TOP 10: Thai Foods for Kids

Thai food and kids: two of my favorite subjects!

I've been learning about, experimenting with, and cooking Thai food since meeting my husband about *gasp* 20 years ago. And I'm about 8 years into the whole "having kids" experience, with two adorable preschool- and elementary-school aged children. So these are two topics that are near and dear to my heart.

For people who are not raised in the Thai culture, Thai food can be intimidating -- the unfamiliar ingredients; the combination of disparate flavors;  and the fiery, mouth burning spice. For children, who are notoriously picky eaters to begin with, Thai food can be completely overwhelming. 

But, it doesn't have to be. I have found, from personal experience, that there are plenty of Thai dishes that are approachable for even the youngest, most picky of eaters.  So, if you have kids and are eager to introduce them to Thai food (or you are just missing out on your favorite Thai dishes because of them), read on!  This post features my picks for the top 10 best Thai foods for kids.

Jump to:

• 1.  Thai Stir Fried Noodles | Pad Thai
• 2.  Noodles with Sweet Soy Sauce | Pad See Ew
• 3.  Thai Fried Rice | Khao Pad
• 4.  Chicken Satay | Sate Gai
• 5. Grilled Pork Skewers | Moo Ping
• 6.  Fried Tofu | Tau Hu Tod
• 7.  Thai Chicken and Rice | Khao Man Gai
• 8.  Thai Omelet | Kai Jeow
• 9.  Thai Grilled Chicken | Gai Yang
• 10.  Thai Fried Chicken | Gai Tod
• And More...
• Adapting Thai Food for Kids
• Conclusion

1.  Thai Stir Fried Noodles | Pad Thai

Pad Thai is the most famous Thai dish in the western world for a reason. It is accessible and approachable for just about everyone.  Chewy rice noodles are coated in a sweet and sour sauce with plenty of crunchy peanuts.  It comes with fried tofu and eggs built in, but you can also add another protein like shrimp or chicken.  It's a great dish for kids since 1) noodles are familiar, 2) it's not spicy, and 3) the protein can be customized to their preferences.

2.  Noodles with Sweet Soy Sauce | Pad See Ew

If the sweet and sour flavor of Pad Thai is just a little too much for your kids, they may well love Pad See Ew.  This savory plate of noodles seasoned with soy sauce is mostly salty with a wok-charred aroma that just can't be beat.  It is simpler in terms of ingredients too, with just eggs, Chinese broccoli, and your choice of protein.  It is a simple, yet completely satisfying noodle dish that is appealing for the pickiest of noodle eaters.

3.  Thai Fried Rice | Khao Pad

Fried rice is generally a safe choice for kids. They are familiar enough with rice that rice with some seasonings isn't too much of a stretch. Thai fried rice in particular is a good choice because, at its most basic, it doesn't have too many other ingredients: just eggs, onions, green onions, and maybe some cilantro. It is mostly salty, with slight pops of white pepper and lime, if you choose to add it. Once your kids are accustomed to Thai fried rice, you might try branching out to various proteins (crab fried rice) or varying the flavors (Thai basil fried rice).

4.  Chicken Satay | Sate Gai

I don't know about yours, but my kids are BIG fans of food served on skewers. So chicken satay is an easy win. The satay itself has a very mild curry flavor. When dipped into a rich, creamy peanut sauce, it takes on all of that peanut-y goodness. Chicken served on a skewer that can be dipped into a creamy peanut sauce - there's just really not much a kid can say no to there.

5. Grilled Pork Skewers | Moo Ping

My son expressly told me not to forget Moo Ping in this roundup of Top 10 Thai Foods for Kids. These grilled pork skewers are another easy win. Succulent pork marinated with a sweet, salty, and garlicky marinade are grilled and eaten right off the skewer. Moo ping is usually served with a side of sticky rice, another one of my kids' all-time favorite Thai foods. I guess that makes these grilled pork skewers a double win!

