Craving delicious food? Head to Thailand!

Fun Bar Ting Chiang

Speaking of independent travel in Thailand, must-eat and must-buy items in Thailand

▲ Thai 7-11 microwave meals. (Photo / Tripbaa Fun Bar!, Asia’s Independent Travel Experts)

Don’t doubt it—our first recommendation is the microwave meals from 7-11, because there are now many budget airlines flying to and from Bangkok, and their arrival or departure times are often not very convenient. You may get off the plane only to find shops have already closed, or you simply don’t want to walk far to find a restaurant. In such situations, the ubiquitous Thai 7-11s are your best friends. Whether it's Thai-style ground pork stir-fry, red curry, or pineapple fried rice, they are all done to perfection, with great color, aroma, and taste. They are absolutely some of the most touching must-eat Thai foods after landing, shopping, or completing a long, tiring day of travel late at night.

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #2

When traveling independently in Thailand, one street food you definitely can’t miss is the night market snacks, especially the banana pancake, which is a must-eat. That’s because Thai banana pancakes are made fresh on the spot. Not only is the pancake crust perfectly crispy, but the combination of fresh bananas with ingredients like chocolate and eggs makes for a warm, incredibly delicious taste that only locals in Thailand can perfect.

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Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #3

The most famous dish at Amphawa Floating Market might be rice noodle soup or grilled seafood, but I personally would love to recommend this delicious and affordable snack—the quail egg. Walking along the riverbank, you’ll often see quail egg vendors. The interesting thing is that every vendor has different toppings—some offer original flavor, crab meat, fish cake, or even just a simple dip in spicy-sweet sauce. Each one is super tasty, and the best part is, a skewer costs only 20 Thai baht. How could this not be considered a must-eat Thai food?

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #4

Another must-buy at Amphawa Market is the rainbow toast, which girls are sure to love. Not only is its colorful appearance very eye-catching, but when eaten fresh and hot, the filling really does appear to unfold like a rainbow—it’s very dreamy. Prices vary depending on sauces and toppings, roughly 70–90 Thai baht per piece. While not particularly cheap, compared to Taiwan’s creative toasts that cost over 100 NT dollars easily, it offers great value for money.

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #5

Sugar-thread spring rolls are a very traditional Thai dessert, but because they are time-consuming to make, they are rarely made in Bangkok anymore. So even local guides, when visiting Ayutthaya, will buy several packs to take back as supplies. The outer wrapper is similar to a spring roll skin, and the sugar threads inside melt in your mouth just like Taiwan’s dragon beard candy, even softer, and the two combine to create a wonderfully balanced flavor that’s neither too sweet nor greasy. Paired with a cup of oolong tea, it’s the authentic Thai way to enjoy afternoon tea. If you visit Ayutthaya, don’t miss it!

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Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #6

Thai-style fried rice noodles (Pad Thai) is a classic dish that you must try in Thailand. Whether at street stalls or restaurants, you’ll find it everywhere. It’s typically loaded with garlic chives, bean sprouts, fried rice noodles, chicken, lemon, crushed peanuts, and various other ingredients and seasonings. All these elements come together to make a plate of fried noodles that’s truly colorful, aromatic, and delicious. After eating it, you might feel that Taiwanese Thai food is a bit lacking!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #7

Thailand’s weather is extremely hot, so many refreshing side dishes have been developed. One must-try is green papaya salad. The shredded green papaya tastes fresh and slightly sweet, paired with fresh tomatoes and green beans, and then sprinkled with spices and sauces to enhance the flavor, resulting in a tangy and spicy taste that’s very appetizing. It’s also one of the classic must-eat Thai dishes.

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #8

Aside from floating markets and night market snacks, if you want to try authentic Thai cuisine with local cultural flair and creativity, you must give Thai curry crab a try. Fresh crab served with a curry-based thickened sauce is rich yet fragrant with spices—very flavorful with rice. If you find whole curry crabs too pricey, you can order Thai curry fried crab instead, which also delivers the intense flavors of Thai cuisine. It’s truly one of the unforgettable must-eat Thai dishes I’ve ever had!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #9

Of course, when you're at a Thai restaurant, how can you not order fried shrimp cakes? With their golden, crispy exterior, fresh and sweet tender shrimp filling, and a tangy, sweet sauce that makes a satisfying crunch when you bite into it, not trying them would be doing yourself a disservice. And if you’re really into seafood, you might also want to try “oyster omelet.” It’s similar to Taiwanese oyster omelet, but the fried egg has a richer, crispier texture—definitely worth a taste!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #10

Tom Yum Goong is essentially a type of Thai spicy and sour soup. In the Thai language, “Tom” means to boil, “Yum” refers to mixing and tossing, and “Goong” means shrimp. Typically cooked with ingredients such as kaffir lime leaves, ginger, bird’s eye chilies, herbs, and mushrooms, the broth offers a tangy and spicy flavor with a hint of fragrance. It’s said to even have anti-cancer properties, making it one of the must-try dishes for many visitors to Thailand.

