Thai foodies up in arms as popular curry named one of the worst dishes in the world

[webfact]

PHOTO: Flickr/Kidsada Manchinda

 

By Peter Roche

Horror! A Thai food listed as one of the ‘worst’ culinary servings in the world!!

 

Thai diners are reeling in shock as their beloved dish, Kaeng Som (Spicy-Sour Fish Curry) has been ranked 12th worst dish in the world by global food website, TasteAtlas. The popular Thai dish received a low score of 2.3 out of 5, which led to widespread disappointment and anger among Thai foodies.

 

Despite its long history in Thai cuisine, the sour and spicy curry failed to impress the judges at TasteAtlas. The worst dish, according to the website, was Russia’s Indigirka salad with a score of 1.4, followed by Canada’s pizza cake with 1.8 points and Iceland’s Hákarl (fermented shark) with 1.9 points.

 

However, Thai foodies are puzzled by Kaeng Som’s ranking, pointing out that a similar dish, South Korea’s Kimchi Jjigae, received a high score of 4.5 and was not included in the list of 100 worst dishes.

 

Not all Thai dishes fare badly in such rankings, with the kingdom’s cuisine usually receiving very favourable feedback. In August last year, CNN Travel praised Thai cuisine, adding a number of national dishes to its list of 50 best Asian street foods. They included Sai krok Isaan (fermented sausages from north-east Thailand), Khao Jeow Pu (crab omelette) and Khao Soi (chicken and fried noodle curry).

 

It was the second nod for the popular northeastern dish of Khao Soi, which was named the World’s Best Soup earlier the same month. The list of the world’s best soups was compiled by TasteAtlas, the same website whose users were not such fans of Kaeng Som.

 

Full story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/thai-foodies-up-in-arms-as-popular-curry-named-one-of-the-worst-dishes-in-the-world/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-07

 

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[richard_smith237]

They’re not wrong !!... It's pretty awful stuff (IMO).

 

I’m sure there will be a wider general response of ‘They not thai, they not know’ !!!.... its par for the course for thin skinned people to get upset a the slightest of critical comments, so this is sure to upset some. 

 

The reality is though, a lot of Thai food is wonderful, the Khao Soi example just one of them... So, take the rough with the smooth, we all have different tastes. 

 

 

[spidermike007]

Who cares? You like the soup, eat it. For most adults, we don't need the approval of the world. 

 

Water off a duck's back. For those with high enough self esteem, anyway. 

[Celsius]

Most of thai food is junk.

[jaywalker]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Who cares? You like the soup, eat it. For most adults, we don't need the approval of the world. 

 

Water off a duck's back. For those with high enough self esteem, anyway. 

In Kuwait a few years back.

 

My Thai wife and her friends from all over SEA were cooking the stinkiest <deleted> I ever smelled.

 

I had quite the Hacienda & could smell it on the street! I took about 2 steps in the door & went back to my truck. Didn't say a word. I just went to the Sultan Center (like Tesco or Walmart) and bought 6 cans of air freshener.

 

She got the message = don't cook that nasty <deleted> around me!

I came in both barrels blazing with Potpouri in one hand and Pine Fresh Scent in the other, cussing vocifericously. 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

They’re not wrong !!... It's pretty awful stuff (IMO).

 

I’m sure there will be a wider general response of ‘They not thai, they not know’ !!!.... its par for the course for thin skinned people to get upset a the slightest of critical comments, so this is sure to upset some. 

 

The reality is though, a lot of Thai food is wonderful, the Khao Soi example just one of them... So, take the rough with the smooth, we all have different tastes. 

 

 

Is this the dish served with rice in southern parts of Thailand?

[jaywalker]

3 minutes ago, watchcat said:

Is this the dish served with rice in southern parts of Thailand?

Yes.

 

North, South, East and West too.

 

Keep an eye out for "Pla- La"

 

RUN when you hear those words! Make yourself scarce.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

As a Canuck I would really like to know what pizza cake is. Never heard of it. Maybe because it's so bad?? hehe

[mohinga]

4 minutes ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

As a Canuck I would really like to know what pizza cake is. Never heard of it. Maybe because it's so bad?? hehe

Born and raised in Montreal. Spent the '50's, 60's and 70's there, after which wandered elsewhere. Sometime in the '90's (maybe) started hearing of a famous French Canadian dish... poutine. Never saw it or heard of it when living in Montreal; a city known for its cuisine.. so many good things to eat... Ben's smoked meat, St. Hubert BBQ, and great pizza from Mob owned joints. Guess I'll go to my grave never having know the delight of eating poutine or pizza cake.

[stoner]

5 minutes ago, mohinga said:

St. Hubert BBQ,

pre cook desired amount of chicken breasts. cut up into smaller pieces.

 

1 casserole 

chicken pieces

mixed vegetables

1 or 2 cans of st hubert bbq

shredded chedder over the entire dish

cover with tinfoil

 

place in oven at 350 for 60 minutes. 

[placnx]

Maybe they sampled Gaeng som from a "Thai" restaurant in Boston....

After checking the list, gaeng som is not longer there. At #12 is balut, an embyonic duck egg, to be eating from the shell!

 

This list is ridiculous, anyway. Much aversion to various blood sausages, plus bland American icons such as Jello and Cheez Whiz. Australia is not ignored - two mentions of Vegemite.

[KhunLA]

20 minutes ago, mohinga said:

Born and raised in Montreal. Spent the '50's, 60's and 70's there, after which wandered elsewhere. Sometime in the '90's (maybe) started hearing of a famous French Canadian dish... poutine. Never saw it or heard of it when living in Montreal; a city known for its cuisine.. so many good things to eat... Ben's smoked meat, St. Hubert BBQ, and great pizza from Mob owned joints. Guess I'll go to my grave never having know the delight of eating poutine or pizza cake.

