Telling what are popular Thai breakfast dishes might not be as easy questions to answer right away. If you walk down the street or observe people eating their breakfasts in their offices, the difference between breakfast, lunch and dinner can be challenging to spot. Imagination is the only real limit! In Thailand, however, there are items that are traditionally eaten for breakfast, and of course these vary across regions, in this article however we are going to focus on what are common Thai breakfast dishes in Bangkok.
Kanom Krok
It is a sweet, tasty Thai snack, sometimes eaten as a dessert as well. It can also be eaten as a light snack, and street vendors whip up plenty of batches to feed the hungry early in the morning. The small gelatinous products are made from a mixture of rice flour and coconut milk, and they can include different fillings. Spring onion is very common, and may include sweetcorn or chives in other fillings. Khun Noi is one of our favorite Kanom Krok stall, he has been cooking kanom krok for the past 50 years using the same recipe.
Jok
Similar to a rice porridge, it is thicker and mushier than khao tom, at breakfast time in Thailand it is among the most popular dishes. It can be eaten alone or with a variety of other ingredients and seasonings. Many people like to add a poached egg.
Thai breakfast Drink – Nam Tao Hoo
When talking about drinks the Thai version of fresh soy milk is nam tao hoo. Sometimes instead of being served as a drink, nam tao hoo is served more like a soup. If you order it on the streets, they will add some sugar and if you like a selection of small jelly ingredients or basil seeds, then put the hot soy milk in a plastic bag. Nam tao hoo is very soothing. It is also popular to get some tao hoo after a meal in the evening or at night.
Roti
Roti is a type of fried bread made from wheat flour, similar to a pancake or crepe. It’s a growing street food and was brought in by the Muslim community. There are lots of fillings and toppings to choose from. It may sound like a strange combination but a popular option is egg and banana with a hearty pour of condensed milk. Mango, chocolate spread, jam, and peanut butter may also be another choice.
Salapao
White steamed buns called “salapao” in Thailand are a popular snack and also a favorite choice when it comes to having a quick breakfast. They are sold at street vendor stalls, roadside restaurants and Chinese restaurants. The fillings may be salty or sweet. Salty salapao are usually made from barbecue or minced pork. It could be filled with roast pork known as ‘sai moo daeng’ (“moo daeng” = red roasted pork). The sweet buns are usually available for about 10 to 15 Baht in 7-Eleven shops. The sweet salapao (“sai waan”) may consist of crushed mung beans like ‘sai tua dam’ or a cream filling (“sai kriim”).
Khao Tom
Not to be confused with Jok, Khao tom is another basic Thai dish that is commonly enjoyed for breakfast, and dinner as well. It is a thick rice soup, which typically includes chicken or pork balls along with cilantro, lemongrass and other herbs. However, it usually doesn’t have chilies or other fiery tastes for which Thailand is known.
Patongo
It is the Thai version of the donut, a deep-fried blob of slightly sweet dough, fluffy inside and crunchy outside. Whenever you see a huge wok full of oil in Thailand and a vendor turning dough pieces with a chopstick, you know that patongo is available. The dough is light and fluffy, it is a bit salty instead of a sweet donut. Patongo is one of Thailand’s most common breakfast snacks, and many will buy a bag for breakfast to take away. They can be eaten with a cup of coffee or plunged into a sweet custard sauce.
Khao Niaow Moo Ping
Thai Grilled Pork with sticky rice it’s a real staple among Thai breakfast dishes all over Thailand. They are generally sold in skewers by street vendors all day long, however vendors usually concentrate in the morning and early afternoon. You can spot vendors in the streets by the big smoke that come from their stall, if they are grilling some meat on a skewer with sticky rice, that’s what we are talking about.
