Thai food is known for its vibrant and intense flavors, often featuring spicy and bold ingredients such as chili peppers, garlic, and ginger. For those who are not accustomed to such fiery flavors, ordering Thai food in Thailand can be a daunting task. However, with a little bit of knowledge and preparation, it is possible to enjoy a delicious Thai meal without setting your mouth on fire.
Ordering Spicy Thai Food
When it comes to ordering Thai food, the first thing to keep in mind is that the level of spiciness can vary greatly from one dish to another, even within the same restaurant. Some dishes are inherently spicy, such as tom yum soup or green curry, while others can be made to be less spicy upon request. Eating too spicy food could ruin your adventure when you’re seeing the world.
To ensure that your meal is not too spicy, it is important to communicate your preferences clearly to your server. You can start by asking for recommendations for dishes that are not too spicy. Thai people are generally very friendly and accommodating, and most servers will be happy to suggest milder dishes.
Another option is to ask for your dish to be made “mai pet” which means “not spicy” in Thai. This phrase can be used to request less spice in any dish, from stir-fried vegetables to pad thai noodles. However, keep in mind that “mai pet” does not necessarily mean “no spice” – there may still be some mild heat from the use of spices such as black pepper or ginger.
Order In Thai
If you want to be even more specific about your spice preferences, you can use the following phrases to indicate the level of spiciness you prefer:
- “phet nit noy” means “a little bit spicy”
- “phet pet” means “medium spicy”
- “phet maak” means “very spicy”
When ordering your food, it’s important to also consider the level of sweetness and saltiness. Thai cuisine often balances spicy flavors with sweet and salty flavors, so if you are not used to this combination, you may find some dishes to be overwhelming. In this case, you can also ask for your dish to be made less sweet or less salty.
Now that you have some basic knowledge of how to order Thai food, let’s explore some popular dishes that are not too spicy.
Pad Thai Spicy Thai Food
Pad Thai is a classic Thai dish that is loved by locals and tourists alike. This stir-fried noodle dish is made with rice noodles, bean sprouts, tofu, and eggs, and is typically seasoned with tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar. It is often served with chopped peanuts and lime wedges for added flavor.
Pad Thai can be made to be less spicy by requesting “mai pet” and asking for less chili powder to be added. The dish is already mildly sweet, so you may not need to adjust the sweetness level.
Massaman Curry
Massaman curry is a rich and flavorful curry that is not as spicy as some other Thai curries. It is made with a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, as well as peanuts, potatoes, and tender chunks of meat (usually beef or chicken).
The curry can be made to be less spicy by requesting “mai pet” and asking for less chili paste to be added. The dish is already slightly sweet due to the use of palm sugar, so you may not need to adjust the sweetness level.
Khao Pad
Khao Pad is a simple but delicious fried rice dish that can be customized to your liking. It typically consists of rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, and meat (such as chicken or shrimp), and is seasoned with soy sauce and sometimes oyster sauce.
Khao Pad can be made to be less spicy by requesting “mai pet” and asking for less chili powder or chili flakes to be added. The dish is usually not very sweet, but if you find it too salty, you can ask for less soy sauce or oyster sauce.
Tom Kha Gai
Tom Kha Gai is a creamy and tangy soup made with coconut milk, galangal (a type of ginger), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chicken. The soup has a mild, slightly sweet flavor and is often served as a starter or side dish.
To make Tom Kha Gai less spicy, you can request “mai pet” and ask for less chili paste to be added. The soup is already slightly sweet due to the use of coconut milk, so you may not need to adjust the sweetness level.
Som Tam Spicy Thai Food
Som Tam is a spicy and refreshing salad made with shredded green papaya, tomatoes, carrots, and long beans. It is typically seasoned with fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, and chili peppers. While Som Tam can be quite spicy, you can ask for it to be made less spicy by requesting “phet nit noy” or “mai pet”.
If you find the salad too sour, you can ask for less lime juice, or if it’s too sweet, you can ask for less palm sugar. Some versions of Som Tam also include dried shrimp or salted crab, so if you prefer to avoid seafood, be sure to ask for those ingredients to be left out.
Pad See Ew
Pad See Ew is a noodle dish that is similar to Pad Thai but made with wider rice noodles and a different seasoning. It typically includes Chinese broccoli, soy sauce, and sometimes oyster sauce, and can be made with either beef, chicken, or pork.
To make Pad See Ew less spicy, you can request “mai pet” and ask for less chili powder or chili flakes to be added. The dish is not usually very sweet, but if you find it too salty, you can ask for less soy sauce or oyster sauce.
Kai Jeow
Kai Jeow is a simple but delicious omelet dish that is popular in Thailand. It is made with eggs, onions, and sometimes tomatoes, and is usually seasoned with fish sauce or soy sauce. The omelet is often served with rice and a sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Kai Jeow is not usually spicy, but if you want to make it even milder, you can request “mai pet” and ask for less chili peppers to be added to the dipping sauce. The dish is not very sweet, but if you find it too salty, you can ask for less fish sauce or soy sauce to be used.
Ordering Thai food in Thailand that isn’t too spicy is not as difficult as it may seem. Communicating your preferences clearly to your server and using some basic Thai phrases will result in a delicious meal without a burning sensation in your mouth. Remember to also consider the levels of sweetness and saltiness when ordering your food. Don’t be afraid to ask for adjustments if necessary. With a little bit of knowledge and preparation, you can explore the rich and diverse flavors of Thai cuisine without having to reach for a glass of water every five minutes.
