Thai keto guide
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202 dishes39 keto as served135 with a photo
Keto friendliness
Adapting Thai cuisine for keto is possible but requires constant vigilance for hidden sugars and starches in sauces, and necessitates specific modification requests.
Top ingredients
Excellent traditional keto ingredients include coconut milk, various meats and seafood, non-starchy vegetables, and fresh herbs like basil and cilantro.
Danger zones
The primary carb traps are pervasive added sugar in almost all sauces and curries, rice, noodles, and starchy thickeners found in many popular dishes like Pad Thai and curries.
Best for
This cuisine is best suited for experienced keto dieters who are adept at custom ordering and understand ingredient sourcing, or for home cooks.
What to drink
Drinks you will see at Thai restaurants, cafés and stalls, rated the same way as the food.
Order these
- KetoHot Black Coffee กาแฟดำร้อน (kafae dam ron) · 1g net carbs as usually served
- Ask firstFresh Young Coconut มะพร้าวน้ำหอม (maprao nam hom) · 8g net carbs as usually servedDrink half and eat the soft flesh with a spoon.
- Ask firstOliang (Thai Black Iced Coffee) โอเลี้ยง (oliang) · 20g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet.
- Ask firstLemongrass Pandan Drink น้ำตะไคร้ใบเตย (nam takrai bai toey) · 20g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet. Often premade sweet, so check first.
- Ask firstIced Black Tea ชาดำเย็น (cha dam yen) · 25g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet.
- Ask firstLimeade น้ำมะนาว (nam manao) · 25g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet. Or ask for soda water with fresh lime (soda manao mai sai nam tan).
- Ask firstButterfly Pea Lemonade น้ำอัญชันมะนาว (nam anchan manao) · 25g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet.
- Ask firstLime Iced Tea ชามะนาว (cha manao) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSay 'mai sai nam tan' (no sugar) or 'mai wan' (not sweet). 'Wan noi' only means less sweet. Some stalls premix it, so it may not be possible.
Skip these
- SkipThai Energy Drink (small bottle) เครื่องดื่มชูกำลัง (kreung deum chu kamlang) · 15g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order sugar-free energy drink instead.
- SkipBael Fruit Drink น้ำมะตูม (nam matoom) · 25g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order hot tea, no sugar instead.
- SkipRoselle Juice น้ำกระเจี๊ยบ (nam krajiap) · 28g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order iced black tea, no sugar instead.
- SkipThai Iced Green Tea ชาเขียวเย็น (cha khiao yen) · 35g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order hot or iced green tea with no sugar instead.
- SkipThai Iced Coffee กาแฟเย็น (kafae yen) · 35g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order Oliang with no sugar, or an Americano instead.
- SkipLongan Drink น้ำลำไย (nam lamyai) · 35g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order water or tea, no sugar instead.
- SkipThai Iced Tea ชาเย็น (cha yen) · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order iced black tea, no sugar (cha dam yen mai sai nam tan) instead.
- SkipFruit Shake น้ำปั่น (nam pan) · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order fresh coconut, half instead.
- SkipPink Milk นมเย็น (nom yen) · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order iced black tea, no sugar instead.
- SkipSugarcane Juice น้ำอ้อย (nam oy) · 60g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order fresh coconut water (a small amount) instead.
10 matching dishes
Pla Pao
Salt Crusted Grilled Fish
Whole fish stuffed with lemongrass, coated in salt and grilled over charcoal.…
1 net1 total0 fibre40 protein5 fat220 kcal
Goong Chae Nam Pla
Thai Raw Shrimp Salad
Fresh raw shrimp marinated in fish sauce with garlic and bitter melon.…
3 net4 total1 fibre18 protein2 fat110 kcal
Goong Pad Prik Glua
Stir-fried Prawns with Chili and Salt
A simple yet flavorful stir-fry of prawns, garlic, and fresh chilies, seasoned primarily with salt and pepper,…
4 net5 total1 fibre45 protein25 fat400 kcal
Kai Toon
Thai Steamed Egg Custard
A light and savory steamed egg custard, similar to Japanese chawanmushi, with a fluffy texture. Made with eggs…
4 net5 total1 fibre25 protein20 fat280 kcal
Pla Tod Glua
Salt-Fried Whole Fish with Herbs
A whole fish, typically Tilapia or Seabass, seasoned generously with salt and deep-fried until golden and cris…
4 net5 total1 fibre55 protein50 fat700 kcal
Moo Manao
Thai Garlic Lime Pork
Blanched sliced pork served with raw garlic, fresh chilies, mint, and a tart lime dressing.…
5 net6 total1 fibre28 protein12 fat250 kcal
Suea Rong Hai
Thai Crying Tiger Beef
Marinated and grilled beef brisket sliced thin.…
5 net5 total0 fibre24 protein22 fat320 kcal
Tom Kamin Gai
Chicken Turmeric Soup
A clear, aromatic, and slightly sour soup featuring tender chicken pieces simmered with fresh turmeric, lemong…
5 net7 total2 fibre35 protein18 fat320 kcal
KAsoon
Moo Yor Tod
Fried Thai-Vietnamese Pork Sausage
Moo Yor is a Vietnamese-style steamed pork sausage, widely popular in Thailand. When prepared 'Tod' (fried), i…
4 net5 total1 fibre30 protein30 fat400 kcal
KAsoon
Tom Leuat Moo
Pork Blood and Offal Clear Soup
A hearty and popular clear soup featuring congealed pork blood cubes, various pork offal (liver, intestines), …
5 net6 total1 fibre40 protein28 fat420 kcal