Food in Thailand
Without a doubt, one of the main attractions of living in Thailand as an expat is the incredible local cuisine.
Thai Food
Thai food is unlike any other Asian food, it is often highly spiced, more so than any other type of food, and is usually cooked very quickly, on a high heat. It is also prepared using fresh produce, mostly locally grown or raised, using no pesticides. This makes Thai food extremely healthy. Many people find that once they switch to a diet of predominantly Thai food, they begin to lose weight naturally, as they are inducting far less in the way of fats and carbohydrate.
Western Food
In all but the most rural of areas it is possible to find Western foodstuffs and restaurants. Obviously in the more tourist focused areas you will find western restaurants and other international forms of cuisine very easily.
When purchasing western style foods in the supermarket, be aware that local Thai produced brands will seldom actually taste the same as back home. Thai's use sugar in almost everything, so even white bread will taste sweet. Purchasing imported goods is the only way to get a true taste of home, but this can be extremely expensive.
Eating Out
Because Thailand is such a cheap place to live, most people prefer to eat out almost daily. There are lots of options for eating out, from cheap nightmarket stalls to expensive fusion restaurants. A walk down any Thai street will always turn up half a dozen options, from a noodle soup stall to a McDonalds or Pizza place.
The Nightmarket
One of the mainstays of Thai culture is the nightmarket. When the sun goes down, street vendors will gather in their droves, selling all kinds of food to the public. Tables and chairs will be set up, forming seating areas shared by several foods stalls. An evening at the nightmarket is a fine way to dine, sampling from any stalls which take your fancy. It is also a very cheap way to dine; a few dollars will usually buy you all you can eat.
Fast Food
Thailand has its fair share of McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and other Western style fast food restaurants. However, once you try them, you may be disappointed. None of the fast food chains that you recognize from back in the western world will sell the same food as you are used too. For example, cheese is not produced in Thailand, so going to a Pizza restaurant will reward you with a pizza which uses a creamy toping, instead of cheese, to cover the base, this means it does not taste like a ‘real' pizza at all. This is typical of all western fast food chains operating in Thailand, all of the food offered is tailored to local produce.
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