in coffee or soy milk.

They complement some of the bowls.

5- Moo Ping (Meat Skewers)

Moo ping (pork) and gai ping (chicken) sticks are often consumed at breakfast.

Similar to satay sticks enjoyed in Malaysia, these skewers are grilled and served with a spicy dipping sauce. 

6- Khao Rad Kaeng (Curry on Rice)

Breakfast in Thailand is different from elsewhere in the world, where people usually have some kind of traditional breakfast, or, in the case of America, get a pre-packed breakfast meal from the drive-through.

Locals who want a hearty breakfast will often go to a Khao rad kaeng stall.

The market’s smorgasbord of meats, fish, vegetables, and sauces are usually prepared offsite, transported to the market, and then spread out in warming pans.

You start with a base of rice and then add a few ingredients as you go.

Some people worry about eating the rad in Khao rad kaeng, but don’t be nervous, since the meat doesn’t seem to be the same.

It’s hard to go wrong with pork as the default meat in these enchiladas; however, fish and chicken also work well for these vegetarian enchiladas.

Fresh food is often available earlier in the day than other goods. However, if you want fresher food, it’s better to go for a Khao rad kaeng at night or early in the morning.

7- Nam Tao Hoo (Soy Milk)

Dairy is largely absent in Thai cuisine, which is bad news for morning cereal-eaters.

The milk powder that was quietly added to 7-Eleven snacks is not counted.

In Southeast Asia, soy milk is a very popular breakfast beverage.

Some cartons of soy milk are sold as a drink.

There are street carts that sell soy milk with a variety of additions.

Peeled fruit, seeds, and even jellies are some of the options for topping.

In Thailand, sugar is often gets added to beverages.

8- Kanom Krok (Small Coconut Pancakes)

The small coconut pancakes known as kanom krok are a snack that can be eaten on the go.

A sweet pudding made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar is poured into a plate.

Every street market in Thailand has a smell that is sweet.

It is not a good idea to use kanom krok as a substitute for pancakes.

Sometimes they are topped with sweet corn or spring onions, and they are much sweeter.

9- Dim Sum/Bao

Dim sum and bao aren’t Thai creations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be eaten as breakfast or lunch.

The version of dim sum in Thailand is called Salapao.

Some are filled with meat or shrimp and others are filled with bean paste.

If you look at the filling hole at the top you can guess what is inside a bun.

Sometimes, you don’t know what you’re going to eat.

Locals seem to know the contents by their color and shape.

The learning curve is going to be delicious if you ask the vendor.

10- Fruit

When eating an oily dish early in the morning, fruit comes to the rescue! There is an amazing array of fresh fruits available in the markets, but mango on sticky rice is a favorite dessert that works for breakfast.

Even a small banana in Thailand will give you a new appreciation for how good locally grown fruit can be!

Papaya, guava, bananas, and dragonfruit are some of the best fruits to eat during the rainy months of Thailand.

As a precautionary measure, opt for fruits that can be peeled; washing, even with safe water isn’t enough.

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