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #11

In Thailand’s hot weather, you’ll find street vendors selling Thai milk tea and cold drinks everywhere. But when it comes to authentic Thai milk tea, you have to mention the “Cha Tra Mue Thai Iced Tea” brand. Since its establishment in 1945, it originally started by selling traditional Thai tea, and later evolved into the ubiquitous Thai hand-shaken drink shops we see today.

Additionally, they offer two unique flavors of Thai milk tea ice cream: original and green milk. Both are rich and creamy, making them a must-try sweet treat for summer in Thailand!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #12

Of course, when talking about must-try Thai desserts, how can we forget mango sticky rice, which you’ll find everywhere from night markets to restaurants? Due to Thailand’s hot weather, which often kills people’s appetite, this unique dish was created—fresh mango served with coconut milk-soaked sticky rice. It’s sweet, refreshing, and filling, with a flavor that’s not as overpowering as durian, making it a favorite among many locals and tourists alike.

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #13

Thai design is known for being creative and high-quality, so when you’re traveling in Thailand, be sure to explore department stores, creative markets, or night markets for hidden gems. Among them, the marble series accessories are highly recommended—they range from coasters, ticket holders, placemats, tissue boxes, to even cups and bags. Not only do they have great texture, but the price for each item is only around 60–200 Thai baht. It’s a place where marble lovers could easily go wild!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #14

Chatuchak Weekend Market isn’t just about clothes, bags, and creative trinkets—you can also find plenty of home decor shops. For instance, lighting fixtures that are less common and pricier in Taiwan are available here in a wide variety of styles, bright colors, and at very affordable prices. It’s perfect for girls looking to redecorate their rooms and hunt for treasures!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #15

While phone cases are readily available in Taiwan, it might seem odd to buy them while traveling in Thailand. However, at Thai night markets, you’ll often find styles and quality comparable to what’s sold in Taiwan—but at half the price or even under 100 baht. The most interesting part? Some phone cases even glow in the dark, showing that Thais really love shiny things!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #16

Thai beauty products might not be as familiar to many, but given Thailand’s hot climate and tendency for makeup to wear off easily, numerous highly effective and long-lasting beauty and skincare brands have emerged. If you’re curious and want to try some less risky options, the highly recommended VOODOO 2-in-1 makeup remover & cleanser and Beauty Buffet’s Milk Facial Cleanser are both great additions to your list of must-buy Thai items!

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #17

Most people imagine honey as coming in a whole jar, but in Thailand, the famous and affordable Sun Forest Royal Honey comes in tube form, just like a facial cleanser. Simply pop open the cap and squeeze it out—great for spreading on toast as a spread or mixing into Thai milk tea. And each stick is only around 35 Thai baht. Isn’t it an incredibly affordable must-buy item in Thailand?

Must-eat and must-buy in Thailand #18

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When traveling to Thailand on your own, you absolutely must try the sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors of Thai cuisine. If you're afraid you'll still be craving these delicious dishes after returning to Taiwan, our editor highly recommends bringing back a jar of addictive sweet chili sauce—specifically, the one shown on the right in the picture above.

Must-eat & Must-buy in Thailand #19

Thai shrimp is also famously fresh and delicious, so naturally, the must-buy list for Thailand wouldn't be complete without the legendary MANORA shrimp crackers. Whenever friends head to Thailand, we always recommend they bring back the aluminum-can version—it's the only way to get enough. Though the crackers come in small pieces, they’re so moreish you’ll finish them off in no time.

Must-eat & Must-buy in Thailand #8

Another addictive snack is Big Brother Peanuts, a series of peanut snacks launched by Koh Kae. Flavors include coconut milk, mustard, spicy-sour, grilled, chicken, and shrimp—all packaged in aluminum cans. They offer a perfect balance of salty and sweet, with a satisfying crunch that releases aromatic flavors. They’re a top choice for Thai drinking snacks, and you might just polish off the can before you know it.

Must-eat & Must-buy in Thailand #20

When traveling freely in Thailand, besides picking up banana-flavored Pocky, you shouldn’t miss the localized flavor of Larb Pork Pretz by Glico. These snacks are salty and sweet, giving you the real taste of larb pork rice. There’s also a Thai spicy and sour soup flavor—if you love Thai cuisine, make sure both make it onto your must-buy list in Thailand.

Must-eat & Must-buy in Thailand #21

We’ve mentioned before that if you want to try authentic Thai milk tea, you have to sample the genuine "Chang Tea Thai Iced Tea." Their tea has a sweet richness, the milk tea is smooth and fragrant, and the quality is consistent—you’ll find the flavor nearly identical across almost every shop. It’s considered the best of Thai milk teas. At their stores, you can buy yellow, green, and red Thai tea tins. Just add water and condensed milk, and you can enjoy authentic Thai milk tea at home.

If you don’t want to mix it yourself, you might also consider buying a pack of Chang Tea or Nestlé’s three-in-one Thai milk tea mix—its taste is also very close to the freshly made Thai milk tea you get in Thailand.

Map of Must-eat & Must-buy in Thailand

[Authorized repost from Tripbaa Fun Asia Travel Experts] Original source: [Must-Eat & Must-Buy in Thailand: Thai Curry Crab, Rainbow Toast | Where Can You Find Must-Eat & Must-Buy Items in Thailand?]