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Oriental cuisine in its many different forms has been popular in the United States for years; however there is one form of Oriental cuisine that has recently gained more popularity. Thai cuisine shares many of the styles and ingredients of other Oriental cuisines. Chances are if there is a Thai restaurant in your area then it most likely serves some of the traditional favorites of Thailand.

While the food that is served at Thai restaurants uses a lot of the ingredients that are found in the dishes of other oriental style foods, they tend to be a bit spicier than some of the other oriental cuisines. There are actually several different variations of Thai cuisine. Some of these variations utilize some ingredients that are unique to that region of Thailand.

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.

Seasoning is an important part of oriental cuisine and this is no exception with Thai food. Many of the most popular dishes will be a culmination of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. It is also common to find the food served with various condiments that accent the flavor of the food.

Along with the standard soy sauce you may find that your food is served with a side of chili powder, sweet chili sauce, and different types of fish sauce such as Nam Pla. Nam Pla is an intensely flavored fish sauce that is made from anchovies, salt, and water. The ingredients are placed in a box and allowed to dry. The longer the anchovies dry the more intense the flavor will be.

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.

Another traditional dish that may be served in your local Thai restaurant is rad Na. This dish is a dish that is made with wide rice noodles, straw mushrooms, garlic and fish, poultry or sea food. This dish is covered in gravy of stock, tapioca starch or corn starch and seasoned with soy sauce.

Looking to find the best Thai restaurant in St Paul, MN, then visit www.kruathailand.com to find the best Thai food in the twin city area.