When visiting Thailand you can of course get Western-style breakfasts at most tourist hotels but when venturing out you may have to manage your expectations and treat yourself to some of the foods the locals eat for breakfast. “Breakfast” in Thailand is loosely defined as any food you happen to eat in the morning. Generally speaking, you can eat many of the same Thai foods for breakfast that you might eat for lunch or dinner, but there are some foods that are enjoyed more frequently in the morning.
Check out the favourite Thai breakfast dishes:
Jok (rice porridge)
Jok (pronounced “Joke”) is comparable to the Chinese style of congee; rice boiled until it has a thick consistency similar to instant oatmeal. It will be served piping hot, usually with a partially cooked egg cracked over the top, some pieces of minced pork made into meatballs, sometimes a few pieces of liver, and finally you have the option to add garnishes such as thin slices of ginger and cilantro. Jok could be considered the Thai version of cornflakes and milk.
Salapao and Dim Sum
This type of Thai dumpling originated in China is nowadays very popular in Thailand. Often seen being sold from mobile carts they are now stocked in just about every modern convenience store. There are many variations but typically they are filled with red barbecued pork, minced pork, sweet red beans or a sweet cream. You can also find restaurants specializing in Dim Sum with a distinct Thai adaptation of the classic Chinese Dim Sum.
Khao Neow Moo Ping
Moo Ping are skewers of grilled marinated pork that you’ll see literally everywhere in Thailand, in every morning market and along sidewalks in busy areas of town. This dish is available almost 24 hours a day. Khao Neow is sticky rice and will usually be served in a small plastic bag. The combination of the two is Khao Neow Moo Ping and the sweet juicy pork goes extremely well with the sticky consistency of the rice. Definitely a Thai breakfast staple.
Patongo
Patongo is the Thai version of a donut and is generally only found in the morning making it a popular and easy breakfast snack. The savory dough is deep fried until it is fluffy and a little chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It can be eaten simply with a cup of coffee, dipped in sweet coconut egg custard or sweetened condensed milk, or as an accompaniment with a bowl of Jok.