Poutine .. sounds like a great way to ruin an order of fries.   

 

Pizza cake  name alone deserves .. W T F

 

Not a fan of the 'fish soup', and how do you compare that to a kimchi anything.  People need to stop reading krap and just eat what they like.

[BritScot]

3 hours ago, jaywalker said:

In Kuwait a few years back.

 

My Thai wife and her friends from all over SEA were cooking the stinkiest <deleted> I ever smelled.

 

I had quite the Hacienda & could smell it on the street! I took about 2 steps in the door & went back to my truck. Didn't say a word. I just went to the Sultan Center (like Tesco or Walmart) and bought 6 cans of air freshener.

 

She got the message = don't cook that nasty <deleted> around me!

I came in both barrels blazing with Potpouri in one hand and Pine Fresh Scent in the other, cussing vocifericously. 

You sound a hoot. She is so lucky.

[Bluespunk]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

However, Thai foodies are puzzled by Kaeng Som’s ranking, pointing out that a similar dish, South Korea’s Kimchi Jjigae, received a high score of 4.5 and was not included in the list of 100 worst dishes.

Hardly puzzling...its just better according to those judging the foods.

[ignore it]

Just give me some of that good old Pennsylvania Scrapple, some Souse, or a big old plate of North Vietnamese Banh Chung.

 

Yeah its big barfing just thinking of that poop.

[zzaa09]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Who cares? You like the soup, eat it. For most adults, we don't need the approval of the world. 

 

Water off a duck's back. For those with high enough self esteem, anyway. 

Too many are dependent on faux polls, surveys and rankings to subliminally direct their mindsets towards most anything - repeated loud and often enough, all becomes real. 

[AndyFoxy]

2 hours ago, placnx said:

Maybe they sampled Gaeng som from a "Thai" restaurant in Boston....

After checking the list, gaeng som is not longer there. At #12 is balut, an embyonic duck egg, to be eating from the shell!

 

This list is ridiculous, anyway. Much aversion to various blood sausages, plus bland American icons such as Jello and Cheez Whiz. Australia is not ignored - two mentions of Vegemite.

Love vegemite.

[AustinRacing]

0 score from me. It is banned in my household. Well except when we have guests over, or when the wife feels like it. 

[fusion58]

2 hours ago, placnx said:

Maybe they sampled Gaeng som from a "Thai" restaurant in Boston....

After checking the list, gaeng som is not longer there. At #12 is balut, an embyonic duck egg, to be eating from the shell!

 

This list is ridiculous, anyway. Much aversion to various blood sausages, plus bland American icons such as Jello and Cheez Whiz. Australia is not ignored - two mentions of Vegemite.

I was wondering the same thing.

 

The Southern Thai style Kaeng Som I’ve had at some of the better restaurants in BKK has actually been quite good, IMO.

[Keep Right]

6 hours ago, Celsius said:

Most of thai food is junk.

Not only junk but very unhealthy, saturated with salt, oil and sugar and an occasional chicken foot.

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, mohinga said:

Born and raised in Montreal. Spent the '50's, 60's and 70's there, after which wandered elsewhere. Sometime in the '90's (maybe) started hearing of a famous French Canadian dish... poutine. Never saw it or heard of it when living in Montreal; a city known for its cuisine.. so many good things to eat... Ben's smoked meat, St. Hubert BBQ, and great pizza from Mob owned joints. Guess I'll go to my grave never having know the delight of eating poutine or pizza cake.

Poutine is easy to find in Montreal. 

Montréal's best poutine | Tourisme Montréal (mtl.org)

[OneMoreFarang]

I have to admit I don't like the look of it (the real thing, not the picture). IMHO the soup just doesn't look like it could possibly taste good.

When I eat it, it isn't so bad. But I still don't like the look.

[Jingthing]

I'm not surprised about the reaction to Kaeng Som. It's sour (and not sweet) and lots of people don't like sour foods. I happen to like sour and bitter but Kaeng Som isn't really a favorite of mine. The Thai foodie netizens should really get over themselves! 

[Ratchsima]

This Website is based in the country like Croatia!!!  enough said. In reality ,Thai cuisine is always in Top1- 7 in term of popularity in culturally-diversed English speaking country , USA ,UK ,Australia , NZ , Canada , South Africa , Ireland. That is good enough . 

 

Keang Som with shrimps at Sorn Deang( at Democracy Monument round-about) is one of the best!

[SuperSilverHaze]

I can absolutely see most (all) farang hate this dish. Foreigners TBH don't like Thai food. It's therefore quite understandable they dislike Gaeng Som. It is also crazy spicy.

 

It needs to be made very authentication, quality ingredients and with grouper and seafood.

[SuperSilverHaze]

1 hour ago, Keep Right said:

Not only junk but very unhealthy, saturated with salt, oil and sugar and an occasional chicken foot.

Because food in your home country isn't and no one is fat and unhealthy?

[JeffersLos]

While it is awful, I cannot believe it more awful then the bowls of assorted fermented gunk and animal rectum tubes you see Esan people sit around and share. 

[Gottfrid]

7 hours ago, Celsius said:

Most of thai food is junk.

How terrible! Wonder what you are doing in Thailand? Did you come for the temples?

[Celsius]

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

How terrible! Wonder what you are doing in Thailand? Did you come for the temples?

No. I came because I could not get laid.

 

Still. Thai food is junk.

[Gottfrid]

8 minutes ago, Celsius said:

No. I came because I could not get laid.

 

Still. Thai food is junk.

Ok, but you got laid?