Tourists who visit Thailand but fail to see the country’s renowned temples, colorful tuk-tuks, and grand elephants are frequently viewed as having never visited Thailand. But seriously, Thailand is a dream come true if you enjoy delicacies.
All sorts of exotic Thai food can be found here, from five-star restaurants to food trucks at the local night market! Are you now staying in Thailand but eating at McDonald’s every day for lunch because you cannot handle spicy food? If so, keep reading this article, as we will help you practice saying no spicy in Thai to the waiter at Thai restaurants.
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Many Ways To Say “No Spicy” In Thai
You’ve found a table at the Thai restaurant and are ready to place your order, but you’d like to avoid anything too spicy. There is more than one method of saying the phrase no spicy in Thai. For example, you can tone down the chilies in a recipe.
So, mention these phrases when ordering Thai food, so you don’t put your mouth on fire because of the spiciness.
Why Do Thai People Eat Spicy Food?
Spicy ingredients, like chilies, spices, and garlic, are common in Thailand because of the country’s tropical climate. So, Thai cuisine is typically spicy because it uses some of the world’s hottest chilies and seasonings.
In addition, Thai people say they will feel more energized and have better blood flow after eating these foods. On the other hand, not everyone, including some Thais, likes spicy food. So there is always an option to ask for less or no spicy.
For those who love spicy, Thai restaurants often provide a separate cup of chili to add more spiciness.
Is Most Thai Food Spicy?
Thai food offers a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes. Everything from rice to curry, noodles to Thai BBQ, is available. Not every Thai food is indeed spicy; some, like Thai rice noodles, are prepared without chili and allow you to add it to flavor.
Now, then, let’s take a look at both spicy and non-spicy Thai dishes together!
Spicy Thai Dishes
Since hot taste is the key to the deliciousness of many Thai dishes, let’s explore some of the most popular Thai dishes below.
Tom Yum Goong – ต้มยำกุ้ง (Dtôm Yam Gûng)
The most well-known Thai food to have been borrowed for the title of a Thai action film. This authentic broth is both hot and sour, created by the inclusion of numerous herbs and, of course, fresh and dried chili.
Although “goong” refers to shrimp, other types of meat, including chicken, pork, and seafood, are available at the restaurant upon request.
Papaya Salad – ส้มตำ (Sôm Dtam)
Papaya salad is the most delightful dish and much healthier than you might think. It offers many types, including ตำไทย (dtam tai), ตำซั่ว (dtam sûa), ตำปลาร้า (dtam bplaa ráa), and more.
One bite can be extremely painful to your mouth and stomach, but you can try saying “ใส่พริกเม็ดเดียว (sài prík mét diao)” or asking for a non-spicy papaya salad.
Stir-Fried Thai Basil – ผัดกะเพรา (Pàt Gà Prao)
What do you constantly come up with for lunch when you can’t think of anything?
ผัดกะเพรา (pàt gà prao) is a popular Thai food choice during lunchtime. This is because the preparation and cooking time is minimal. The strong taste of Thai food comes from the combination of chilies, fish sauce, an abundance of garlic, and a handful of Thai basil leaves. In addition, most restaurants offer it with a fried egg and a garnish of cucumber slices.
You can make similar requests when placing an order as you would when ordering papaya salad. So, you must prepare to say: “ไม่ใส่พริก (mai sai prik)” and “ไม่เผ็ด (mai ped),” if you can’t handle the spiciness.
Non-Spicy Thai Dishes
Avoiding painful tongue and mouth burns is easy with Thai fried rice, but that’s not your only option. Here, you’ll find some of the best Thai cuisines you’ve ever tasted without being anxious about the spiciness.
Pad Thai – ผัดไท (Pàt Tai)
Does the food name “ผัดไท (pàt tai)” sound familiar? It’s one of Thailand’s most well-known dishes. Noodles stir-fried in a sweet-and-sour tamarind marinade. This is authentic and filled with a juicy taste!
Thai Rice Noodles – ก๋วยเตี๋ยว (Gǔai Dtǐao)
A bowl of rice noodles in a hearty soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. The typical ingredients are meatballs, morning glory, meat pieces, and bean sprouts. Don’t forget to ask for “clear soup,” called “น้ำใส (náam sǎi)” in Thai, a non-spicy broth-based soup.
Stir-fried Chinese Broccoli – บรอกโคลีจีนผัดกุ้ง (Bɔɔn Òk Koo Lîi Jiin Pàt Gûng)
And finally, this is the best option if you desire some non-spicy stir-fried vegetables to go with steamed rice. It has a satisfying chewiness from the broccoli, freshness from the prawns, and savory soy sauce!
How Do You Say “No Spicy” In Thai?
To ask a vendor or waiter to make your food not spicy, you can tell them mâi pèt (ไม่เผ็ด) or mâi sài prík (ไม่ใส่พริก) .
Other Related Vocabulary
The below table contains all the vocab we’ve discussed previously. From how to specify spice levels to the different spicy and non-spicy dishes, we’ve got it all compiled for you below:
For more related Thai phrases and vocabulary, don’t hesitate to check out the Ling app!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How To Ask For Not Spicy In Thai?
To ask for a dish to be not spicy in Thai, you can say mâi pèt (ไม่เผ็ด) or mâi sài prík (ไม่ใส่พริก). The former literally means “not spicy”, while the latter means “don’t add chili”.
2. How Do You Say “A Little Spicy” In Thai?
If you’d like a dish to be only a little spicy, you can use the Thai phrase sài prík mét diao (ใส่พริกเม็ดเดียว) or pèt nít nɔ̀ɔi (เผ็ดนิดหน่อย). These phrases mean “add only one chili” and “a little spicy”, respectively.
3. Which Thai Food Is Not Spicy?
There are numerous Thai dishes that are not spicy. Dishes such as the famous Pad Thai (ผัดไท, pàt tai) or Thai rice noodles (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว, gǔai dtǐao) are examples of delicious dishes that aren’t spicy.
Ready To Tell The Chef “No Spicy” In Thai?
Saying no spicy in Thai to the chef at Thai restaurants is an excellent way to get by until you’re ready to master more complex phrases in the Thai language. Experiment with different Thai foods of different spice levels and find your favorite.
Now that you know some phrases on how to ask for less spicy food, you can avoid getting a burned mouth and a hurt stomach from drinking too much water to reduce the spiciness. If you want to make the most of your trip to Thailand, remember to speak Thai using the phrases we shared!
