12 Best Thai Cookbooks (2026) Expert Reviews
I still remember the first time I attempted pad thai in my tiny apartment kitchen. The noodles clumped together, the sauce was too sweet, and I ended up ordering takeout instead. That was 8 years ago. Since then, I have cooked my way through dozens of Thai cookbooks, testing recipes on weeknights and dinner parties alike.
The best Thai cookbooks do more than list ingredients and instructions. They teach you the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy that defines authentic Thai cuisine. Whether you are a beginner looking for accessible recipes or a serious home cook seeking restaurant-quality results, the right cookbook makes all the difference.
In this guide, I share the 12 best Thai cookbooks that have earned permanent spots on my shelf. These are the books I actually use, not just the ones with pretty covers. Each review includes my honest experience cooking from these pages, plus what makes each book special.
Article Includes
Top 3 Picks for Best Thai Cookbooks by SixStoreys
Before diving into the full reviews, here are my top three recommendations based on different needs and budgets.
101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before…
- Celebrity chef Jet Tila's essential recipes
- Easy instructions for beginners
- Includes vegan section
- Quality ingredients guide
Pok Pok: Food and Stories from Thailand
- Extremely detailed street food recipes
- Authentic flavors from Portland's famous restaurant
- Precise measurements by weight
- Cultural stories included
Simple Thai Food by Leela Punyaratabandhu
- Authentic home kitchen recipes
- Beautiful photography
- Ingredient substitutions provided
- Cultural insights throughout
Best Thai Cookbooks in 2026
Here is a quick comparison of all 12 cookbooks reviewed in this guide. I have included the page count, focus area, and who each book works best for.
| Product | Key Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die |
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 The Pepper Thai Cookbook |
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 Hot Thai Kitchen |
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| Simple Thai Food |
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| Pok Pok |
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 Thai Food by David Thompson |
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 The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook |
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 Sabai |
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 Night + Market |
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 Thailand: The Cookbook |
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 Quick and Easy Thai |
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 Bangkok by Leela Punyaratabandhu |
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1. 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die – Celebrity Chef Secrets
101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: The Essential Recipes, Techniques and Ingredients of Thailand
216 pages
Celebrity chef author
Vegan section included
Tips and tricks throughout
✓ The Good
- Easy to follow instructions
- Authentic Thai flavors
- Includes vegan section
- Quality ingredients guide
- Great for beginners
✕ The Bad
- Some ingredients may be hard to find
I discovered Jet Tila’s cookbook after watching him on Food Network competitions. His personality translates perfectly to the page. The instructions read like a friend talking you through dinner, not a stern chef demanding perfection.
What sets this book apart is the pantry staples chapter. Jet explains exactly which fish sauce brands to buy and why Thai basil matters more than the Italian variety. I have gifted this cookbook to three friends who wanted to start cooking Thai food, and all of them succeeded on their first attempts.
The vegan section surprised me most. Thai cuisine has incredible plant-based traditions that Western restaurants rarely showcase. Jet dedicates a full chapter to these recipes, making this the best Thai cookbook for mixed-diet households.
The pad thai recipe here finally worked for me after years of failure. The secret was his technique for soaking noodles and controlling heat. I have made this version at least 20 times now.
Best For Home Cooks Starting Their Thai Journey
This cookbook works perfectly for anyone intimidated by Asian cooking. Jet’s tips about ingredient substitutions saved me when I could not find galangal at my local store.
However, serious cooks might want more technical depth. The recipes are approachable rather than restaurant-level complex.
Recipe Highlights Worth Trying First
Start with the tom yum soup, then move to the green curry. Both deliver restaurant-quality results without requiring specialty equipment or advanced techniques.
