Do you want to learn more about the flavor and cooking techniques used to create authentic Thai food? We set out on a quest to find nine of the best Thai cookbooks, and we’re pretty content and full thanks to our findings. Below, you’ll find recipe collections that explore exotic ingredients, tasty street foods, traditional dinners, and everything in between.
Quick Overview: Top 3 Best Thai Cookbooks
Best Choice | Hot Thai Kitchen
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Also great | Pok Pok
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Best Value | Thai Street Food: Authentic Recipes, Vibrant Traditions
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Best Thai Cookbook Reviews
1. Hot Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Cuisine with Authentic Recipes to Make at Home – Most Authentic Thai Cookbook
Pailin Chongchitnant’s has written instructions for an authentic epicurean adventure in her new book, Hot Thai Kitchen. In her extensive recipe collection, Chongchitnant combines her Thai roots with a refined Cordon Bleu education. If you don’t already know Chongchitnant from her perennial YouTube channel, Hot Thai Kitchen, this cookbook will push you to subscribe.
Hot Thai Kitchen includes new takes on beloved Thai classics, including spicy curries, full-flavored stir-fries, mind-numbing appetizers, and sensual desserts. In addition to colored photos, the book includes QR codes that link readers directly to video tutorials that relate to the recipes on the page. We love how Chongchitnant pulls her written and video-based teachings to create a multimedia experience that appeals to a wide audience.
If you are interested in learning more about the author, you’ll be pleased with the pleasant autobiographical interludes that are situated between recipes. If you’re new to Thai cuisine, you’ll also enjoy the detailed essays on traditional Thai ingredients. If anything, this book will leave you with a deepened appreciation for the people of Thailand.
What stands out about Hot Thai Kitchen is Chongchitnant’s ability to break things down into (no pun intended) digestible bites. There are even ingredient tables alongside every recipe, making it easier for readers to substitute favorite or readily available components. While some exotic ingredients are hard to come by, most of the elements in Chongchitnant’s recipes can be found at a regular grocery store.
- The author has an easy to follow writing style
- Autobiographical tidbits
- A wide range of dishes and sauces to explore
- QR codes link to relevant video tutorials
- Includes personal antidotes
- Very authentic recipes
- Limited number of recipes (around 20)
- May only appeal to established YouTube fans
2. Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand – Best Thai Recipes for Hungry Travelers
Thailand is the quintessential destination for hungry travelers. From dynamic home-cooked meals to drool-worthy roadside restaurants, Thailand has captured the hearts and tongues of chefs in search of exotic flavors. Andy Ricker’s new cookbook, Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, lets readers in on some of these yummy hard-sought secrets.
Ricker is the chef and owner at the world-renowned Pok Pok restaurant, a U.S.-based Thai food chain. Ricker’s book is the culmination of years of research into authentic Thai cuisine. The book comes in the form of 13 chapters and almost 100 recipes. Despite its lengthy content, it’s very difficult to put down.
We love that Ricker’s book is booming with personality. While Pok Pok is technically a recipe collection, it’s also a work of vibrant journalism and charming literary prose. It’s colorful, detailed, and altogether intimate. In Pok Pok, Ricker even writes about his colorful encounters in the streets of Bangkok and beyond.
If you want to gain cooking knowledge and a genuine appreciation for the country of Thailand, read this book. For those of you who are intimidated by exotic ingredients, the book offers tips on ordering them online. Once you take a look at the colorful photographs in Pok Pok, you’ll probably be willing to do anything to get your hands on the recipe requirements.
While we don’t want to spoil the riches that abound in Pok Pok’s pages, we will say that the garlicky Isaan duck salad is to die for. If you’re going to tire yourself out hunting down authentic Thai ingredients, you might as well hook yourself with a hearty instructional book such as this!
- Witty personal antidotes
- Full-color photos
- Link for hunting down accessible ingredients online
- Full-flavored recipes
- Meticulously researched
- Nearly 100 recipes
- Almost 300 pages of Thai food tips
- Autobiographical tidbits
3. Thai Street Food: Authentic Recipes, Vibrant Traditions (Hardcover) – The Best Guide for Thai Street Food Culture
Asia is known for its street foods, and Thailand is one of the countries famous for their delectable dishes that can be easily found on the city’s bustling streets. Bangkok is especially a paradise for any food lover. The city is where you can find all kinds of street food stalls, each bringing a different taste that you will never forget.
The street food culture of Bangkok, Thailand, is basically an attraction itself. In every corner of the city, visitors and tourists can see masterful chefs selling all kinds of food with flavors that will suit even ones with the pickiest tastes. The city has so many options that it is almost impossible to decide what street food to choose and where to go. That’s where cookbooks and guides can help.
