The Thai Snacks You Absolutely Need to Try!
- Kate, AWSYDE
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re in Thailand or planning a trip here, you definitely can’t miss out on these iconic local snacks!
Personally, whenever I travel to a new country, I always hit up the local supermarkets. Since I’m a huge snack and dessert lover, it’s my absolute favorite way to experience how locals actually live and eat.
Back when I was studying abroad, every time I flew home to Thailand during semester breaks, these snacks were my ultimate go-to. I’d pack my bags with as many as I could, not just for myself, but to bring back as souvenirs for my university friends. And it turns out, my international friends loved them just as much as I did! You know that feeling when someone else validates your taste? As a local, it honestly meant so much to me.
That’s why I put together this list, so you can experience these amazing treats for yourself! Honestly, some of these are snacks I’ve been eating since I was a little kid, and I’m still buying them today.
Now, whenever my foreign friends come visit me in Bangkok, I always take them to Big C across from CentralWorld. It’s a super tourist-friendly location, but it has literally everything you need at standard local prices! I love guiding them through the aisles, pointing out what’s spicy, what’s worth trying, and what makes the best souvenir to take home. And so far, everyone has loved it!
FF Tomato Flavoured Cracker
This silver bag is pure nostalgia for anyone who grew up in Thailand. It’s been my absolute favourite ever since I was a kid! Honestly, if they ever discontinue this, I’d be completely heartbroken.
They’re light and super crispy crackers coated in the best sweet and tangy tomato seasoning. Trust me, once you open the bag, it's literally impossible to stop eating!
Makado Potato Sticks (Tom Yum Goong flavour)
I only just spotted this flavour recently! Before this, I’d only ever seen the original and seaweed ones, so since I’m a huge fan of Tom Yum Goong anyway, I just had to give it a try.
Imagine their classic, super crunchy potato sticks, but coated in a rich, mouthwatering Tom Yum seasoning. They’re perfectly salted with that sharp, spicy-and-sour punch that instantly gets your taste buds going. OMG guys, I finished the whole bag way too fast and immediately wanted to buy another one!
I haven’t seen this flavour anywhere else since it’s exclusive to Big C, so keep an eye out when you're there. It makes such a cool and unique souvenir. I highly recommend grabbing a pack!
Kai Yang (Original Flavour) - Red Bag
This one is another total childhood favourite! They’re crunchy, savoury, chicken-shaped snacks that come with an actual little tub of sweet chilli sauce right inside the bag. You just dip each piece directly into the sauce. It’s sweet, slightly tangy, and super fun to eat. I honestly never get bored of it!
Kai Yang (Pandan Flavour) - Green Bag
A cool little twist on the original! The main difference is that the snack itself has a subtle Pandan aroma. Don’t worry though; it’s still savoury and comes with that same iconic sweet chilli dipping sauce. It might sound like an unusual combo at first, but it actually works amazingly well!
Bento Squid Snack (Sweet & Spicy)
Warning: this one is legendary for a reason! Bento is thin sheets of seasoned squid surimi that are super chewy, sticky, and packed with punchy Thai flavours. It’s sweet at first, but the spice builds up fast. If you like spicy seafood snacks, you’ll be hooked!
Pro Tip: Because it’s super chewy, it can sometimes be a bit tough to bite into. My personal hack? Pop it in the freezer for a little bit. Once it’s chilled, it turns amazingly crisp. Or, if you can’t wait and want to eat it right away, just dunk a piece into a glass of ice water for a few seconds. It instantly crisps it up! This was my absolute favourite trick growing up, hahaha.
Lotus Drumstick Snack (Korean BBQ)
Shaped like tiny mini chicken drumsticks, these snacks are insanely light and super crispy! This flavour features a smoky, savoury Korean BBQ seasoning with just a touch of sweetness. Plus, they’re tossed with bits of real dried seaweed, which makes every bite extra flavorful and addicting!
Lotus Drumstick Snack
It’s not actually spicy at all if you can handle any level of heat! (Though if you have zero tolerance for spice, you might feel a tiny kick). It’s packed with classic savoury Thai seasoning, perfectly salted, with a touch of sweetness, rich in flavour, and super addicting. It’s the ultimate crunchy snack to munch on while hanging out.
Twistko (Barbecue Corn Snack)
This is another childhood favourite of mine! It instantly brings back memories of buying those tiny 5-baht packs when I was young, though I’m honestly not even sure if they still sell them for 5 baht anymore.
It’s a classic corn crunch snack coated in a rich, savoury barbecue powder with a lovely hint of sweet grilled corn. It has that perfect light, crisp bite that’s super satisfying whenever you’re craving a good savoury treat.
