Which utensil pair do most Thais use for meals today?

Most Thais use a fork and spoon for meals today.

In the standard Thai dining arrangement, the spoon is held in the right hand and is the utensil brought to the mouth. The fork is held in the left hand and pushes food onto the spoon. Knives are generally unnecessary because Thai food is commonly served in bite-sized pieces, and the spoon is better suited to rice and saucy dishes.

This practice differs from many Western table settings, where the fork is the primary eating utensil and the knife cuts food. Chopsticks are not the usual everyday utensils for traditional Thai meals; they are more associated with Chinese-style noodle soups and Chinese, Japanese or Korean restaurants in Thailand.

Thai people historically often ate with their hands, especially sticky rice in northern and northeastern regions. Tables, chairs and the modern fork-and-spoon custom spread during Thailand’s Westernization. The utensils are commonly linked to King Chulalongkorn’s return from a European tour in 1897.