2. The Pepper Thai Cookbook – Chrissy Teigen’s Family Recipes
The Pepper Thai Cookbook: Family Recipes from Everyone’s Favorite Thai Mom
256 pages
Photo for every recipe
Thai fusion approach
Conversational storytelling
✓ The Good
- Picture for every recipe
- Easy to follow instructions
- Alternative ingredient suggestions
- Conversational tone
- Delicious fusion recipes
✕ The Bad
- Some ingredients require specialty shopping
- Not fully authentic Thai uses substitutions
Pepper Teigen is Chrissy Teigen’s mother, and this cookbook feels like sitting in their kitchen while Pepper cooks and chats. The tone is warm and playful throughout.
I appreciate that every single recipe includes a photo. This might seem standard, but many Thai cookbooks skip photos for simpler dishes. Seeing the finished result helps me know I am on the right track.
The recipes blend authentic Thai techniques with American ingredients. Pepper provides substitution suggestions when traditional ingredients are unavailable, which makes this practical for suburban grocery stores.
I made the khao soi from this book for a dinner party last month. Guests asked for the recipe before they finished their bowls. The coconut curry broth had depth I did not expect from a relatively simple recipe.
Best For Cooks Who Want Thai Fusion
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want flavors inspired by Thailand rather than strict authenticity. Pepper adapts recipes for American kitchens without losing the soul of the dishes.
Purists should look elsewhere. This book embraces substitutions and shortcuts that traditional Thai cooks might reject.
Standout Dishes For Entertaining
The Thai barbecue chicken and papaya salad combination makes an impressive summer dinner. Both recipes scale well for groups and can be prepped partially in advance.
3. Hot Thai Kitchen – YouTube Star’s Authentic Guide
Hot Thai Kitchen: Demystifying Thai Cuisine with Authentic Recipes to Make at Home: A Cookbook
QR codes to videos
Detailed ingredient breakdowns
91 pages of introduction
Vegetarian sections
✓ The Good
- Most authentic Thai cookbook available
- Excellent teaching with video links
- Detailed ingredient breakdowns
- QR codes link to demonstrations
- Vegetarian options highlighted
✕ The Bad
- Introductory material may be lengthy for some
Pailin Chongchitnant built her reputation through the Hot Thai Kitchen YouTube channel, and this cookbook extends that teaching excellence to print. The QR codes linking recipe pages to video demonstrations solve the biggest problem with written recipes.
I have watched her make curry paste at least 15 times on video before attempting it myself. Seeing the texture and consistency makes all the difference when you are learning.
The first 91 pages cover Thai cuisine fundamentals. Some readers skip this, but I found it essential. Understanding why palm sugar behaves differently than white sugar explains recipe outcomes.
Her ingredient breakdowns for each recipe are unique. Instead of a generic pantry list, Pailin explains what each component adds to the specific dish. This taught me to adjust seasonings based on my preferences.
Best For Serious Students of Thai Cuisine
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want to truly understand Thai cooking rather than just follow recipes. The educational value exceeds any other book on this list.
Beginners might find the detail overwhelming. The comprehensive approach requires patience and commitment.
Essential Technique Sections
The curry paste chapter transformed my cooking. Making your own paste takes effort but delivers results that jarred versions cannot match. Pailin’s video guidance makes this accessible even for first-timers.
4. Simple Thai Food – Authentic Home Kitchen Recipes
Simple Thai Food: Classic Recipes from the Thai Home Kitchen [A Cookbook]
236 pages
Beautiful glossy pages
Ingredient substitutions
Cultural stories included
✓ The Good
- Beautiful book with great photography
- Genuine authentic Thai food
- Excellent writing and storytelling
- Simple easy to follow recipes
- Substitutions when ingredients unavailable
✕ The Bad
- Limited photos of finished dishes
- Many recipes use fish sauce
Leela Punyaratabandhu writes the SheSimmers blog, and this cookbook captures her voice perfectly. She grew up in Thailand before moving to America, giving her perspective on both authentic flavors and accessible cooking.
The book opens with childhood memories that explain why certain dishes matter in Thai culture. I read it cover to cover before cooking anything, which I rarely do with cookbooks.
