Japanese Woman Falls in Love with Thai Fried Rice
A Japanese woman living in Thailand for three months has fallen in love with Thai fried rice, praising its perfectly separated grains and customizable flavors, while discovering that Thai cuisine's intense spice levels and ingredient differ
A 30-year-old Japanese woman named Hana recently shared her three-month experience living in Thailand on Threads, expressing her deep love for Thai fried rice, especially crab fried rice, which she says consistently delivers delicious results no matter which restaurant she visits. She notes that the appeal of Thai fried rice lies in its perfectly separated grains and the availability of fish sauce on the side for customization, allowing diners to adjust the flavor throughout the meal without getting tired. While her son prefers pineapple fried rice and she enjoys mushroom fried rice—a dish rarely found in Japan—Hana points out that Thai and Japanese cuisine differ significantly in ingredients and seasonings.
Initially, her family would carefully order small portions and playfully guess whether each dish would be sweet or spicy. However, what surprised her most was the intense spice level of Thai food, particularly basil stir-fry, which is typically mild in Japan unless extra spice is requested. She also found glass noodle salad shocking, as it starts tart but becomes intensely hot, even making water ineffective as relief. Despite these surprises, Hana's favorite Thai dish remains pad Thai, and after trying tom yum goong, she has begun to embrace Thai flavors more. She believes her palate is gradually adapting to Thai cuisine as she continues living in the country.
