Dates, prices and cancellation terms are shown on the listing. Booking through this link costs you nothing extra.
See the Koh Samui cooking class on GetYourGuide
Thai food is easy to eat with children if you know three things: the default is spicy, the sweet street snacks are very sweet, and one famous fruit is not welcome in many hotels. This guide covers four things from our photo set: basil chicken, roti, a fruit plate and durian.
At a glance
| Basil chicken | Spicy by default. Ask for "mai phet". About 50 to 70 baht at local stalls (July 2026). |
|---|---|
| Roti | Contains wheat gluten, dairy and egg. Sweet from condensed milk. |
| Fruit plate | Papaya, pineapple, watermelon, dragon fruit, small bananas. |
| Durian | Strong smell. Not allowed in many hotels or on Bangkok buses. |
Basil chicken with rice (pad krapow gai)
This is the everyday lunch across Thailand: minced chicken stir-fried with garlic, chilli and holy basil, served over rice, usually with a fried egg on top. It is meant to be hot. Say "mai phet" (not spicy) when you order, or "phet nit noi" for a little heat. A fried egg (kai dao) is a common add-on and costs about 5 to 15 baht, and the runny yolk softens the heat. At neighbourhood stalls a plate costs roughly 50 to 70 baht as of July 2026, and tourist streets charge two to three times that.
Street roti with chocolate and condensed milk
Thai street roti is a thin, flaky flatbread fried on a griddle and sold as a dessert. The usual toppings are condensed milk, banana, egg or chocolate spread. The dough itself is barely sweet, so most of the sugar comes from the condensed milk. It contains wheat gluten, dairy and egg, so ask the vendor if your child has an allergy. In central Thailand and Bangkok the sweet version is the one you will see most.
A tropical fruit plate
A plate like the one in the photo has papaya, pineapple, watermelon, dragon fruit and small bananas. It is the easiest thing to give a child who does not want anything spicy. Hotel buffets and fruit stalls both sell it.
Durian: smell first, taste second
Durian stalls are easy to spot by the smell. The fruit is sold in boxes of ready-cut pieces. The Bangkok bus authority banned it on buses, and many hotels do not allow it in rooms. Look for a "no durian" sign, or ask at reception, before you bring a box back. Children can try a small piece at the stall instead.
Cook it together
If your children enjoy this kind of food, a cooking class is a hands-on way to try it. We wrote a separate guide on the Koh Samui class from the operator Oh-Hoo, with market visit and hotel pickup. →
Questions
Is Thai basil chicken spicy?
Yes by default. Order it with "mai phet" for not spicy, or "phet nit noi" for a little, and add a fried egg.
Is roti safe for a child with allergies?
Street roti usually contains wheat gluten, dairy and egg. Ask the vendor what is in the batter and the topping before you order.
Can I bring durian to my hotel room?
Many hotels in Thailand do not allow it, and the Bangkok bus authority bans it on buses. Check the hotel rules or ask at reception first.
Hands-on option: the Koh Samui Thai cooking class with market tour (operator Oh-Hoo, about 3 hours, hotel pickup, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, listing checked 8 October 2026). Dates, prices and cancellation terms are shown on the listing. Booking through this link costs you nothing extra.
See the Koh Samui cooking class on GetYourGuide