10 Thai dishes to cure hangover
For those who are enthusiastic partygoers, we’re sure you know how terrible it feels to wake up with a hangover the next day. For the really hardcore partygoers, some of them swear that eating specific dishes can help cure the hangover – with the added benefit of being super tasty.
Although there’s no scientific evidence supporting any specific dishes as hangover cures, many revellers find relief in consuming spicy and tangy foods during a hangover.
Here’s a list of 10 Thai dishes that are allegedly able to help with hangovers, and you can commonly find these around Thailand. So, try them out and let us know how it goes.
1. Tom Yum Kung/Seafood (ต้มยำกุ้ง) — the popular hangover cure
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Let’s start with our popular dish that is well-known around the world — Tom Yum Kung, a classic spicy Thai soup. If you have been in Thailand for some time, you might have tried this dish already, but you might not be aware that the dish is also a popular dish for a hangover cure. Though there’s no evidence that can support this, some people love eating Tom Yum Kung when they have a hangover, due to its spicy and tangy taste.
The dish can be found everywhere in the country. If you visit cooked-to-order restaurants aka ร้านอาหารตามสั่ง, you can be sure they can make one for you. You can choose to have it in a creamy version or a clear version, which both taste terrific. To fill up your belly, you can order a plate of rice to enjoy alongside it.
2. Drunken Noodles (ผัดขี้เมา) — spicy stir-fried noodles to give your hangover a kick
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For those who have never tried this, you might be surprised by its name. But no, it’s not gonna make you more drunk. The name originated from it being a beloved late-night food item for partygoers. Many heavy drinkers go for this dish for their hangover cure after a night of partying.
Drunken Noodles are stir-fried noodles cooked with a savoury sauce. It includes meat, bell peppers, onions, Thai basil, garlic, and chilli peppers. It can be a bit spicy but not too much, so if you’re not a fan of spicy food, this one might be fine to try out.
3. Khao Soi (ข้าวซอย) — creamy & tangy comfort food for your hangover symptoms
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Known as a famous traditional northern Thai dish, Khao Soi features a savoury creamy soup along with egg noodles and is served with crispy noodles, pickled mustard greens, and a piece of lime. Even though it’s not talked about much when it comes to a hangover cure, we suggest giving it a try. You can spice up the dish by adding more items like pickled mustard greens, chilli, and lime. These ingredients will make the dish spicier, tangier, and more flavourful which can comfort hangover symptoms.
Living in the north – for example, in Chiang Mai – you can enjoy this dish in many places around the region; however, if you live in other regions, it can be harder to find.
4. Jungle Curry (แกงป่า) — a meaty & fiery hot soup to sober you in the morning
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Jungle Curry is an underrated Thai dish that you might wanna try, whether you’re having a hangover or not. If you love spicy food like us, you will fall in love with this item.
Made with meat, chilli paste, fresh peppercorns, green beans, Thai basils, and more, this curry offers intense and fiery flavours. To balance the extreme spiciness of the dish, it’s commonly eaten with rice. Also, believe it or not, the heat from its spices might help with your hangover symptoms and awaken the senses.
5. Jok (โจ๊ก) — a popular Thai porridge to hydrate your body after waking up
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For a light non-spicy meal, you can consider Jok or Thai porridge as a breakfast dish after a night of drinking. It’s a light dish which can fill your empty stomach and hydrate your body when you wake up with a hangover. Due to its soft texture, it’s gentle on your stomach. Best for when your hangover leaves you feeling sick and not wanting to eat anything – this dish will definitely provide some relief.
6. Tom Kha (ต้มข่าไก่) — nutrient-rich creamy soup to recover from hangover
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If your place is full of rice and curry restaurants, look out for this creamy curry with chicken. Commonly found in rice and curry restaurants, Tom Kha Gai is a favourite dish among foreigners in Thailand. As it’s filled with aromatic herbs and spices, such as galangal, lemongrass, and coconut milk, it provides a soothing effect on your digestive system, ideal for an item to savour when dealing with a hangover.
7. Green Papaya Salad (ส้มตำไทย) — refreshing flavours to lift up your mood after last night’s party
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Northeastern food is a pride of Thailand thanks to its distinctive and vibrant flavours. There are many delicious northeastern dishes you can enjoy, but Green Papaya Salad aka Som Tum in Thai is the most well-known northeastern dish worth mentioning.
Many people are familiar with Som Tum as it’s one of the most-eaten dishes in Thailand. It can be prepared in various recipes, such as Som Tum Plu Pla Ra, Som Tum Thai, Som Tum With Salted Eggs etc. These versions are made with green papaya slices as the main ingredient, which is enjoyable to munch on. Some of you might see it as a spicy dish, but you can enjoy it in a non-spicy version by telling the vendor not to add chillies to it. That said, we think eating it spicy is more yummy.
8. Waterfall Pork (น้ำตกหมู) — a juicy dish with spices and herbs to fill your belly after a night of drinking
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Waterfall Pork or น้ำตกหมู in Thai is another dish that you can eat along with Som Tum. It boasts vibrant flavours, combining tender pork mixed with condiments and fresh herbs — roasted rice powders, red onions, lime, fish sauce, coriander, and so on. Both dishes are usually served with sticky rice and can be savoured to fill your belly and boost your mood after a night of drinking.
9. Chicken Soup (ซุปไก่) — a light, aromatic soup to comfort your stomach
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After many spicy options mentioned earlier, we understand it can be challenging for those who wanna stay away from spicy food. That’s where Chicken Soup comes in, seeking your attention with its aromatic non-spicy flavour. Whether eaten on its own or paired with rice, the soup is nutritious and soothing for the throat and stomach, thus an interesting choice to eat during a hangover.
10. Ginger Bua Loy (บัวลอยน้ำขิง) — ginger syrup snack to relieve hangover nausea
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If a hangover puts you off from eating a big meal, this dessert is worth a try. Ginger Bua Loy, or บัวลอยน้ำขิง in Thai, is made of rice balls filled with black sesame served in ginger syrup, which can help with nausea. The dessert can help refresh and hydrate your body as well as alleviate nausea caused by a hangover. So, instead of eating a heavy dish, you might consider grabbing this dessert as a lighter alternative.
Thai dishes to try if you have a hangover
Next time you throw a big party with your mates and you need some dishes to deal with your hangover, try out these Thai dishes and see whether they can alleviate the symptoms.
Don’t forget to share this article with your friends who are heavy drinkers. They will probably appreciate it.
If you want to explore more articles like this, try reading 8 cheap mookata restaurants in Bangkok, 10 co-working spaces to check out in Bangkok, and 9 Bangkok Thai massage parlours.
Cover image adapted from: @ornr via Instagram, @nat_blacksheepzand via Instagram, @withchrisbaeby via Instagram and @miki.fitwithmiki via Instagram