Tom Yum Goong
Hot-and-sour prawn soup electric with lemongrass and lime. · Thailand
Hot-and-sour prawn soup electric with lemongrass and lime.
About Tom Yum Goong
A clear or creamy broth crackling with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, chilli and prawns, simultaneously sour, spicy, salty and aromatic. It practically clears the senses.
🏛️ History & Culture
Tom Yum Goong is a signature Thai hot-and-sour soup, typically made with fresh prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilies, and lime juice. Its origins are debated, but it is widely considered a central Thai dish that rose to national prominence in the 20th century, with some linking its popularity to the abundance of river prawns in the country’s central plains.
Regional variations exist, such as the clear broth version (tom yum nam sai) common in Bangkok and the creamy version (tom yum nam khon) that adds evaporated milk or coconut cream, often favored in tourist areas and northern Thailand. The dish is culturally significant as a symbol of Thai culinary identity—balancing the four core flavors of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet—and is often served as a communal sharing dish, reflecting the importance of harmony and balance in Thai dining traditions.
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Tom Yum Goong — frequently asked questions
What is Tom Yum Goong?
A clear or creamy broth crackling with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, chilli and prawns, simultaneously sour, spicy, salty and aromatic. It practically clears the senses.
What is Tom Yum Goong made of?
Tom Yum Goong is made with prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime and chilli.
Where does Tom Yum Goong come from?
Tom Yum Goong comes from Thailand, and is especially associated with Central Thailand. Tom Yum Goong is a signature Thai hot-and-sour soup, typically made with fresh prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, chilies, and lime juice.
Where can I eat Tom Yum Goong?
A Thai seafood restaurant; ask for the richer "nam khon" version with chilli paste.
Taste Tom Yum Goong in Bangkok
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- 🇹🇭 Khao Pad · Thailand
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- 🇹🇭 Khao Soi · Thailand
- 🇹🇭 Pad Krapow · Thailand
- 🇹🇭 Mango Sticky Rice · Thailand
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- 🇨🇩 Poulet à la Moambe · DR Congo
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- 🇲🇦 Rfissa · Morocco
- 🇭🇷 Perkelt od Podolca · Croatia
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- 🇨🇳 xo Sauce · China
- 🇰🇷 Hotteok · South Korea
- 🇰🇷 Omija-cha · South Korea
- 🇮🇩 Nasi Goreng · Indonesia
- 🇮🇳 Modak · India
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