Eat at a Dai Pai Dong

 Pad thai is arguably the most famous Thai dish but many Thai food lovers may tell you that tom yum is the best. In fact, it’s the Thai dish that ranked highest on CNN Travel’s reader’s poll on the World's 50 Best Dishes

Tom yum refers to a family of Thai hot and sour soups made with a host of ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, and crushed red chili peppers. It can be made with other proteins like chicken or fish but the most popular version is tom yum goong which is made with prawn.

Tom yum goong is made with a stock of boiled shrimp heads and a soup base made with nam prik pao or roasted chili paste. This is what gives the soup its strong prawn flavors and its notably spicy and sour character.

Get a spoonful of that broth and you’ll realize that tom yum goong is one of the best soups in the world. It’s so nuanced and flavorful.

You can have tom yum anywhere in Thailand but if you’re visting Bangkok , then I suggest trying it at Pe Aor Tom Yum Goong. Check out our Bangkok food guide for more information