Ant egg salads, street food counters lined with entrails, carts filled with bugs, I understand why visitors to Thailand can be put off by Isan food. Not all of it is appealing. Some the complete opposite. But bravado and beetle munching aside Isan food offers much of the best eating in Thailand. Less celebrated globally but hugely popular locally. This is my guide to the exciting dishes of Northeastern Thailand. My Top 10 Isan Food. Eat Isan food with sticky rice and booze and optional sides of White Cabbage (Pak Gad Khao), Sweet Basil (Horapa), Long Beans (Tua Fak Yao). In Bangkok Isan food is easy enough to track down in the central Sukhumvit area but for truly authentic Isan food is best found in the Isaan Region of Northeast Thailand.