Her pad see ew recipe produces better results than most Thai restaurants in my city. The key is her explanation of how to control wok hei, that smoky flavor from high heat cooking.
The photography deserves special mention. Most Thai cookbooks show finished dishes only. Leela includes process shots that help you understand technique.
Best For Cooks Who Value Authenticity
This is the best Thai cookbook for home cooks wanting genuine Thai home cooking. Leela does not Americanize recipes unnecessarily, but she provides substitutions when you need them.
Vegetarians will find limited options. Thai home cooking relies heavily on fish sauce and shrimp paste for umami depth.
Cultural Context That Enhances Cooking
Reading about Leela’s grandmother making certain dishes added meaning to my cooking. Understanding why Thais eat particular foods at specific times improved my meal planning.
5. Pok Pok – Portland’s Legendary Thai Street Food
Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand [A Cookbook]
304 pages
Street food focus
Precise weight measurements
Herb gallery included
✓ The Good
- Extremely detailed and thorough recipes
- Ridiculously precise measurements by weight
- Authentic dishes from Thai streets
- Tons of pictures and ingredient guides
- Culture and stories from Thailand
✕ The Bad
- Specialty ingredients hard to find
- Some recipes require specific equipment
- Time-consuming preparation
Andy Ricker spent years eating his way through Thailand before opening Pok Pok in Portland. This cookbook documents the obsessive precision that made his restaurant famous.
The first thing you notice is the weight measurements. Ricker specifies grams for everything, even water. This annoyed me initially, but now I understand why. Thai cooking requires balance, and volume measurements are too inconsistent.
The herb gallery alone justifies buying this book. I finally understood the difference between Thai basil varieties and when to use each one. The photos show herbs at various stages of growth.
Making the fish sauce wings from this book took me an entire afternoon. The results were better than anything I have eaten in a restaurant. The recipe includes three different fish sauces combined for complexity.
Best For Serious Cooks Seeking Restaurant Quality
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want to achieve restaurant-level results at home. The complexity rewards dedicated effort but will frustrate casual cooks.
Weeknight warriors should look elsewhere. These recipes require planning, prep time, and attention to detail.
Recipes That Justify The Effort
The khao soi here is the best version I have ever made. The curry requires toasting and grinding spices, making paste from scratch, and simmering for hours. The depth of flavor validates every minute spent.
6. Thai Food by David Thompson – The Definitive Thai Cookbook
Thai Food
688 pages
Comprehensive coverage
First Edition classic
No shortcuts taken
✓ The Good
- Extremely comprehensive authentic recipes
- Detailed history and techniques included
- No shortcuts or substitutions
- Excellent for serious enthusiasts
- Superb photography throughout
✕ The Bad
- Recipes are laborious and time-consuming
- Some ingredients hard to find
- Not for quick meals
David Thompson is Australian but has spent decades mastering Thai cuisine. His Nahm restaurant in Bangkok earned a Michelin star, and this cookbook represents his life’s work documenting Thai food.
At 688 pages, this is the most comprehensive Thai cookbook available. Thompson covers regional variations, historical context, and technique explanations that other books skip.
The level of detail is almost overwhelming. A single curry recipe might span four pages with sub-recipes for paste, stock, and accompaniments. This is not weeknight cooking.
I made the massaman curry from this book for a special occasion. The process took two days, including making tamarind paste from scratch. The results were extraordinary, but I understand why most people buy jarred paste.
Best For Culinary Reference and Serious Study
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want the definitive reference on Thai cuisine. Thompson accepts no shortcuts and makes no apologies for complexity.
Casual cooks will find this frustrating. The book demands commitment to authentic technique and ingredient sourcing.
When To Use This Book
I treat this as a reference more than a weekly cooking guide. When I want to understand a dish deeply or cook something special, Thompson is my first resource.
