Food, Clothes, and Other Lifestyle Matters Thailand is known for its cuisine, which combines Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian influences. The great characteristic about Thai food is the variety of ingredients. Lemongrass, basil, mint leaves, garlic, coconut milk, chilies, sugar, fish sauce, and a hot and sour sauce are used to produce spicy, sour, sweet, and salty tastes. Dishes with Chinese influences include meat and vegetables stir-fried in oyster or garlic sauce and dim sum. Curries with coconut milk suggest Indian and Malay influences, while skewers of grilled meat with peanut sauce are typical of Malay and Indonesian cooking.
Food is cheap, plentiful, and delicious.
Food stalls can make stir-fried noodle dishes, soups, and rice dishes for 10 to 20 baht. They are in every town and city, and many are open quite late. There are plenty of sit-down restaurants that offer good food for much less money than American restaurants. Prices range from 30 to 120 baht. Be sure to take the same precautions you would in any developing country.