From curbside food stands to exquisite fine dining restaurants, Thailand offers a wide variety of food that is as rich and diverse as its culture. Famous for its balance and harmony, Thai dishes incorporate the five fundamental tastes—hot, sweet, sour, salty, and bitter—into one dining experience. The unique taste, however, is not the only quality that sets Thai cuisine apart from traditional American grub. Thais traditionally eat their meals in informal circles. They serve individual plates of rice and share a variety of community dishes at once.

Because Thais use such an assortment of flavors and tastes created by fresh ingredients and herbs, it is helpful if you can distinguish the different types of Thai cuisine. Thais break their varieties of food into six basic groups: snacks (such as stuffed dumplings, Satay, and spring rolls which are eaten alone), chili dips (usually either a main dish or a side dish), salads (also called yam, usually meat, seafood, vegetable, or fruit salads that taste sour, sweet, and salty), curries (the heart of Thai cuisine—made from fresh herbs and spices then cooked in coconut cream before adding meat and vegetables), soups (ranging from hot and spice to mild and clear—Tom Yum King and Tom Kha Kai are the most popular), and desserts (not as sweet as what you’re used to, usually sticky rice with fruit dumplings).

Another way to differentiate different Thai delicacies is by region. Most of these dishes have absorbed Eastern and Western influence but still maintain their own unique characteristics. Central Thailand is home to diversified dishes of foreign influences. Favorites of this region include green and Phanang curry, Tom Yam hot and sour soup, and Phat Thai noodles.  Northern Thailand’s cool climate offers a variety of vegetables and herbs that simmer nicely into local favorites such as Khao Soi egg noodles curry, Hang Le pork curry, and Sai-Ua spicy pork sausage. The flavors of Northern Thailand picked up some Myanmar, Laos, and Yunnan influences. Northeastern Thailand enjoys highly seasoned Laos inspired dishes including Som Tam green papaya salad, Lap spicy minced meat salad, and barbequed chicken. Lastly, Southern Thailand is well known for its distinct fragrant aromas and flavors. Favorite dishes, such as Satay skewered barbequed meat with spicy peanut sauce and Mussaman curry have a little help from Malaysian and Indian influences.

Whether you choose to save your ‘Baht’ (Thailand’s currency) by picking up local cuisine form a street vendor or drop some Bahts in a fancy Bangkok restaurant, the exotic mixture of flavors and textures offered by Thai cuisine made Bangkok the dining capital of Asia for a reason.