In David Thompson’s Thai book recipes, readers find themselves transported into the heart of Thailand and learn about Bangkok’s markets and street stalls. It is not only the recipes itself that make the book popular, but also Earl Carter’s authentic photographs of the culinary street culture of Thailand looks. David Thompson is a chef and scholar who is singularly passionate about Thailand’s culinary culture and customs, as well as its people.
In this book, David introduces around 100 different Thai dishes accompanied with lavish photography that will pique the interest of anyone who sees them. In a way, it is not only a cookbook but also a guide of what Bangkok has to offer. The book has so many kinds of recipes to provide including Egg Noodle Soup, Steamed Fish with Chilli and Lime Sauce, Sweet Banana Roti, and more.
Everyone of these dishes isan integral part of Thai culture. With the book, readers get to learn more than just about Thai food. They gain insights into the nuances of the daily life of the Thai people, their richly diverse culture, history, and cuisine. “Thai Street Food: Authentic Recipes, Vibrant Traditions” is indeed one of the best Thai cookbooks out in the market.
- Features around 100 different recipes
- It includes vibrant photographs of Thai street food culture
- It includes stories and descriptions of the dishes
- The recipes are easy to follow
- The book is a bit big and bulky
- Some of the recipes can be tricky due to lack of ingredients
4. Thai Food – Most Comprehensive Thai Cookbook
David Thompson’s expansive cookbook, “Thai Food,” could serve as a bible for this ever-popular ethnic cuisine. As the one-time winner of the James Beard Award, Thompson is no stranger to fine food. His lofty cookbook includes a decade’s of hard-sought research on Thai cooking and culture.
The book includes a beautiful collection of full-color photos captured at Thompson’s Sydney and London restaurants. Besides, that, there are several photos of Thai eateries, ingredients, dishes, and markets.
The book is nearly 200 pages long, with essays, recipes, and photographs making up the bulk of the production. While the recipes are lengthy and somewhat demanding, they offer rarely seen breakdowns of authentic cooking. Thai Food doesn’t limited readers to run-of-the-mill curries. The food ideas in this book are far more authentic. Some of the more interesting options include a young ginger and squid appetizer, a prawn and pork sauce, and a corn and salted duck salad.
Stock your kitchen with lemongrass, chili peppers, garlic, and scallions, and pull out this hefty pile of pages. Take a deep breathe and dig fearlessly into these gripping dishes. In no time, you’ll be opting for home-cooked over takeout and dine in.
- Detailed ingredient lists and cooking techniques
- Highly authentic
- Made by a renowned, award-winning Thai chef
- Includes colorful food photos
- Wild and original essays about Thai cooking
- Easy to follow instructions
- Accessible substitutions
- Not ideal for untrained chefs
5. Simple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen – Easiest Thai Recipes
Leela Punyaratabandhu may have started as a blogger, but her passion for all things food soon led to greater escapades. Simple Thai Food is a collection of 100 affordable, easy-to-follow Thai recipes. Written in the same flowing style of Punyaratabandhu blog, She Simmers, Simple Thai Food offers tips and tricks for assembling scrumptious Thai dishes just in time for dinner.
As a native of Bangkok, Punyaratabandhu grew up around the indulgent flavors and aromas of Thai cuisine. She shares her favorite family recipes, street foods, and wholesome snacks in her debut cookbook.
We love that Punyaratabandhu is a realist. Her recipes include shortcuts that are designed to reduce traditional cooking times and prep work. The recipes are a great match for busy home cooks.
- Modified to cut down on time and spending
- Colorful food photos
- Minimal skill required
- Highly authentic
- Easy to read
- Recipe source and background included
- Regional favorites
- Very few vegetarian dishes
6. The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook: Favorite Thai Food Recipes Made at Home – Best Recipes for Takeout Replacements
Are you spending too much money at your local Thai restaurant? While takeout is tasty, it can take a Jaws-sized bite out of your budget. The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook: Favorite Thai Food Recipes Made at Home is Danette St. Onge’s mouth-watering solution to staving off those expensive late-night cravings. This colossal recipe book includes an entire menu’s worth of authentic Thai dishes. The best part is that all of them can be mastered in under 30 minutes.
This modern cookbook is geared toward people living in a fast-paced, no-nonsense world. As such, there are plenty of serving suggestions, ingredient alternatives, and other helpful tips included with each recipe. All of the recipes are also made from pantry essentials that St. Onge introduces in the first pages of the book. If your smart, you can use this guide to stock up on essentials before your hunger pains strike.
With this book and a pantry full of Thai essentials, you can one-up your local Thai joint in a matter of minutes. The recipes in this book are easy to follow. What’s more, the ingredient lists are short and to the point. You don’t need to be a professional chef to master these Thai favorites. Still, they’re good enough to fool trained tasters!
