Recommendations For 3 Must-Try Thai Foods From Jirayut

JAKARTA - Jirayut is a Thai who is now pursuing a career as an artist in Indonesia. He often attracts attention for his humorous and entertaining style, and recently shared recommendations for typical Thai food.

Jirayut made this statement while appearing on Raditya Dika's YouTube podcast. Jirayut recommended three must-try Thai dishes that are not yet widely known to Indonesians.

1. Kuaytiaw Reua

The first dish Jirayut recommended was kuaytiaw reua. He said this dish has been around since ancient times and is still popular in Thailand today.

"It's similar to kwetiaw, but it has a mixed filling. There are meatballs, beef, and chicken—everything is there. The broth is very thick, spicy, and has a chewy texture," explained Jirayut, quoted on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Kuaytiaw reua is a typical Thai noodle dish, also known as boat noodles. The highlight of this dish lies in its broth, which is usually mixed with pig's blood, rice noodles, sliced ​​pork, bean sprouts, and meatballs.

This dish is easily found in Thailand. Although mostly non-halal, kuaytiaw reua is also available in halal versions in Thailand.

2. Som Tum Pla Ra

The second dish Jirayut recommends is Som Tum Pla Ra. This is a variation of Thai salad or papaya salad, which has a strong umami flavor with a unique touch of fermented fish sauce, or pla ra.

"Som Tum Pla Ra is different from regular som tum. Because with this salad, you can choose a spicy flavor," he said.

3. Khanom jeen

The last Thai dish Jirayut recommends trying is khanom jeen. This is a thin, Thai rice noodle dish made from fermented rice that is boiled and then shaped into noodles.

"Khanom jeen, translated into Malay, can be called laksa. We call it Thai laksa," Jirayut continued.

Khanom jeen is usually served as a base dish with a spicy curry, such as fish curry, and garnished with fresh vegetables. This dish has strong cultural significance in Thailand and is often featured at festivals and family gatherings.