Pretz (Larb Flavour)
Pretz did an amazing job bringing authentic Thai dishes into crispy biscuit stick form. This one tastes just like Larb (Thai spicy minced pork salad). It’s zesty, savoury, and has that signature toasted rice and herbal aroma.
Pretz (Tom Yum Kung Flavour)
Another total must-try. These biscuit sticks taste just like Thailand’s most famous soup: sour, spicy, and savoury, with that distinct lemongrass and lime leaf flavour. It’s like eating Tom Yum in snack form!
Doi Kham Dried Mangoes
Doi Kham (Soft Dried Mango with Sweet Fish Sauce Flavour) - Green Bag
Okay, this one is super unique! It takes the classic Thai dish Nam Pla Wan (that sweet, savory chili dip made with dried shrimp and fish sauce) and turns it into a delicious chewy snack. It’s sweet, slightly salty, and packed with authentic Thai flavour. If you love eating fresh green mango with sweet dipping sauce, you definitely have to try this!
Doi Kham (Soft Dried Mango with Spicy Chilli Zaab Flavour) - Orange Bag
If you love sweet and spicy combos, you’ve got to grab this! It’s soft, chewy dried mango generously coated in a fiery chilli powder seasoning (Prik Zaab). You get the natural sweetness of the fruit first, followed by a bold, spicy, tangy punch.
It’s insanely addicting and has a serious kick; the spice level is honestly spot-on for me! Between the two, I actually prefer this orange bag over the green one for that extra zesty punch!
Doi Kham (Soft Dried Mango) - left
Made from real Thai mangoes, this version is soft, thick, and chewy with a rich natural sweetness. It’s perfect if you prefer dried fruit that isn't tough or overly rubbery to bite into!
Doi Kham (Dehydrated Mango) - right
A classic favourite from Thailand's famous Royal Project brand. These dehydrated mango slices preserve that authentic sweet-and-tangy mango flavour in a slightly firmer, traditional dried-fruit texture.
Chitralada Sweetened Milk Tablets
This is an absolute classic that almost every Thai kid grew up eating! I remember my dad used to buy these from 7-Eleven when I was little, and I’d always ask him if he got one for me. I honestly can’t even count how many of these I’ve eaten. Clearly, my sweet tooth started very early!
They’re tiny, pressed milk tablets made with real royal farm milk powder. They just melt in your mouth, leaving a rich, sweet, and comforting milky flavour. It’s simple, nostalgic, and absolutely delicious.
Tawan (Sweet & Sour Squid Flavour)
Tawan snacks are crisp, triangular chips made with a mixture of seasoned squid. This particular version hits you with a rich, perfectly balanced blend of sweet, sour, and savoury seasonings. They’re super crunchy, packed with mouthwatering seafood flavour, and go so well with an ice-cold soda! Getting the big pack is definitely the way to go.
Lay’s (Nori Seaweed Flavour)
You really can’t talk about Thai snacks without mentioning Lay’s Nori Seaweed. It’s arguably the most famous potato chip flavour in Thailand! They’re classic crispy chips dusted with savoury seaweed seasoning and tiny bits of real seaweed. It’s salty, umami, and so easy to eat. This is hands down my absolute go-to Lay's flavour!
Tasto (Salt & Sour Flavour)
If you like lemon or vinegar potato chips, you’re going to love this. Tasto Salt & Sour gives you that sharp, refreshing zing of citrus paired with a savoury salty kick. It’s light, super crunchy, and surprisingly refreshing for a potato chip! I never get bored of this.
Koh-Kae (Wasabi Flavoured Peanuts)
Koh-Kae is the undisputed king of coated peanuts in Thailand, and this wasabi flavour is my all-time favourite! Every peanut is wrapped in a super crunchy shell with a sharp wasabi kick that clears your sinuses. Perfect to munch on with cold drinks!
I remember my siblings and I used to stuff a whole handful into our mouths at once and try our absolute best to act completely normal, pretending the spice wasn’t hitting our noses full force, lol.
Dozo (Corn Cheese Flavoured Rice Crackers)
I totally grew up on this snack and absolutely loved eating it as a kid! These are light, airy Japanese-style rice crackers coated with a sweet and creamy corn cheese powder. They have that perfect balance of slightly sweet and savory flavors, plus a wonderfully rich corn and cheese aroma as soon as you open the bag.
Roller Coaster (Extra BBQ Potato Rings)
These are fun, ring-shaped potato snacks that are super light and extra crunchy. The Extra BBQ flavour is rich, smoky, and salty with just a lovely hint of sweetness.