7. The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook – Restaurant Favorites at Home
The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook: Favorite Thai Food Recipes Made at Home
278 pages
Color formatted
11 chapters
Curry paste recipes
✓ The Good
- Excellent formatting and organization
- Comprehensive ingredient explanations
- Helpful substitution tips
- Good variety of recipes
- Authentic flavors despite title
✕ The Bad
- Very few photos of dishes
- Some ingredients hard to find locally
Danette St. Onge wrote this specifically for Americans wanting to recreate restaurant favorites. Despite the “takeout” title, the recipes deliver authentic Thai flavors.
The Thai pantry setup guide helped me organize my kitchen. She explains which ingredients to buy first and which can wait until you advance. This prevented me from buying expensive items I rarely used.
The spice level adaptation tips are practical. Thai food in American restaurants is often milder than the real thing. St. Onge explains how to adjust heat while maintaining flavor balance.
I have made her pad kra pao at least a dozen times. The holy basil stir-fry takes 15 minutes once your prep is done, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Best For Practical Home Cooks
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want restaurant-style results without chef-level skills. The recipes are designed for achievable success.
Visual learners might struggle. The lack of photos makes technique sections harder to follow than competitors.
Weeknight Workhorse Recipes
The stir-fry chapter alone justifies this purchase. These are dishes I actually make on Tuesday evenings, not just for special occasions.
8. Sabai – 100 Quick Thai Recipes for Busy Weeknights
Sabai: 100 Simple Thai Recipes for Any Day of the Week
288 pages
100 simple recipes
Photo for every recipe
Under 20 minutes each
✓ The Good
- All recipes under 20 minutes
- Beautiful photos for each recipe
- Detailed step-by-step instructions
- Excellent ingredient alternatives
- Easy to clean semi-glossed paper
✕ The Bad
- Some specialty ingredients still required
Pailin Chongchitnant’s second cookbook focuses on speed without sacrificing authenticity. Sabai means “relaxed” in Thai, and that vibe permeates the book.
The 20-minute promise is real. I have timed several recipes, and all came in under the limit including prep. The key is smart ingredient prep and streamlined techniques.
Every recipe includes a photo, which matters when you are cooking quickly and need visual confirmation. The hardcover binding and semi-glossed paper survive kitchen splatter well.
The larb recipe here has become my go-to for hot summer evenings. Fresh, spicy, and cooling all at once, it takes 15 minutes from fridge to table.
Best For Busy People Who Love Thai Food
This is the best Thai cookbook for anyone who wants authentic flavors on weeknights. Pailin proves that quick Thai cooking does not mean Americanized shortcuts.
Beginners might find the pace challenging. Fast cooking requires organized prep and confident knife skills.
Quick Recipes That Deliver
The tom kha soup and pad prik king both deliver full flavor in minimal time. These are my emergency dinner solutions when I have no plan but want something satisfying.
9. Night + Market – LA’s Hottest Thai Restaurant Recipes
Night + Market: Delicious Thai Food to Facilitate Drinking and Fun-Having Amongst Friends A Cookbook
320 pages
Vibrant photography
Creative interpretations
Pantry staple recipes
✓ The Good
- Accessible recipes with alternatives
- Vibrant photography and layout
- Great stories and personality
- Excellent pantry staple recipes
- Perfect for weeknight meals
✕ The Bad
- Measurements not by weight
- Some experience helpful
Kris Yenbamroong’s Night + Market restaurants in Los Angeles redefined Thai food for a new generation. This cookbook captures his playful, creative approach.
The personality shines through on every page. Yenbamroong tells stories about drunken nights and cooking experiments that did not work. This honesty is refreshing compared to most cookbooks.
The all-purpose curry paste recipe simplified my cooking. Instead of making different pastes for each curry, this base adapts with small additions. I keep batches frozen for instant curry any night.
His pad thai recipe caused controversy by using ketchup. Traditionalists recoiled, but the technique works. The umami depth comes from other sources, and the color is perfect.
Best For Creative Cooks
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want permission to experiment. Yenbamroong encourages adaptation and personal interpretation.
Traditionalists might object to some liberties. The book celebrates creative interpretation over strict authenticity.