- Meals can all be completed in under 30 minutes
- Made with approved pantry essentials
- Easy to follow directions
- Colorful food photos accompany recipes
- Substitution ideas
- Over 100 take-out alternatives
- Lengthy
7. Bangkok: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand – A Personal Book of the Culture and Cuisine of Bangkok
Written by Leela Punyaratabandhu, “Bangkok: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand” is an amazingly personal and unique book about Bangkok. It talks not only about Thai food and restaurants, but also the stories of those people who come to those places.
Thailand’s capital city is one of the most visited cities in the world. Over 16 million people go here and leave mesmerized. People who visit Bangkok become awestruck by its vibrant culture, not to mention the delectable cuisine. Today, Thailand’s cuisine is more popular than ever. Leela brings out one of the most personal accounts of what it is like in the city and the food there. Only a few books chronicle on Thai real food, so this is precisely what Leela’s book offers.
The book details 120 different recipes that allow anyone to create authentic Thai dishes with Bangkok’s true spirit right at the comfort of their home. It is a collection of carefully selected recipes, including heirloom family dishes, restaurant classics, everyday street foods, and more. It offers all kinds of recipes for all types of tastes. More than that, Leela’s recipe book provides you a glimpse of what makes Bangkok beautiful.
This book stands out the most, thanks to Leela’s writing. As expected of an award-winning writer, she created a cookbook that makes people feel nostalgic about Bangkok. For Thai people who immigrated to foreign countries, the book undoubtedly reminds them of home. For those who are interested in learning more about Thailand’s culture, this book serves a good start.
Thai cuisine is quite impressive. It is one of those cuisines that blend the four different seasonings – sweet, sour, salty, and spicy – perfectly. Most Thai dishes have these tastes combined. Also, they emphasize fresh veggies and fruits in their food culture. It is no wonder people who like to change into a healthier lifestyle are looking into Thai cuisine. In that case, this book is a good start for a reading.
- Includes over 100 recipes
- Has recipes and stories about Bangkok, Thailand
- Informative and funny literature of Thai cuisine
- Serves as both a cookbook and a tour guide
- The ingredients are hard to find, and no alternatives are offered
8. The Everything Thai Cookbook – Most Modern Take on Traditional Thai Dishes
We love that The Everything Thai Cookbook is jam-packed with fresh takes on traditional dishes. This second-edition cookbook is written by Jan Senichat, a professional Thai chef. It includes detailed cooking instructions and accessible ingredient list. While there aren’t any colored photos to encourage the imagination, the words alone are enough to get readers’ mouths watering.
With over 300 authentic Thai recipes to choose from, this is the type of book you’ll want around when you need to get your creative juices flowing. It offers the secrets to creating tasty Thai-inspired meat dishes, including sweet and salty chicken and three-flavored fish. What’s more, the cookbook is loaded with all sorts of rice dishes, stir-fries, curries, and desserts.
While the Everything Thai Cookbook doesn’t have a flashy cover, its wholesome contents offer more than what meets the eyes. The recipes are written and accessible. As such, you’ll have no problem opening this cookbook up and picking a meal plan at random. Nearly every recipe that has been contributed deserves a tasting or two!
- Over 300 authentic Thai recipes
- Second edition collection
- Includes many Thai essentials
- Meat, fish, and vegetable dishes
- Takeout-skipping meals
- Easy to follow recipes
- No colored photographs
9. Thai Slow Cooker Cookbook: Classic Thai Favorites Made Simple – Best Thai Cookbook for Slow Cooker
Did you know it was possible to create wholesome Thai dishes in your Crockpot? The Thai Slow Cooker Cookbook: Classic Thai Favorites Made Simple lets readers in on the secret of cooking restaurant-quality dishes without the effort. With the help of Thai Slow Cooker, you can enjoy the exotic flavors of Thailand without slaving away at the stove.
Many of the recipes in this book take 20 minutes or less to prep. You can easily cut and combine ingredients before setting off to work or school. There are even options for readers with dietary restrictions. Simple labels make it possible to quickly identify if a meal is soy-, peanut-, or meat-free.
This book was published by Rockridge Press. It features a full-color cover with essays, recipes, and pictures inside. It also combines the convenience of modern cooking appliances with the flavors of old-world Thailand. The ingredient lists are authentic yet accessible, making it one of the most user-friendly options on our list.
If you’re apprehensive about cooking new or unusual foods, slow cookers are a great way to get in the game. Many of the recipes can even be sped up with the help of an electric pressure cooker. Since you choose the ingredients, you can tinker with the breakdown of flavor and heat.
