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The cuisine of the orient has had a profound effect on the culture of the United States. There are many different styles of Oriental cuisine, most of which are indicative of a particular Asian culture. While Chinese and Japanese cuisine has been popular for a long time, the cuisine of Thailand has recently made an impact in the United States. Many of the most popular traditional dishes of Thailand can be sampled at a Thai restaurant near you.

Upon your first visit to a Thai restaurant you may think that many of the dishes are similar to those you will get a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. However, one you try some of these dishes you will notice a difference in the two cuisines. Typically Thai food tends to contain a fair amount of heat, meaning it is rather spicy. This does not mean that all Thai cuisine is spicy, in fact there are different regions of Thailand that all have an effect on the heat and flavor intensity of the food.

In the last decade or so there has been an influx of Thai restaurants that have opened in just about every major city in the United States. Perhaps you have one in your area, but you have hesitated to go there because you are uncertain as to whether you will like the food, or you fear you won’t know what to order. The following explanation of the basics of Thai cuisine and a few suggestions may encourage you to visit the Thai restaurant in your neighborhood.

While the two foods are not exactly the same, if you enjoy Chinese food you will probably enjoy Thai food as well. The mainstay in both cuisines is rice and it is probably prevalent in many of the dishes that your local restaurant offers. It is tradition to serve groups of dishes with a complement of rice accompanying it. Thai food is prepared in several different ways but the most popular are stir fry and steam cooking.

As mentioned earlier, Thai food tends to have an ample dose of spice. This does not mean that all Thai food is spicy. As a matter of fact many of the traditional Thai dishes contain a sweet, sour, bitter or salty flavor. Often these flavors are nicely blended. While you may not be familiar with some of the dishes listed on the menu, chances are you have been exposed to most of these ingredients before.

The condiments that you will typically find in a Thai restaurant is chili powder, sweet chili sauce, fish sauce and a condiment known as nam pla. Nam pla is a type of fish sauce that consists of anchovies, salt and water. The anchovies and salt are placed in a box and allowed to ferment. The end result is an intensely flavored condiment.

There are several times that can be found in any good Thai cook’s kitchen. Including in these mainstay items is ginger, coconut milk, chilies, and cilantro. Rice is of course something that will be found in the pantry of a Thai restaurant. Rice is often served alongside dishes and is also used as main ingredient in cooking. Rice is used to make pasta and wrappers for spring rolls.

One of the most popular dishes at Thai restaurants is a dish known as Pad Thai. Pad Thai literally means Thai fry. These dishes can be found in several different variations, but most of them will contain rice noodles, shallots, eggs, and a protein source such as poultry and seafood. Pad Thai is traditionally available from street venders in Thailand.

Rad Na is another dish that you will typically find on a Thai restaurant menu. Rad Na is a dish made from wide rice noodles, oriental style mushrooms, and garlic. It will also contain a source of protein such as seafood or poultry. The dish is topped off with thin gravy that is made from stock, soy sauce, and a type of starch such as corn starch or tapioca.

Want to find out more about Thai restaurants in St Paul, then visit Choua Phia ’s site on how to choose the best Thai dish to satisfy your hunger.