Thailand's Best Food

In a country known for its amazing food, it might be considered risky to argue that one region over all the rest has the best cuisine. But if that region were Isan and the country were Thailand, it wouldn't be controversial at all, as most visitors agree the food is amazing! If you've never been to Thailand, chances are you haven't really had a chance to explore Isan food as there are just a few Isan restaurants in the US (and most are in New York).What is it about Isan food that's so great? A taxi driver once explained to me that the real reason is that Isan cuisine has all the flavors: sweet, salty, spicy and sour. That's definitely true, though I'm not sure it's the only reason. Another, perhaps, is that the cuisine relies heavily on fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of herbs. So it's refreshing and healthy, too.