How is it different from som tam or larb?
Au pla is a curry made with freshwater fish. Unlike som tam, where papaya is pounded, or larb, where minced meat is seasoned, you can eat the fish and broth with rice.
Au Pla
Au Pla
If you want to try a local dish in Khon Kaen that is different from som tam, look for au pla. It is a curry made with freshwater fish, spicy and salty. If you like fish, it is worth choosing as a dish to eat with rice. The fish and seasonings used can differ from restaurant to restaurant.
What does it taste like?
It is a curry that adds heat and saltiness to freshwater fish. You get a different meal from foods like som tam, where you eat crunchy vegetables, or meat dishes such as larb. Eat a little at a time with rice.
Eat slowly and watch for fish bones.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Au Pla · Au Pla
- Type
- Soups & curries
- Region
- Northeastern Thailand (Isan) · A local dish of Khon Kaen
- Key ingredients
- A curry made with freshwater fish. The fish and seasonings used depend on the menu item you order.
The dish and where it comes from
Isan has a culture of using river fish in its food. Au pla is introduced as a local dish of Khon Kaen among them. It suits someone who has had som tam and larb, known across Isan, and wants to learn about other food in Khon Kaen.
How to order and eat it
- Find au pla on the menu and ask what fish is used. It also helps to ask whether the heat can be adjusted.
- Order rice to eat with it and have the fish and broth a little at a time.
- Eat slowly and watch 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 connected to Khon Kaen?
Yes. It is a dish the Tourism Authority of Thailand introduces as a local dish of Khon Kaen. If you want to taste a freshwater fish dish on an Isan trip, it is worth a look.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.