แบบ และ อย่าง

[hiero]

Can you use these interchangeably, for example:

ผมชอบอาหารแบบนี้

ผมชอบอาหารอย่างนี้

Pretty sure they both work, but is there a subtle difference, should one be used over the other depending on the context, subject, situation etc?

[bhoydy]

From Thai Reference Grammar

General Terms - อย่าง is for smaller units of things, like kinds of food, while แบบ is for larger units, or types.

เค้าสั่งอาหารสองอย่าง

เป็นวัฒนธรรมแบบไทย

This kind/that kind - These also mean 'like this/like that' and 'this/that style'. They can be put after nouns or used as the subjects of sentences. อย่าง can be used in two ways (also ยัง), the former is more formal.

[sarahsbloke]

wife says same