Issan Food,

[Lickey]

Over the last 5 years ive noticed thais coming out of the neighbours noodle resturant, they are mopping there brows, coughing,eyes watering,Mrs sometimes has a noodle dish, she adds a teaspoon of salt,sugar and chili powder, and ends up with watering eyes and drinking a litre of water right quick, Ive had the noodle dish without the spices and its tasteless, its been cooked for 5/6/7 hours, the greens are green and all the goodness has long gone, the pork balls, well, say no more, its all junk hidden by spices,

[473geo]

I'd rather see my wife come out of the noodle shop than having to open both doors to exit KFC.......she dines at the former thankfully

[Jezz]

I have a problem with a lot of Isaan food. It’s just the look of a lot of it, the aroma and some of the ingredients. Compared to central/south Thai cuisine, it doesn’t look very appetising. Must admit I only eat the stuff I relate to and like the look of.

Edited March 31, 2012 by Jezz

[namoi]

I have no problem with it at all, then again I like all food and am happy that i have enough money to be able to buy it instead of digging around water in the rice paddies to get whatever I can find or climbing trees to get the juicest new leaves

[KhunBENQ]

What is Isaan food?

At least a typical noodle soup is not.

It is of Chinese origin and commonplace all over Thailand.

Isaan food is usually not cooked for hours but often very basic, vegetables eaten raw without any sauce, dryed fish, fish paste.

Its sticky rice, its grilled chicken (gai yang).

Its also bugs and ant eggs etc.

And of course it is "somtam Lao" (the Lao type of pappaya salad with fermented fish and crab).

The fish and crab is usually described by westerners as "rotten" and that is what it smells like.

And if you believe the noodle soup was spice then try to eat from this somtam.

It is usually prepared so burning hot(spicy) that you can not even get it close to your nose.

As I can not eat that spicy, I can not tell whether it is "good".

There are indications that it is not (Isaan has highest rate of liver and duct cancer in the world).

[my friend I]

The liver cancer would be from excess drinking of cheap whisky. The also have health problems from laap luet.

If the som tam is too hot for you order it prea waan & ask them to not put in the crab & shrimp.

Many Isarn people have a meal of only sticky rice, a bit of gravy & a few leaves from plants they know.

[SantiSuk]

The liver cancer would be from excess drinking of cheap whisky. The also have health problems from laap luet.

If the som tam is too hot for you order it prea waan & ask them to not put in the crab & shrimp.

Many Isarn people have a meal of only sticky rice, a bit of gravy & a few leaves from plants they know.

Cancer of the bile duct, which then spreads to the liver is caused by eating raw fish that is infected with specific liver flukes. Raw fish is present in palaar, used in somtam palaar and some other naam prik's and in some laarp plaa dishes. The infection is endemic in Issaan. Everyone living in Issaan should read it up and take avoiding action:

http://en.wikipedia....Opisthorchiasis

http://www.thaivisa....le-duct-cancer/

I suffered - it was not pleasant but hopefully it was treated quickly enough for me not to get cancer in a few years time.

Edited April 1, 2012 by SantiSuk

[KunMatt]

I have a problem with a lot of Isaan food. It’s just the look of a lot of it, the aroma and some of the ingredients. Compared to central/south Thai cuisine, it doesn’t look very appetising. Must admit I only eat the stuff I relate to and like the look of.

I'm exactly the same. My biggest problem is that it all smells the same and has the same strong overpowering taste of some herb.

I pretty much eat Thai food all the time here in Isaan. I cannot stomach some of the dishes such as raw meat like beef or duck simply chopped up with all the bones and gristle so you cannot even get bite of meat, in a soup of raw blood, I'm also not a fan of entrails of any animal no matter how it's cooked. I ate a pig's ear at a wedding, I wasn't converted..

I like the occasional Som Tam Thai with sticky rice, BBQ fish, Laos Steak, a lot of the fried dishes, but usually it's raw everything with some very odorous sauce and herbs which I don't like.

In fact thinking about it like this I can categorically say that I hate most Isaan food and I wish everyone here ate Thai food!!

Edited April 1, 2012 by KunMatt

[stoneyboy]

The best one of the bunch for me is moo nam tok,I have a favourite shop that I always use and it's delicious.

[SantiSuk]

I have to agree with the sentiments here.

My sister in law and father in law make some decent stuff. My FIL's laarp ped with some fried leaves from the tree that hangs down over their table is to die for and my SIL's Issaan-style Tom Yam and Tom Kha Gai is pretty good. Otherwise, I'm too old (and comparatively well-off) to eat all this peasant cr@p

My intestine-eating (tripe) Yorkshire father didn't scrimp and save to give me a good life just for me to turn back the pages 60 years on some misguided ethinic kick!

Edited April 1, 2012 by SantiSuk

[IssanCalling]

The liver cancer would be from excess drinking of cheap whisky. The also have health problems from laap luet.

If the som tam is too hot for you order it prea waan & ask them to not put in the crab & shrimp.

