The Food That Lives in My Head Rent-Free (Thailand Edition)

Four trips to Thailand means I've eaten my way through this country more thoroughly than any other. These are the meals that still wake me up at 2 AM.

1. Thipsamai Pad Thai, Bangkok

The orange blossom pad thai wrapped in a thin egg omelette. Smoky wok-charred noodles, fresh prawns, tamarind sauce that hits every note. This is THE Pad Thai experience and it earned every word of its reputation.

2. Khao Soi at a random stall in Chiang Mai

Coconut curry broth, soft egg noodles, crispy fried noodles on top, a chicken leg falling off the bone, pickled mustard greens. It's creamy and crunchy and sour and rich and I've tried to recreate it at home six times. It's never the same.

3. Spring rolls at Ao Nana Night Market, Krabi

Crispy, fresh, perfect dipping sauce. I ate seven and lost count. The night markets in smaller Thai towns often outperform the famous Bangkok ones because there's less tourist markup and more pride in the food.

4. Mango sticky rice (everywhere)

Warm coconut-soaked sticky rice, ripe Thai mango, condensed coconut cream drizzle. I had this almost every day across all four trips. It never got old. Thai mangoes are a different species from what we get in India — sweeter, less fibrous, absolutely perfect.

5. Random food stalls that had queues of Thai people

My number one Thailand food rule: if a stall has a queue of local people and no English menu, eat there. This has never once failed me. The best meal of every trip has come from following this rule.

6. Bangkok 7-Eleven toasted sandwiches (30-40 baht)

I know this sounds like a joke but Thailand's 7-Elevens are genuinely good. The toasted sandwiches, the onigiri, the iced coffee — for 40 baht you get a legitimately satisfying meal. I ate from 7-Eleven almost every single day and I have no regrets.

7. Banana roti from street carts (30-50 baht)

Thin roti fried in butter, filled with banana, drizzled with condensed milk and chocolate sauce. Costs nothing. Tastes like happiness. Available everywhere after sunset. My nightly ritual across all four trips.