Party Food That Impresses
The wing recipes and drinking snacks chapter is perfect for entertaining. These are dishes that make guests ask where you learned to cook like this.
10. Thailand: The Cookbook – 500+ Regional Recipes
Thailand: The Cookbook
528 pages
500+ authentic recipes
Regional coverage
Gold leaf hardcover
✓ The Good
- 500+ authentic recipes from all regions
- Beautiful hardcover with gold leafing
- Many full-color photographs
- Regional dishes not in other books
- Recipes sourced from local Thai cooks
✕ The Bad
- Some recipes lack precise measurements
- Fewer photos than expected
- Not for quick meals
Phaidon is known for comprehensive international cookbooks, and this Thai edition maintains their standards. Jean-Pierre Gabriel traveled throughout Thailand collecting recipes directly from home cooks.
The regional organization reveals how diverse Thai cuisine really is. Northern larb uses different spices than Isaan larb, and both differ from Bangkok street versions. This book documents those distinctions.
The sheer volume can overwhelm. With 500+ recipes, finding specific dishes requires the index. I treat this as a reference to browse rather than a cover-to-cover read.
I discovered several dishes here that I never saw in American Thai restaurants. The northern Thai sausage recipe required special equipment but delivered flavors I had only tasted in Thailand.
Best For Exploring Regional Diversity
This is the best Thai cookbook if you want to explore beyond pad thai and green curry. The regional coverage is unmatched by any competitor.
Some recipes lack the precision home cooks need. Measurements like “a handful” or “to taste” appear more than in other books.
Reference For Serious Exploration
Use this book to discover new dishes, then cross-reference techniques with other cookbooks. The recipe collection justifies the purchase even if some entries need supplementation.
11. Quick and Easy Thai – 70 Weeknight-Friendly Recipes
Quick and Easy Thai: 70 Everyday Recipes
168 pages
Weeknight focus
Side-by-side photos
Menu suggestions
✓ The Good
- Quick recipes with restaurant flavors
- Beautiful side-by-side pictures
- Menu suggestions included
- Web sources for ingredients
- Great for beginners
✕ The Bad
- Not 100% authentic simplified for accessibility
- Some ingredients require specialty shopping
This older cookbook from Chronicle Books remains relevant because it delivers exactly what the title promises. Quick and easy Thai recipes that actually work on busy nights.
The side-by-side photos showing ingredients and finished dishes help beginners understand what they are building toward. I used this feature frequently when I started cooking Thai food.
The menu suggestions solved my “what goes with what” confusion. Thai meals balance flavors across multiple dishes, and the suggested combinations taught me that balance.
My copy shows wear from heavy use. The binding has softened and pages are marked with notes. This is the cookbook I grab when I need dinner in 30 minutes.
Best For Beginners Needing Simplicity
This is the best Thai cookbook for anyone intimidated by complex Asian cooking. The recipes simplify without losing the essential Thai character.
Experienced cooks will outgrow this quickly. The recipes are foundational rather than advanced.
Reliable Weeknight Solutions
The stir-fry and curry chapters contain recipes I make monthly. Nothing here surprises, but everything satisfies.
12. Bangkok by Leela Punyaratabandhu – Recipes from Thailand’s Capital
Bangkok: Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand [A Cookbook]
368 pages
Capital city focus
Stories and history
Regional specialties
✓ The Good
- Deep dive into Bangkok cuisine
- Excellent storytelling and context
- Authentic recipes from the capital
- Beautiful photography
- Historical background included
✕ The Bad
- Fewer recipes than comprehensive books
- Some ingredients hard to source
Leela’s second cookbook focuses specifically on Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and culinary center. This city has unique dishes not found elsewhere in the country.
The book combines recipes with travel writing. Leela describes markets, street vendors, and restaurant history that contextualizes the food. Reading it makes me want to book a flight.
The boat noodle recipe required ingredients I had to order online, but the results transported me to Bangkok’s canals. The cinnamon and star anise in the broth create a flavor profile distinct from other Thai noodle soups.
