When you are visiting Thailand you will find that Western-style breakfasts are not very common. It is a good idea to manage your expectations that you may not find toasted bread, scrambled eggs, sausages, French toast, or a bowl of your favorite cereal with milk at the breakfast table. With the exception of hotels and foreign restaurants, these type of breakfasts is not readily available on the street or at neighborhood restaurants. Generally speaking, you can eat many of the same Thai foods for breakfast that you might eat for lunch or for dinner, but the varieties will be a  bit less spicy. The word for breakfast in Thai is called aahan chow, which means morning food and it covers a wide range of options from little snacks, porridge to Thai omelet (Kai Jiew) or even grilled chicken with sticky rice (khao niew).

• Khao tom: Khao tom is arguably the most common Thai breakfast and you will find it in every stall or restaurant. It is made up of boiled rice with egg which is slightly similar to thin porridge or oatmeal. It often includes rice that’s cooked on its own first and you have the options to add any type of meat (chicken, pork etc.) or seafood (shrimp, squid, fish) or even poached egg. This delicious dish is easy to eat and you have the option to add a range of condiments like Naam Pla (fish sauce) or dried crushed red peppers to liven it up.

Khao tom Plaa (with Fish)

 

• Jok: Jok (pronounced as Joke) is another variant of rice congee which has a thicker consistency- it is quite similar to the Chinese style of congee. In Thailand, if you feel a cold coming on, you just might get a large order of jok as comfort food! After the base of rice porridge, you will have the option to add garlic, ginger, fish sauce, and your choice of meat (chicken, beef, pork etc.). It will be served piping hot with a partially cooked egg cracked over the top. Jok can be considered the Thai substitute to Western cornflakes and milk!

Jok mu sap (Jok with pork meat)-delicious!

 

• Khao Neow Moo Ping (Grilled pork with sticky rice): Moo ping are skewers that are made of grilled pork that you see in the pushcart street food stalls all around. This dish is available almost 24 hours a day. Khao Neow is sticky rice and will usually be served in a plastic bag with a little bit of banana leaf so it won’t stick to your hands when grabbing a ball of it. When you add these two ingredients together it makes Khao Neow Moo Ping, which not only is a typical Thai breakfast, but also a perfect combination of protein and carbs.

 

Moo Ping- juicy skewered pork!

• Gai yang: Gai Yang is chicken that is grilled right in front of you and often served with sticky rice. If you have always wanted to eat a freshly grilled chicken for breakfast then gai yang will be right up your alley! This breakfast dish pairs delicious and juicy chicken meat with sticky rice that will easily kill your morning hunger. The condiments will vary from vendor to vendor, but often there will be a sweet sauce and a spicy sauce that will suit any palate.

Gai Yang and Nam Chip

 

• Kai Jiew (Gai/Moo/Neua sap): Kai Jiew is the Thai version of an omelet that is fried up in a hot pan with oil, and most often eaten with rice. A popular breakfast with Thais and tourists alike you have the choice of meat added inside the omelet, which makes this dish cooked up fresh to order! You can choose to order it plain or with chicken, beef or pork meat added. Once cooked they serve beside a fresh bowl of rice and you will be given chili sauce and ketchup to help flavor the omelet.

 

 Kai Jiew is a popular Thai meal

 

This non-exhaustive list highlights some of our favorite Thai breakfast options that are delicious and easy to eat. Whether you are an expat living in Thailand or visiting for your first time, we recommend you experience some of these amazing meals for breakfast.