Destination: Thailand
Eat & Drink Bangkok - Central Thailand Ayuthaya - Central Thailand Chanthaburi - Central Thailand Kanchanaburi - Central Thailand Lopburi - Central Thailand Pattaya - Central Thailand Cha-am - Southern Thailand Hat Yai - Southern Thailand Hua Hin - Southern Thailand Ko Samui - Southern Thailand Krabi - Southern Thailand Nakhon Si Thammarat - Southern Thailand Phuket - Southern Thailand Ranong - Southern Thailand Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand Chiang Rai - Northern Thailand Doi Mae Salong - Northern Thailand Golden Triangle [Sop Ruak] - Northern Thailand Kamphaeng Phet - Northern Thailand Lampang - Northern Thailand Mae Hong Son - Northern Thailand Mae Sai - Northern Thailand Nan - Northern Thailand Phitsanulok - Northern Thailand Sukhothai - Northern Thailand Chiang Khan - Isaan Khon Kaen - Isaan Loei - Isaan Mukdahan - Isaan Nakhon Phanom - Isaan Nakhon Ratchasima - Isaan Nong Khai - Isaan Phanom Rung [Buriram] - Isaan Phimai - Isaan Surin - Isaan That Phanom - Isaan Ubon Ratchathani - Isaan Udon Thani - Isaan	Prices Prices are approximate and include service but not drinks: Licensing Laws Virtually all restaurants in Thailand - unless they are Muslim - serve alcohol in the form of beer, spirits and, increasingly, wine, at any hour of the day. 'Licensing' - in the form of no alcoholic beverages for sale - only applies on holy days in the Buddhist calendar and during elections. In both these cases, special allowance is generally made for foreign visitors, who are not deemed likely to cause trouble during Thai elections. Dining Thai-style Thai restaurants generally serve all the main dishes simultaneously rather than in a series of courses. Rice almost always plays a central role and is served in a large container. Diners are served with an individual portion of rice and then help themselves to small but frequently replenished portions of curry, soup, fish, poultry and various meat dishes, which are presented with the rice. Dining Implements Thais always eat rice and accompanying dishes using a fork and spoon. Knives are only used for European-style meals, as Thai food is served already cut into bite-sized pieces. Chopsticks are reserved for noodle dishes that are perceived as being Chinese in origin. (Other noodle dishes, such as khanm jeen, of Mon origin, are eaten with a fork and spoon.) Dining Etiquette As in the West, it is polite to offer dishes to guests, older people and women first. It is also good manners to offer especially dainty titbits to other diners. Thais are generally fastidiously clean and admire good manners. If you adhere to this, you will be considered a pu-di angkrit or 'English gentleman' (or lady). Khantoke Traditionally northern Thai dinners are served at a khantoke, a low circular table usually made of rattan. Dishes include northern specialities such as nam phrik ong, a pork and chilli dip; kaeng hang lay, pork cooked with ginger; and kep mu or crispy pork rinds. Served with fresh vegetables and sticky rice, it is delicious. Khao Soi A characteristically northern dish is khao soi, believed to have originated in nearby Myanmar (Burma). Chopped beef or chicken is served in a curry broth with flat wheat noodles, deep fried crispy noodles, chopped red onions, pickled cabbage and fresh lime. Add chilli to taste. Sticky Rice Most Westerners, like central Thais, are well acquainted with long-grain jasmine rice (khao suay in Thai). In the north and especially in the northeast of Thailand, however, people prefer khao niaw or sticky rice. Steamed and served in a lidded wicker basket, khao niaw is eaten with the fingers. Locals roll the rice into a ball, dip it in an appropriate sauce and then pop it neatly into their mouths. Papaya Salad Som tam or chopped papaya salad, is popular throughout Thailand but particularly so in the northeast. Thais prefer this delicious blend of fresh papaya, lime juice, garlic, tomatoes, ground peanuts and field crab (optional) spicy hot. A word to the wise - ask for food mai phet or 'not spicy' unless you are a real chilli lover.	COUNTRY Thailand   Viewing   Top Ten   What To See   Where To ...     Eat & Drink     Stay     Shop     Take The Kids     Be Entertained     What's On When   Practical Matters REGION CITIES MAPS World Europe TRAVEL BOOK