The photography captures Bangkok’s energy. The images show real street scenes and food stalls, not just styled dishes in studios.
Best For Bangkok Food Lovers
This is the best Thai cookbook if you specifically love Bangkok-style food. The capital has distinct culinary traditions worth exploring separately.
Cooks wanting broader Thai coverage should pair this with a more comprehensive book. The focus on one city means some classic Thai dishes are not included.
Transportive Cooking Experience
The recipes here are worth the effort for special occasions. When I want to remember traveling in Thailand, I cook from this book.
How to Choose the Right Thai Cookbook
With 12 excellent options, selecting one can feel overwhelming. Here is how I recommend deciding based on your situation.
Consider Your Cooking Experience
Beginners should start with 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die or Simple Thai Food. Both explain fundamentals without overwhelming complexity. Hot Thai Kitchen works for committed beginners who want deeper education.
Intermediate cooks ready for challenges should consider Pok Pok or Thai Food by David Thompson. These books demand more skill but deliver restaurant-quality results.
Evaluate Your Time Commitment
Busy weeknight cooks need Sabai or Quick and Easy Thai. Both prioritize speed without sacrificing flavor. The Better Than Takeout Thai Cookbook also works well for practical home cooking.
Weekend project cooks will appreciate Thailand: The Cookbook or Pok Pok. These reward dedicated effort with exceptional results.
Assess Ingredient Availability
If you live far from Asian grocery stores, choose books with substitution guidance. Simple Thai Food and Hot Thai Kitchen excel here. The Pepper Thai Cookbook also accommodates American supermarkets.
Urban cooks with access to Thai markets can tackle any book on this list, including those requiring specialty ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thai Cookbooks
What is the best Thai cookbook?
The best Thai cookbook depends on your needs. For beginners, 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die by Jet Tila offers accessible recipes with excellent guidance. For serious cooks seeking authenticity, Thai Food by David Thompson is the definitive reference. Hot Thai Kitchen by Pailin Chongchitnant provides the best educational value with video support via QR codes.
What are the 5 pillars of Thai cuisine?
The 5 pillars of Thai cuisine are the fundamental flavor balances that define the cuisine: spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Thai cooking achieves harmony by balancing these elements in every dish. Fish sauce provides saltiness, palm sugar adds sweetness, lime or tamarind contributes sourness, chilies deliver heat, and bitter melon or certain herbs add the final dimension.
Who is Pailin Chongchitnant?
Pailin Chongchitnant is a Thai-Canadian chef, YouTube personality, and cookbook author. She created the popular Hot Thai Kitchen channel, which has taught millions of viewers authentic Thai cooking techniques. Her cookbooks Hot Thai Kitchen and Sabai are considered among the best Thai cookbooks for home cooks, featuring detailed explanations and QR codes linking to video demonstrations.
Which Thai cookbook is best for beginners?
For beginners, I recommend 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die by Jet Tila or Simple Thai Food by Leela Punyaratabandhu. Both offer clear instructions, ingredient substitution guidance, and recipes that work on the first attempt. Hot Thai Kitchen is excellent for beginners willing to invest time in learning fundamentals through its comprehensive introductory chapters.
Final Thoughts: Building Your Thai Cookbook Collection
After years of cooking from these books, my recommendation is to start with one accessible cookbook and one comprehensive reference. 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die gets you cooking successfully while Hot Thai Kitchen teaches you why the recipes work.
As you advance, add specialized books based on your interests. Street food lovers need Pok Pok. Regional explorers should get Thailand: The Cookbook. Weeknight warriors will use Sabai weekly.
The best Thai cookbooks do more than fill your stomach. They connect you to a cuisine built on balance, tradition, and joy. Every recipe you master brings you closer to understanding why Thai food has captured the world’s imagination.
Start with one book from this list. Cook three recipes from it. I promise you will be planning your next Thai meal before you finish the first one.
