In Thai cuisine, soup is often one of the main dishes of a meal. Unlike in many Western cuisines, where soup is typically served as a starter, in Thai cooking, soup is one of several dishes served all at once during a meal. It complements other dishes such as rice, curries, and stir-fries.
Thai meals are about variety and balance, and soups help achieve this balance with their broths and ingredients, which can cool the palate between bites of spicier dishes. Explore the Thai soup dishes available at Prod., the first fine-dining seafood restaurant in Pattaya.
What Soup Brings to Thai Cuisine
Depth of Flavor
Thai soup dishes are known for their complex flavors—sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and umami. Ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, tamarind, and chili are staples, each contributing layers of flavor. This complexity allows Thai soups to balance or enhance the flavors of other dishes.
Health & Digestion
Thai soups often contain herbs and spices with known health benefits. For instance, galangal, turmeric, and ginger offer anti-inflammatory properties and digestive aids. The broths are typically light and nourishing, suitable for the tropical climate.
Cultural Tradition
Soup is often an accessible and essential comfort food, from street food vendors serving hearty noodle soups that constitute a full meal to fine-dining restaurants offering delicately flavored broths that cleanse the palate and prepare the diner for the meal.
Types of Thai Soups
The diversity of Thai soups is based on the readily available ingredients that vary by region. While coconut milk-based soups may be more prevalent in the South, the North might favor broths made with a clear, meat-based stock.
Herb-Infused Soups
Herb-infused Thai soups feature ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and Thai basil. These herbs fill the broth with incredible flavors and offer numerous health benefits, such as promoting digestive health and boosting immunity.
Clear Soups
Clear Thai soups are typically light but packed with flavor. They offer a soothing, refreshing taste that perfectly complements richer dishes.
Chinese-Style Soups
Thai-Chinese style soups are hearty and satisfying, often featuring noodles and a richer, more aromatic broth.
Popular Traditional Thai Soup Dishes
Here are some of the most popular traditional Thai soups you must try:
Tom Yum (Hot and Sour Soup) is perhaps the most famous Thai soup known for its sharp, spicy, and sour profile. Made with shrimp (Tom Yum Goong) or chicken (Tom Yum Gai), the soup’s broth is flavored with fresh herbs such as lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilies, and a splash of lime juice. Tomatoes and mushrooms are often added for body, and a small amount of fish sauce brings saltiness and depth.
Tom Kha Gai (Chicken in Coconut Soup) offers a milder yet rich flavor profile with chicken simmered in a coconut milk broth and aromatic herbs like galangal, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. The coconut milk gives this soup a hearty yet light texture, while a touch of lime juice adds a hint of sourness. Chilies may be added for a slight heat, which balances the sweetness of the coconut.
Kuai Tiao Ruea (Boat Noodle Soup) was originally served from boats along the canals of Thailand, hence the name. This soup has a dark, intense broth made from pork or beef, soy sauce, and a blend of spices, including star anise and cinnamon. It typically includes rice noodles, meatballs, and sometimes slices of liver or other offal, garnished with fresh herbs like cilantro and green onions.
Khao Tom (Rice Soup) is often enjoyed for breakfast or as a light meal. Its clear, soothing broth contains rice simmered until it reaches a soft, almost porridge-like consistency. It can be made with chicken, fish, or shrimp and is subtly flavored with garlic and ginger. It’s garnished with spring onions and fried garlic.
Suki (Thai Hot Pot) is similar to Chinese hot pot, which involves cooking a variety of ingredients in a hot broth at the table. The ingredients typically include thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and glass noodles. The distinctive feature of Thai Suki is its dipping sauce, which has a spicy and strong flavor of fresh chili, garlic, and lime.
Khao Soi (Coconut Curry Noodle Soup) is a Northern Thai specialty of soft egg noodles in a rich broth made with coconut milk seasoned with curry powder and turmeric. It’s traditionally served with chicken or beef, topped with crispy fried egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime, and ground chilies.
Ba Mee Moo Daeng (Egg Noodles with Red Roast Pork) is a Chinese-influenced dish with egg noodles served with slices of red roast pork, bok choy, and sometimes crab or pork dumplings. The light and clear broth is served with condiments like pickled chilies and garlic oil.
Reflecting Modern Culinary Trends
At Prod., we honor Thai culinary traditions by incorporating fresh, local ingredients and modern techniques while staying true to the flavors and principles of traditional Thai cuisine. Our commitment to creating an authentic and innovative dining experience can be seen in the use of locally sourced, sustainable ingredients and creative presentation that enhances the dining experience.
Must-Try Thai Seafood Soups at Prod.
Prod.’s Fin-to-Scale concept shines in our seafood soups, where we use every part of the fish to maximize flavor and minimize waste. Our best-selling Thai soup dish is Tom Kha Custard with Crispy Gourami Fish, a creative take on the classic soup, served as a custard for a unique texture contrast with crispy fish. Another must-try is our Tom Yum Dry Aged Seabass in Shabu-Shabu Style, a fusion dish with a tom yum dip for the delicately cooked pieces of dry-aged seabass.
Experience the depth of flavor in dry aging with Steamed Dry Aged Seabass with Chili and Lime Sauce, or savor the giant river prawns with the rich broth of Grandmother’s Tom Yum River Prawn dish. If you’re in the mood for curry, try the Southern Crab Curry Soup with Cha Ploo Leaf for a distinctly Southern Thai taste.
Dine at Prod.
Prod. is the first Thai fine-dining restaurant in Pattaya, setting the standard for high-quality, innovative cuisine in the region. We collaborate closely with local suppliers to ensure the highest quality of the seafood and produce we use for our Thai seafood soup and dishes.
Prod.’s menu reflects our Fin-to-Scale philosophy, an eco-friendly approach focused on producing tasty and innovative dishes. We blend traditional and contemporary techniques to create dishes that are both authentic and avant-garde. Our dedication to sustainability, quality, and culinary excellence makes us the standout choice for anyone looking to experience the best of Thai dining in Pattaya. Reserve your table today.
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