Many Isarn people have a meal of only sticky rice, a bit of gravy & a few leaves from plants they know.

I can tell you that my Brother in Law died from Bile Duct / Liver Cancer. He had lived all of his far to short life

in a small village near Sakon Nakhon, he was hard working and did not consume excess quantities of cheap whisky

or any other kind for that matter.

[IssanCalling]

The liver cancer would be from excess drinking of cheap whisky. The also have health problems from laap luet.

If the som tam is too hot for you order it prea waan & ask them to not put in the crab & shrimp.

Many Isarn people have a meal of only sticky rice, a bit of gravy & a few leaves from plants they know.

Cancer of the bile duct, which then spreads to the liver is caused by eating raw fish that is infected with specific liver flukes. Raw fish is present in palaar, used in somtam palaar and some other naam prik's and in some laarp plaa dishes. The infection is endemic in Issaan. Everyone living in Issaan should read it up and take avoiding action:

http://en.wikipedia....Opisthorchiasis

http://www.thaivisa....le-duct-cancer/

I suffered - it was not pleasant but hopefully it was treated quickly enough for me not to get cancer in a few years time.

I can tell you that my Brother in Law died from Bile Duct / Liver Cancer. He had lived all of his far to short life

in a small village near Sakon Nakhon, he was hard working and did not consume excess quantities of cheap whisky

or any other kind for that matter. He left a 21 Year old Wife and a baby Daughter.

When my wife and I arrived back in the UK we were bothscreened for Bile Duct / Liver Cancer and also had a

consultation with a specialist in this field of medicine who informed us of the Liver Flukes and their precence in

the Raw Fish typically found in Rice Fields and in some fresh water lakes such as Nong Han.

I would urge everybody in Issan to pay attention the words of Santi Suk, pay attention to what they are eating

and to check out both of these websites as quoted above.

[Lickey]

Quite agree, raw fish should be fermented for 6months to 2 years before using, i dont have a problem with this because i dont eat thai food, Hygene is another big issue for me.

The [what i call mexican hat BBQ] is also a big issue, the meat is put on the top, and the blood is running down into the water and veg, its served before boiling,

I survive quite happily with fresh veg and meat from the local market, and fruit of course, baked garlic is really nice, its tender and a little sweet, a little ginger and chile powder in fruit smoothies looks after my 3 spice intake,

I have never been to Mc Don,KFC, or any places like that, Pizza Hut 3 times in 5 years, even then, had the asparagus/potato/cheese dish, I know in UK, you go to the fish & chip shop early evening,you get warmed up lunchtime leftovers, but not the next day, it wont keep, thai food is re-heated and covered with spice to disguise the age and taste,

[Travel2003]

I have a problem with a lot of Isaan food. It’s just the look of a lot of it, the aroma and some of the ingredients. Compared to central/south Thai cuisine, it doesn’t look very appetising. Must admit I only eat the stuff I relate to and like the look of.

Exactly what I also think.

I know Im probably boring when it comes to food, as I tend to not try too many new dishes.

[sirchai]

What's wrong with Isaan food? Don't you like the still alive little shrimps, jumping straight into your mouth?

Or the fermented fish used for the spectacular national dish, they can't live without it any more.

All the bugs, where not even old people know their names?

I prefer to eat snake heads and rat tails in our village, sometimes still alive. Depends on the consumption of Lao Khao.....

[Lickey]

What's wrong with Isaan food? Don't you like the still alive little shrimps, jumping straight into your mouth?

Or the fermented fish used for the spectacular national dish, they can't live without it any more.

All the bugs, where not even old people know their names?

I prefer to eat snake heads and rat tails in our village, sometimes still alive. Depends on the consumption of Lao Khao.....

Well, they do say you are what you eat,,, no offence intended, but life expectancy is a lot lower in Thai than all western style countries, and i would like to live longer,,,,,,

[farangme]

Eat a mix of Thai and western food. Not one for the aromatic issan concoctions, particularly anything raw. Have an ongoing battle with the wife to keep the refrigerator a stink-free zone. I usually lose.

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[happyaussie]

Some I like some I can't stand. To me most Issan food is dominated by fish sauce and fermented fish. If they could lay off that there's a lot more I'd like. I really want to like things like nam prik with veges, but the overpowering fish sauce or fermented fish just isn't to my liking.

And the dead crab in som tom is a big no no for me. I order mine with very light fish sauce and it's very tasty.

I do enjoy noodles soups, duck larb and simple BBQ's, especially pork belly cut up and tossed with herbs and chili sauce.

I also enjoy some of the insects. When they are fresh their terrific with icy cold beer. But I steer clear of the big fat juicy bugs. Small worms and grasshoppers alloy.

[Baerboxer]

What is Isaan food?

At least a typical noodle soup is not.

It is of Chinese origin and commonplace all over Thailand.

Isaan food is usually not cooked for hours but often very basic, vegetables eaten raw without any sauce, dryed fish, fish paste.

Its sticky rice, its grilled chicken (gai yang).

Its also bugs and ant eggs etc.

