How is it different from som tam or larb?
Au pla is a curry made with freshwater fish. Unlike som tam, in which papaya is pounded, or larb, in which minced meat is seasoned, you can eat the fish and broth over rice.
Au Pla
Au Pla
If you want to try a regional dish other than som tam in Khon Kaen, look for au pla. It is a spicy, salty curry made with freshwater fish. If you like fish dishes, it is worth choosing as a meal to eat with rice. The fish and seasoning used can differ from shop to shop.
What does it taste like?
It is a curry in which heat and saltiness are added to freshwater fish. It gives you a different meal from a dish of crunchy vegetables such as som tam, or a meat dish such as larb. Eat it with rice, adding a little at a time.
Eat slowly, checking for fish bones.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Au Pla · Au Pla
- Type
- Soups and curries
- Region
- North-east · Isan · A local dish of Khon Kaen
- Main ingredients
- A curry made with freshwater fish. The fish and the seasoning used depend on the menu item you order.
The dish and its region
Isan has a culture of using freshwater fish from the rivers in its food. Au pla is a menu item introduced as a local dish of Khon Kaen. It suits anyone who has tried som tam and larb, known across Isan, and wants to find out about another dish of Khon Kaen.
How to order and eat it
- Find au pla on the menu and ask which fish is used. It also helps to ask whether the heat can be adjusted.
- Order rice to eat with it and take the fish and broth a little at a time.
- Eat slowly, checking for fish bones. The kind of fish and the detailed seasoning depend on the menu item you order.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a dish linked to Khon Kaen?
Yes. It is a menu item that the Tourism Authority of Thailand introduced as a local dish of Khon Kaen. If you want to try a freshwater fish dish on an Isan trip, you can take a look.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.