Bangkok — cool season Nov–Feb 1 USD ≈ 33.4 THB 60-day visa exemption (30-day change pending) BTS + MRT cover most of the city New pages added weekly

Searches every page title and description instantly.

Food

What Thais Eat When They're Sick — Comfort Food

Updated 2026 · Totally Bangkok

Khao tom, herbal soups, and the gentle foods Thais turn to when unwell — useful for travellers under the weather.

Khao Tom (rice soup)

The primary Thai sick-day food — soft rice cooked until broken down into a gentle porridge with clear broth, ginger, spring onion, and minced pork; easy to find and easy on the stomach.

Herbal soups

Clear soups with lemongrass, galangal, and ginger are considered medicinal — some pharmacies also sell dried herbal soup mixes.

Congee (Jok)

Similar to khao tom but broken down further — almost porridge consistency; served with century egg, ginger strips, and a raw egg dropped in.

Practical for travellers

If you're unwell in Bangkok, ask your hotel for khao tom — any hotel restaurant or nearby local stall will have it; the BRAT diet equivalent in Thai form.

This guide is a starting point — we expand every guide with more detail, photos and maps as the site grows. Check the news board for what's new.