Breakfast in Central Thailand 🍽️ - Chonticha's Favorites 😍

Breakfast in Central Thailand: Khao Tom, Joke and Patongo

Central Thai cuisine offers a variety of delicious breakfast dishes that are both filling and flavorful. In this article, I'll introduce you to three of my favorites: Khao Tom (ข้าวต้ม), Joke (โจ๊ก), and Patongo (ปาท่องโก๋). These dishes are among my favorite Thai breakfast dishes. This probably has something to do with my hometown of Kamphaeng Phet, as it is also located in Central Thailand.

You will also learn which drinks go best with these dishes.

Khao Tom (ข้าวต้ม)

Khao Tom is a hearty rice soup often prepared with various meats, seafood, and vegetables. Unlike congee, where the rice is cooked into a porridge, khao tom contains whole grains of rice and is served in a flavorful broth. Typical ingredients include pork, shrimp, ginger, and coriander. Khao tom is especially popular because it is easy to digest yet filling. You can find our khao tom recipe here.

Suitable drinks: Khao Tom goes perfectly with a hot green tea or a light herbal tea, which complements the flavors of the dish and creates a feeling of well-being.

Joke (โจ๊ก)

Joke is the Thai version of rice congee and a classic breakfast dish in Thailand. The rice is cooked until it reaches a thick, creamy consistency. Joke is often garnished with pork meatballs, a soft-boiled egg, thinly sliced ​​ginger, and cilantro. Sometimes pieces of liver are added. This dish is especially popular because it is easy to prepare and highly nutritious.

Suitable drinks: A hot ginger tea or a mild black tea are ideal accompaniments to Joke. Both beverages aid digestion and harmonize well with the spicy flavors of the dish.

Patongo (ปาท่องโก๋)

Patongo Patongo are deep-fried dough sticks often eaten as a snack or for breakfast. They are the Thai version of the Chinese youtiao and are often served with sweetened condensed milk, soy milk, or a sweet dip. Patongo are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making them a popular breakfast snack.

Suitable drinks: Patongo pairs perfectly with a cup of hot soy milk or a sweet Thai iced tea (cha yen). Both beverages offer a pleasant contrast to the crispy texture of the dough sticks and round out the breakfast.

Conclusion

Breakfast at this central Thai restaurant is diverse and offers something for every taste. Whether you prefer a hearty rice soup like Khao Tom, the creamy rice congee Joke, or crispy Patongo, each of these dishes is a delicious start to the day. With the right drinks, such as green tea, ginger tea, or Thai iced tea, your breakfast experience is perfectly rounded off.

If you feel like it, try cooking a Thai breakfast.