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Northeastern Thailand, also known as Isaan, is a region that Western travellers rarely visit. But there are a lot of things that are worth visiting in this region, including the food with distinct characteristics, making it stand out within Thai cuisine overall. Come with Asia King Travel and see what makes Isaan food a must-try besides the cultures and scenery here
Isaan is a region in Thailand that is rarely visited by Western tourists
Isaan (also written as Isan, Isarn, Issan or Esarn) is the largest and most populous region of Thailand, located in the Northeast part. Isaan lies on the Khorat Plateau, borders Laos in the Northeast and Cambodia in the Southeast, and as a result, it has a heavy influence of these two countries, especially in cuisine. This unique blend contributes greatly to the richness of Thailand food culture.
Isaan food is characterised by the use of fresh, local ingredients and bold seasonings. A typical Isaan dish contains chillies, along with lots of herbs and spices. In addition, you will see some other common ingredients there like peanuts, river shrimps (either fresh or dried), fermented fish sauce (bplah rah, which is thick and opaque), and so on. This results in hot yet savoury and flavourful dishes.
Isaan cuisine has a strong influence from Laos and Cambodia
In addition to flavour, Isaan food is also known for its cooking methods. Grilling and roasting are common, giving meats a distinct smoky flavour. Fermenting ingredients such as fish (for fish sauce), sausages and vegetables also create a tanginess for the food here. This variety makes Isaan street food one of the most vibrant in Thailand.
Som Tum can be considered the most famous Isaan food and can also be found all over Thailand. In fact, there is a similar dish of this in Laos called Tam Mak Hoong, with the same ingredients but slightly different seasonings.
Som Tum has a distinct orange colour, with the main ingredient being shredded unripe papaya, mixed with carrots, yardlong beans, tomatoes, peanuts, dried shrimps, etc. To season, people usually add palm sugar, lime juice and fish sauce, which makes the Som Tum spicy, salty, sour and sweet at the same time.
Som Tum is among the most popular dishes in Isaan, as well as in Thailand
Besides the flavours it gives, Som Tum also has the textures and crunchiness of fresh vegetables that make it irresistible once eaten. Som Tum has a savoury sauce that perfectly matches sticky rice, so people usually shape the rice into balls and dip it into that sauce. Another thing to keep in mind is that Som Tum is very spicy, so it’s better to ask for less chilli, especially if this is your first time trying Thai cuisine.
Despite meaning “minced meat salad”, there is no lettuce in Laab, which makes it a bit confusing at first. This is a combination of fresh and cooked ingredients, which include cooked minced meat (pork, chicken, duck, etc), then mixed with chopped onions, mint leaves, lime juice, ground toasted rice and smoked red chilli peppers.
Laab has a balanced combination of fresh and cooked ingredients
No matter how you adjust the ingredients, Laab will always have an attractive appearance. Usually, it is both light and dark green colours that come from fresh herbs, and some red and white speckles from chilli peppers. But that’s not all. Thanks to the mix of various components, Laab also has a complex flavour.
How can you talk about grilled food in Isaan without mentioning Moo Yang? As grilling is a signature way of cooking here, it will be a pity if you miss this juicy treat. Among the types of pork used for Moo Yang, the neck is the most popular, and the grilled pork neck is called Kor Moo Yang. It balances perfectly between meat and fat; therefore, it is juicy but still keeps the texture of the meat when cooked.
Moo Yang is usually bought by weight
You might imagine how good Moo Yang is when grilled: the aroma, the taste, along with a bit of smoke, all in a mouthful. Just like other grilled meat dishes, you cannot have Kor Moo Yang without the signature Thai dipping sauce, fresh vegetables and sticky rice, or you wouldn’t be able to get the full taste experience. Another interesting thing about Kor Moo Yang is that people usually buy it by weight instead of each serving.
Literally, Nam Tok means "waterfall", and in the context of Thai cuisine, this name refers to the juices that drip from meat as it is grilled. You can easily see in its name that Nam Tok has the juiciness from the proteins. Nam Tok is a true local favourite as it can be found at roadside eateries across Isaan.
Nam Tok means "waterfall", referring to the meat juice when cooking
Similar to Laab, Nam Tok uses typical Isaan food seasonings like lime, chilli, roasted rice powder, etc., which makes it both refreshing and comforting. However, instead of being minced, the meat in Nam Tok is usually fried or grilled. There are two variations for this delightful dish, including Nam Tok Moo (Pork Nam Tok) and Nam Tok Neua (Beef Nam Tok).
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In Isaan, “Saap” means “tasty” or “delicious”, so Tom Saap can be translated as “Tasty Soup”. Indeed, Tom Saap really lives up to its name. Tom Saap is said to be similar to the famous Tom Yum, but shows more influence from Laos-style soups. The stock is lighter and more transparent, still hot enough for you to reach for tissues after a few taste tests.
Tom Saap is similar to Tom Yum but with more influence from Laos
There are many variations of meat options for this kind of soup, but pork (especially pork ribs and minced pork balls) and beef are the most popular. When cooking, a lot of typical Isaan seasonings like lime, herbs, chilli and roasted rice powder will be added, resulting in a wonderful balance of sweet, sour, salty, spicy and savoury flavours.
Gai Yang may look simple at first glance, but the flavour it gives is much more complex. The mixture for coating, also for marinating the chicken, contains garlic, pepper, coriander roots and fish sauce. Each chicken is butterflied open and charcoal-grilled for a long time. In this way, the chicken is evenly cooked and flavoured with an infusion of smoke, creating a unique blend of flavours.
The chicken is evenly marinated and cooked
When serving, Gai Yang will be chopped into small pieces so that you can enjoy it more easily. There is usually a pack of dipping sauce that comes along with the chicken, so be sure to get yourself prepared with steaming hot sticky rice!
These small sausages are a popular Isaan street food that can be found anywhere in this region. Being made from fermented pork and sticky rice, it has a distinct flavour of tangy and slightly sour, sometimes smoky.
Sai Krok Isaan is among the top 100 best sausages in the world
Sai Krok Isaan is often eaten as a snack with some other vegetables for extra spices. Usually, people would roll the sausage in a cabbage leaf along with small chilli peppers and sliced ginger, then pop it into their mouth.
In July 2025, Sai Krok was ranked 23rd in the list of the Top 100 Best Sausages in the World by TasteAtlas, a renowned food and travel guide in the world. So why not go and try it as part of your itinerary in Isaan?
Hor Mok is said to be reinventing the traditional curry, because the way to make it is completely different from the original curry that everybody knows. It has a mousse-like consistency that fits perfectly in a banana leaf “boat”, and with each spoonful, you can feel as if there is a burst of flavours in your mouth.
The way to make Hor Mok is completely different from any other kind of curry
Traditionally, Hor Mok is a combination of minced meat (mainly fish, pork is also common), red curry paste, coconut leaves, kaffir lime leaves and fresh chillies, then poured into banana leaf moulds and steamed. Many people love Hor Mok because the taste of fish in it is not too strong, and they can also have small portions at a time.
In addition to Isaan, Hor Mok can also be seen in Laos, and in Cambodia, this is considered a national dish with the name Amok.
Thanks to the influence from the neighbouring countries, Isaan cuisine has a blend of various cultures, which makes it so addictive and hard to resist. Once you try the Isaan food, you will have to ask for more and more. But it does not only have that much; there are also the unique lifestyle and scenic landscapes for you to explore. So why not plan your Isaan tour with Asia King Travel and enjoy both culture and cuisine in one trip?
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