And of course it is "somtam Lao" (the Lao type of pappaya salad with fermented fish and crab).

The fish and crab is usually described by westerners as "rotten" and that is what it smells like.

And if you believe the noodle soup was spice then try to eat from this somtam.

It is usually prepared so burning hot(spicy) that you can not even get it close to your nose.

As I can not eat that spicy, I can not tell whether it is "good".

There are indications that it is not (Isaan has highest rate of liver and duct cancer in the world).

I do eat somtam very regularly - somtam thai, somtam poo and somtam lao. They are all delcious. Larb, tap van, tripe, frilled meats, sticky rice, raw vegtables with nam prik, all excellent. I really love Isaan food, and have found many exptats who also like it.

[elwood]

What is Isaan food?

At least a typical noodle soup is not.

It is of Chinese origin and commonplace all over Thailand.

Isaan food is usually not cooked for hours but often very basic, vegetables eaten raw without any sauce, dryed fish, fish paste.

Its sticky rice, its grilled chicken (gai yang).

Its also bugs and ant eggs etc.

And of course it is "somtam Lao" (the Lao type of pappaya salad with fermented fish and crab).

The fish and crab is usually described by westerners as "rotten" and that is what it smells like.

And if you believe the noodle soup was spice then try to eat from this somtam.

It is usually prepared so burning hot(spicy) that you can not even get it close to your nose.

As I can not eat that spicy, I can not tell whether it is "good".

There are indications that it is not (Isaan has highest rate of liver and duct cancer in the world).

I do eat somtam very regularly - somtam thai, somtam poo and somtam lao. They are all delcious. Larb, tap van, tripe, frilled meats, sticky rice, raw vegtables with nam prik, all excellent. I really love Isaan food, and have found many exptats who also like it.

I'm in your camp - I like many of the Isaan dishes, but always have somtam without the poo if possible.

[payak]

tom kah gai is not isan

[wellred]

My gf's family had this 1 dish when I was at their place in Ubon, can't remember what it was called but there were moving shrimp in the dish itself! One of the sisters was wolfing it down like there was no tomorrow. Fortunately I'm 'kin jay' so I made do with a nice old pad pak. But it did look strange.

One thing I did like was the deserts. There was 1 tarro dish which was really sweet but another which sort of tasted like jelly noodles in some sweet coconut milk sauce. Now that was tasty as.

[katana]

kung ten - dancing shrimp

[wellred]

That's it!!!! Does eating that not encroach on any Buddhist laws/ideals where one shouldn't kill something?

[Razzler1973]

Num Dtok rules

[onionluke]

I like kheng het , om gai , om nuak , som tam tua , larb pet , tom pla , tom gob and so on . I have had a few cooking lessons over the years and do not a bad immitation of om gai . My pardner cooks mostly these dishes , she doesn't use much oil and I find this food refreshing . On the other hand we eat a lt of chinese style steamed fish and vegetable dishes . The only problem is finding the fresh ( still alive) sea food up country .

[Docno]

Have to say that I enjoyed my GF's ant egg salad up in Amnat Charoen a few days back (see pic). And always like a plate of gung dten (dancing-i.e, live-shrimp), good and spicy. Had that down in Ubon along with the usual bugs and river crabs. I'm only up to Isan a few days a month, but I love the food. Can't get enough of the lime and chilies. But all this talk of river flukes does have me a little worried because I tend to eat whatever is put in front of me (including laab dip). The only thing I can't stomach is entrails. Ordered a plate of moo yang (grilled pork) in Pakse (Lao) last week, and what came over was a plate of intestines, ears, and liver slices. Even my gf passed on it...

[sirineou]

Last night we went to my favorite restaurant in KKC Name ซ้ง24 น. or song 24, excelent food and good prices, but it was closed so we decided to try this restaurant by the KKC lake near the big Wat, across from the park, name Panoy, I noticed thatThey did not have my favorite curry dishes, and my wife informed me that it was because they have authentic Issac food .

I Ordered some Tom Yum coong, Noodle salad (Yam woon sen) , some grilled squid, and Pad Krapow coong.

what we got was every dish loaded, and I mean loaded with Chilly Peppers. I happen to like spicy food, Ped Ped alloy, but this was ridiculous . The Tom yum was so spicy it gave the hiccups.

Edited April 21, 2012 by sirineou

[Docno]

I happen to like spicy food, Ped Ped alloy, but this was ridiculous . The Tom yum was so spicy it gave the hiccups.

Always a 'fun' experience when your stomach is trying to leap out of your body to escape further agony....

[happyaussie]

I happen to like spicy food, Ped Ped alloy, but this was ridiculous . The Tom yum was so spicy it gave the hiccups.

Always a 'fun' experience when your stomach is trying to leap out of your body to escape further agony....

I also like spicy, but I see no sense in being so spicy your mouth and tongue swell. Even when I eat with my wifes brothers they sweat and fan their mouths indicating the dish is too spicy. But they continue eating. Heat yes, but blow your head off......no thanks