- Hundreds of authentic recipes
- Full-color images
- Slow cooker recipes only
- Rice, noodle, and protein dishes
- Affordable
- Easy to follow recipes
- Some ingredients are hard to find
Final Thoughts
Thailand is home to some of the world’s most full-flavored and aromatic foods. However, for individuals who weren’t lucky enough to grow up around this ethnic cuisine, home-cooked Thai food may be an unlikely option for dinner. With the right cookbook, anyone can master authentic curries, spicy stir-fries, and sweet dipping sauces. If you want to land your hands on a few mouth-watering Thai recipes, any of the aforementioned Thai cookbooks are a great place to start! Just be sure to invite us to dinner!
Michelle
I have always been a fan of Thai food so having this list is such a blessing. I don’t have to go through the hassle of having to search in different websites because everything I need is available in one list. I especially love Simple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen by Leela Punyaratabandhu for taking authentic, regional flavors into our kitchen. Not only is it filled with amazing Thai classics, but all recipes are so easy to follow. I am not a professional cook, just a mother who enjoys feeding my family and this cookbook has been my favorite kitchen buddy.
Kris
I love cookbooks and I love Thai food! I’d always hang out with my friends in our local china town and try the different kinds of Thai restaurants. I know they can have some spicy dishes, but I don’t mind them a little hot now and then, depending on the dish of course. Thanks for the guide! Now I know what dishes to look out for whenever I’m out and about looking for Thai food.
Greg
This stuff is fantastic, really gives you the information you need. I for one didn’t know how many cookbooks that are out there, so I was sure surprised! But I guess this was useful though because I was going to start practicing my Thai cooking skills because my girlfriend is from Thailand and she doesn’t speak much English, but she loves food though. So I thought why not get a cookbook to please her? Anyway, The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook: Favorite Thai Food Recipes Made at Home stood out to me for obvious reason. It actually really does help you cook quick meals which is something I need for a beginner in Thai food cooking.
Nicky
I’m a big fan of cookbooks, especially Asian cookbooks. I have a big collection at home, so having the Thai Food – Most Comprehensive Thai Cookbook as a part of my collection was so much satisfying! I’m also thinking about purchasing The Everything Thai Cookbook because I’m very big on comprehensive books or books that have everything about that topic. Some people like things to be simple, but I’m the opposite, so many of my cooking friends tend to find it hard to follow my recipes, which in a way is a great thing because that keeps my cooking unique!
Cathy
Hello, I really love and have grown quite fond off the Thai Slow Cooker Cookbook: Classic Thai Favorites Made Simple. I have a very fancy slow cooker and it practically can make any meals, so I’m glad that I can now add Thai food to the table. Thank you!
Jenny
When I went to Bangkok for a business trip, and I usually dislike the smell of Asian food after having been to many poor Asian countries due to the nature of my work, the aroma seemed to be different and on the contrary attractive to me! I admit that I was reluctant in trying one the spicy shrimp soup (as the weather was pretty cold at the time) and I was surprised to have enjoyed the fragrance and the unique taste. In the end, I spent most of my free times eating out in one of the Thai restaurant there with some of my Thai work colleagues and trying different dishes, so it was indeed thoroughly enjoyable. Since then, I’ve bought the Bangkok: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand cookbook both as a souvenir and to remember my memorable time there. Hopefully the next time I visit my friends on that part of the world, I can cook some of their country’s tasteful delicacies!
Pavina
I from Thailand and I like Simple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen. My husband no cook for me but this book help him cook simple food from Thai so I like this book and I learn from it too. I cook at home and I work for cook for neighbors and I cook from this book so it useful and I think author good cook for making time easier and quicker for me because I always very busy cooking every time.
Jerry
I’ve been to Thailand countless of times and I’ve tried practically all of their food, at least as many as I could handle because, frankly, some are just too hot or weird for my taste. After all, it is an Asian country. But I did find it worth getting the Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, mostly ‘cause it reminded me of my times in Thailand staying with family friends. Let me tell you that Thai people are some of the most friendliest I’ve met, so this cookbook and all its stories is very, very nostalgic. Great book, worth the buy.
Madeline
My mum, when I was young, taught me how to cook and she was from Laos. She told me that even though Asian countries have similar cultures, they have different foods and recipes and I was in home economics at the time. I’m now studying as a commercial chef so I remembered all that my mother taught me and ordering the Thai Street Food: Authentic Recipes, Vibrant Traditions (Hardcover) along with the Thai Food – Most Comprehensive Thai Cookbook to go with it was perfect. For me, to learn from renowned chefs certainly has value and so it’s always a good thing to learn from those who are more experienced because you never know how their perspective on cooking or ingredients can change the way you cook for the better. My teacher would always say that “experience is a commodity”, so I really took that on bored.