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Tom Yam Goong – Prawn Spicy and Sour Soup


What is Tom Yam Goong?


Tom Yam is one of Thailand’s favourite and most well-known dishes, to locals and visitors alike. It is not a tourist trap; it is really part of Thai life. Tom Yam means hot and sour soup and Goong means prawns. Other famous variations are Tom Yam Talay (seafood), Tom Yam Gai (chicken), Kradook Moo (pork ribs). A special one, Tom Yam Goong Mae Nam, is cooked with delicious river prawns and is somewhat the mother of all Tom Yam. The orange colour in today’s Tom Yam soup imitates the colour of this original dish. Orange colour in Tom Yam Goong Mae Nam comes from the fatty juice in the head of river prawns; this juice adds aroma, colour, taste and all the extraordinaire to the soup.

Tom Yum Goong Recipe

Back to the ordinary Tom Yam, there are two different soup bases – clear (Nam Sai) and thick (Nam Khon). Do not underestimate the timid and friendly look of the clear Tom Yam soup; it can be seriously hot. The thick soup is not thick, but that’s what we call it, it will be orange (like the top photo) from either Thai Fried Chili Paste or the fatty part of shrimps or prawns (More often from a can than fresh). Some shops add evaporated milk or coconut milk to their Tom Yam as well.

Thai Food in Phuket

Thais have Tom Yam with rice as we consider this as Kub Kao (to eat with rice) rather than an appetiser.


Where to find a great Tom Yam?

Kruvit Raft restaurant Phuket

Any restaurant in Phuket will serve you a good Tom Yam, but here are some local places we like: Bang Pae Seafood, next to Bangpae Waterfall, Floating Seafood Restaurant on the east coast, direction ‘The Village’ on Maphrao Island, or see 10 Great Seafood Restaurants in Phuket.

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Phuket 101

Phuket 101

Phuket 101 Blog shares 30 years of Phuket exploration and thousands of photos, tips and secrets. This travel guide is written from our real experiences: we tried and visited every place, and we paid for almost everything, which allows us to keep our honest opinions. Phuket 101 was born in January 2011.View Author posts