Thai food is beloved worldwide, but eating it in Thailand reveals how much more complex it is. Pad Thai, green curry, and tom yum soup are starting points; dig deeper into som tum (papaya salad), khao man gai (poached chicken rice), and khao soi (northern coconut curry noodles).
Street food is the heart of Thai dining. Bangkok's Chinatown (Yaowarat) and Or Tor Kor Market are street food meccas. Spice levels are adjustable — tell your vendor 'mai phet' for mild or 'phet nit noi' for a little spice.