You’ll almost always see kids slipping them onto their fingers like rings before eating them, and yep, I was definitely one of those kids too! (Though my fingers might be a little too big for that now, lol)
Jaxx (French Fries with Ketchup Dip) - Blue Bag
Jaxx is a staple Thai childhood snack! They’re crispy potato sticks that come with an actual little pouch of tomato ketchup right inside the bag. You just tear open the sauce packet, dip your fries, and enjoy!
Jaxx (French Fries with Chilli Sauce Dip) - Red Bag
The spicy version of Jaxx! Instead of ketchup, this red bag comes with a pouch of classic Thai chilli dipping sauce inside. The sauce is slightly sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy, making every dip super flavourful and satisfying. Both options are great, but I definitely prefer the sweet chilli sauce over the ketchup one.
Karamucho (Hot Chilli Flavour Potato Chips)
If you like potato chips with a serious kick, this Japanese-style snack is iconic in Thailand! Even though it didn't originate here, it’s super popular and widely sold all across the country.
If you have a high spice tolerance, I highly recommend these! They're packed with a rich, savoury hot chilli seasoning that builds up a nice, addictive heat. They’re super crunchy, perfectly bold, and seriously spicy.
Choki Choki (Chocomilk & Chococashew Chocolate Sticks)
A total nostalgia trip! Choki Choki comes in individual squeeze tubes filled with creamy chocolate paste, blended with either milk or cashew flavour. You just snip or bite the top off and squeeze it straight into your mouth or spread it on bread if you're feeling fancy.
I honestly feel like a kid again every single time I have this. If you just want a small pack, Big C has them, but if you want the big one, head to Makro. For a sweet tooth like me? I definitely have to get the big pack from Makro!
Jele Beautie Jelly Drinks
Jele Beautie (Strawberry Flavour - Collagen & Vitamin C)
These pouch jelly drinks are super popular all over Thai convenience stores. This sweet strawberry version is packed with fruit flavour, chewy jelly, plus collagen and Vitamin C for a light, refreshing, guilt-free treat.
Jele Beautie (Blackcurrant Flavour - High Vitamin C & B-Complex)
Light, fruity, and super satisfying when served icy cold. The blackcurrant flavour gives you a lovely tangy-sweet berry taste along with a boost of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and high Vitamin C.
(There are plenty of other flavours to try too!)
Euro Cake (Melon Cream)
Euro Cake is a legendary, soft puff cake snack in Thailand. This melon version features a pillow-soft sponge cake stuffed with a sweet, fragrant melon cream filling. It’s light, fluffy, and pairs perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee.
My mom used to buy this brand all the time for making merit (ใส่บาตร). Since she always bought in bulk, there was more than enough left over for me to try every single flavour. But out of all of them, the melon cream one is definitely my absolute favourite.
Tao Kae Noi Big Roll
Tao Kae Noi Big Roll (Classic Flavour) - Green Pack
Rolled grilled seaweed that gives you the ultimate crisp crunch in every bite! The Classic flavour is light, slightly salty, and rich in natural seaweed goodness without being oily at all.
Tao Kae Noi Big Roll (Spicy Chilli Flavour) - Red Pack
The spicy twin of the Big Roll! It takes that same super-crispy grilled seaweed roll and coats it in a fiery, sweet-and-spicy chilli seasoning that gives your taste buds a fun little kick.
If you’ve read this far, you probably already know which one I prefer: definitely the red one! Kate loves her spice! 🌶️
While these aren’t technically snacks, they are absolute must-haves for quick, authentic Thai cooking at home! Back when I was studying in the UK, I would always stock up and bring tons of these back with me to cure my homesickness. They deliver that true, authentic local flavour without needing to add anything else, total life-savers!
Ajinomoto Ros Dee Menu (Tom Yum Creamy)
This is my personal absolute go-to! It’s the ultimate shortcut to making a bowl of rich, velvety creamy Tom Yum soup, or even a flavorful Tom Yum stir-fry. It hits all the right spicy, sour, and savoury notes perfectly. I honestly couldn't live without it when I was living abroad!
Lobo Thai Boat Noodle Soup Base (with Mala Spice)
If you're craving that deep, aromatic, and rich broth of real Thai boat noodles, this packet is pure magic. This version even adds a subtle Mala spice twist for an extra layer of heat. Just add your favourite noodles, meat, and herbs, and you have a restaurant-quality bowl ready in minutes.
Exploring Thailand through its snacks and flavours is just step one!
If you're interested in learning authentic Thai through real-life scenarios, like supermarket trips and daily conversations, check out AWSYDE or drop us a message anytime. We’d love to help you get started!
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