GAENG KEOW WAN KAI (Green Chicken Curry)

Morsels of fresh chicken. Cherry-sized eggplants. Tender bamboo shoots. Sprigs of Coriander. Generous handfuls of sweet basil. These humble elements form the body of this seminal curry. But how does it get so gloriously green you ask? Oh, that'll be the spoons of green curry paste that's stirred furiously into hot creamy coconut milk. Sounds unexciting? Sure, but it's not. Served alongside a bowl of fragrant Thai rice, Gaeng Keow Kan Gai is the extreme opposite.

YAM NUA (Spicy Beef Salad)

If there was such a thing as a 'Salad Hall of Fame', Thailand's zesty own breed, or 'yam' as they are known here, would surely take pride of place. Unconvinced? Experience the fresh, fiery thrill of yam nua - with its sprightly mix of onion, coriander, spearmint, lime, dried chili and tender strips of beef - and you won't be. It perfectly embodies the invigorating in-the-mouth-thrill of all Thai salads, the yummy-ness of yam.

TOM YAM GOONG (Spicy Shrimp Soup)

The quintessential Thai aroma! A bold, refreshing blend of fragrant lemongrass, chilli, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice and fish sauce shapes this classic soup, giving it its legendary herbal kick. Succulent fresh prawns and straw mushrooms lend it body. A versatile dish that can fit within virtually any meal, the distinctive smell reminds you of exotic perfume, while it's invigorating sour-spicy-hot taste just screams 'Thailand'!

TOP TEN THAI FOOD

Have you ever tried Thai food? Do you like it? Thai food is one of the things that every foreigner should try when they come to Thailand. When we have visitors from other countries we always take them out to eat. We take them to a Thai restaurant to try Thai food and also teach them about table manners too!

Not long ago, the Office of the National Culture Commission announced the top ten Thai dishes best liked by foreigners. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreigner Affairs, the Office had conducted a survey of Thai restaurants all over the world to find out ten favourite Thai dishes of foreigners. In the survey 1,000 Thai restaurant around the world were asked to fill in a questionnaire. However, only 500 restaurants which have Thai chefs and offer the authentic Thai food were qualified for being taken into consideration.

The results were the top ten Thai dishes which are listed below in order of their percentages of popularity:

Tom Yam Kung (spicy shrimp soup) 99% )
Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai (green chicken curry) 85%
Phat Thai (fried noodles of Thai style) 70%
Phat Kaphrao (meat fried with sweet basils) 52%
Kaeng Phet Pet Yang (roast duck curry) 50%
Tom Kha Kai (chicken in coconut soup) 47%
Yam Nua (spicy beef salad) 45%
Mu or Kai sa-te (roast pork or chicken coated with turmeric) 43%
Kai Phat Met Mamuang Himmaphan (chicken fried with cashew nuts) 42%
Phanaeng (meat in coconut cream) 39%