5-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Thai netizens express disappointment as the signature dish of the Southern region, “Kaeng Tai Pla” (fish entrails sour curry), secures the top spot on TasteAtlas‘ “100 Worst Rated Foods in the World” list published last month.
The ranking has sparked a wave of disagreement, leading to the trending hashtag #saveแกงไตปลา (save Kaeng Tai Pla) on various social media platforms this week. Many users, posting in English, urge visitors to Thailand to give this dish a chance before passing judgment based solely on its ranking.
TasteAtlas compiled the list based on 433,877 user ratings as of March 16. However, only 301,750 ratings were considered eligible by the Croatia-based company.
TasteAtlas is an online guide that offers experiential travel information on traditional food, encompassing authentic recipes, food critic reviews, and research articles on popular ingredients and dishes.
Describing Kaeng Tai Pla, the website states, “This thick and aromatic fish curry originated in southern Thailand. The base of the dish is prepared with tai pla—fermented fish entrails—and a spicy curry paste consisting of chilli peppers, galangal, shrimp paste, turmeric, shallots, and lemongrass. Other additions usually include dry fish, diced eggplant, bamboo shoots, string beans, or other vegetables. Because of its intensity and strong, pungent aromas, kaeng tai pla is best served with steamed rice on the side. Traditionally, this Thai curry was only prepared with fish, and most varieties do not use coconut milk.”
Securing the second position on the “worst food” list is Iceland’s Hákarl, followed by Egypt’s Fesikh, Israel’s Yerushalmi Kugel, and the United States’ Luther Burger.
Despite Kaeng Tai Pla receiving a negative response from global eaters, it is considered a delicacy and often a must-try for visitors to the South, Thailand’s prominent fishing region.
Interestingly, some foreigners find this curry dish delicious, including Park Kideuk and Jung Kyungtae, South Korean YouTubers behind “Cullen and Jung,” a popular travel vlog in Thailand.
In December, TasteAtlas published its “100 Best Dishes in the World” list, featuring five Thai dishes: Pad Kaprao (3rd place), Khao Soi (6th), Kaeng Panang (10th), Tom Kha Gai (15th), and Massaman Curry (73rd).
