Although lately most of the buzz about Thai cuisine revolves around food from the Northeastern Isan region, southern Thai dishes are equally as delicious and exotic. Whether you're at home in Canada or abroad, you should run to your local Thai restaurant and try one of the following must try dishes.

Nam Prik Goong Siap

Nam prik is a spicy sauce that is commonly used in southern Thai dishes. Nam prik consists of fermented shrimp paste, dried shrimp, garlic, hot chilies, lime sauce, a bit of brown sugar, and an ample amount of fish sauce. The dish is a veritable medley of flavors, although it is mainly sour, spicy, and "fishy." Nam prik goong siap is a dish that consists of freshly cut vegetables that are served with this delicious, fiery dip.

Gaeng Som Pla

This is a bowl of soup that is sure to clear out your sinuses. The rough translation of this dish is "sour curry," although the number of flavors in the dish itself are much more numerable than sour. The broth is made from a liquified fish base and combined with turmeric and curry paste. This gives the dish an interesting and colorful presentation that almost looks a bit like orange juice. Gaeng som pla is generally cooked with an array of fruits and vegetables, including papaya, bamboo shoots, and a bit of pineapple.

Khao Yam

This salad is a fragrant blend of herbs. It is a rice based salad that is combined with shredded shrimp and grated coconut, and spiced to taste. Among the seasonings that are generally used with khao yam include lemongrass, turmeric leaves, kaffir lime leaves, and pennywort. The medley is then tossed together and served with a topping of a sweet, fish-based sauce. This is a refreshing yet filling dish that is often served during the summer months.

Gaeng Tai Pla

Much like gaeng som pla, this is a soup that contains a multitude of different flavors and can even confuse a novice foodie's tongue! It is more of a thick stew than a soup, and it contains grilled fish, eggplants, string beans, fish viscera, shrimp paste, pumpkin, and bamboo shoots. As you can tell from the ingredients, the number of flavors you will experience will be plentiful. It is often served with plenty of lemongrass, dried chilies, and garlic.

Hopefully, this brief guide has given you some idea of what to expect from southern Thai cuisine! If you've got an appetite right now, why not dine in at Mali Thai Restaurant?