Marinated meat on bamboo skewers, grilled over charcoal and served with a thick peanut dipping sauce and cucumber relish.
Thin strips of chicken or pork marinated in turmeric, lemongrass, and coconut milk then grilled — the peanut sauce is the star, thick and slightly sweet.
Thai satay uses a slightly different marinade and the peanut sauce is creamier and sweeter than Indonesian versions.
Night markets, street stalls, restaurant appetizers; 15–30 THB per skewer at stalls; often a starter in Thai restaurants.
Ajad — thinly sliced cucumber, shallot, and chilli in sweetened rice vinegar — cuts through the richness of the peanut sauce perfectly.
Beef and occasionally seafood satay appear at some stalls, though chicken and pork remain the standard; vegetarian versions using tofu are increasingly available in tourist-oriented areas.
Skewers are cheap enough to order several varieties at once — a good low-commitment way to sample a stall before deciding on a fuller meal elsewhere.