6.  Fried Tofu | Tau Hu Tod

Fried tofu is another great option for kids. These triangles of firm tofu are flash fried in very hot oil. This results in a crispy outside, but the tofu inside is soft and creamy. Instead of serving it with the spicy dipping sauce presented in this recipe, when I'm making it for my kids, I tend to make Nam Jim Sate AKA the peanut sauce that is served with Satay.

7.  Thai Chicken and Rice | Khao Man Gai

Khao man gai is great for kids because it's literally just chicken and rice. The chicken is poached and served alongside a delicious rice cooked with garlic, ginger, and chicken broth. It is delicious on its own, but even better with the khao man gai sauce poured all over it. However, this sauce is fairly spicy, so it can be omitted or used sparingly when serving it to kids who are not accustomed to spice.

8.  Thai Omelet | Kai Jeow

The Thai omelet known as “kai jeow” is the easiest dish to make on this list, and perhaps the most satisfying. It is simply an egg beaten together with fish sauce and fried in lots of super hot oil. Serve over a bed of jasmine rice and you have a super quick, but fulfilling meal. If your kids like eggs, they'll LOVE Kai Jeow.

9.  Thai Grilled Chicken | Gai Yang

This Thai grilled chicken is a sure crowd pleaser with its salty, sweet, and garlicky marinade and crispy skin. Like the pork skewers above, Thai grilled chicken is usually served with sticky rice, which is a win-win in my kids' book. I recently used the same marinade for Thai grilled chicken on these Thai marinated pork ribs and my kids devoured them as well.

10.  Thai Fried Chicken | Gai Tod

I have yet to meet a child who doesn't like fried chicken, and this Thai fried chicken is no exception. The batter is made with rice flour and a Thai tempura flour mixture that results in incredibly crispy skin. The base recipe just includes salt. If your children are ready for a little more spice, you can add red curry paste to the batter for extra flavor. My children ask for this Thai fried chicken at least once a week, it's that good!

And More...

As I was thinking about which Thai foods are best for kids, I realized that the 10 dishes presented here are really just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many delicious Thai foods for kids to try, like Stir Fried Glass Noodles (Pad Woonsen), Rice Porridge (Jok), Pork and Tofu Soup (Gang Jeud), Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables (Pad Pak Ruam Mit), Yellow Curry (Gang Garee), Pineapple Fried Rice, Palo, and on and on.

In addition to these main dishes, there's a whole world of Thai desserts that would likely appeal to most kids. Mango Sticky Rice, Thai Fried Bananas, Coconut Ice Cream, and Red Rubies in Coconut Milk are the first few that come to mind. But again, I am just barely touching the surface of possibilities!

Adapting Thai Food for Kids

In addition to the dishes presented here, many Thai foods can be adapted so that children may be more likely to try them. Whether you are making the dish yourself or ordering it from a restaurant, you could try these adaptations:

1. Decrease the Spice Level: I can think of quite a few Thai dishes that would likely be enjoyed by kids, if the spice level were lowered. My kids love Coconut Milk Soup (Tom Kha Gai) and Thai Basil Chicken (Pad Gai Horapa) when I make them without Thai chilis.
2. Change the Protein: You could also try changing the protein in a particular dish. For example, if your kids aren't big pork eaters, you could substitute it for chicken. This usually doesn't change the overall taste of the dish too much.
3. Serve with a Different Dipping Sauce: As I mentioned above, I typically serve Fried Tofu with the Peanut Sauce for Satay, as it is creamier and less spicy than the one this dish is normally served with. You could likewise do this for other Thai dishes. Although these substitutions are not traditional, they could act as a gateway for allowing kids to enjoy that particular dish.

Conclusion

So there you have it: My top 10 picks for Thai foods that your kids may love!

Like all new foods, it may take several introductions to these dishes for your kids to even try them, much less love them. And rest assured, even around here, we have our fair share of buttered pasta and chicken nuggets. But introduction of new foods is key. The more opportunities your children have to experience the different flavors of Thai food, the better! Trust that one day your hard work will pay off with an older child, teen, or adult child who will end up loving Thai food!