Thai Food Guide & Vocabulary

World Famous Cuisine

Thai cuisine is undoubtedly loved by many beyond the borders of Thailand. Thai restaurants can be found in almost every city worldwide, especially in the USA, Australia, and Great Britain.

However, unbeknownst to most people, the Thai food served in restaurants outside of Thailand has often been modified to suit non-Thai taste buds and many dishes in Thailand you may find to be extremely spicy.  

There is no need to be alarmed! The beauty of most Thai food is it is cooked fresh and can be adjusted to suit your taste. All it takes is telling the waitress/chef how you want the dish, and they will be more than happy to whip up the meal following your preferences!  

Communicating with the waitress/chef could be challenging outside of tourist spots.

To help you Along the Way, Here are Some Food-Related Expressions

1. Khrab men add to the end of a sentence

2. Kha women add to the end of a sentence

3. Food = aa haan - Restaurant = raan aa haan (literal meaning-food shop)

4. What is this? = nee a rai, (khrab/Kha)

5. Is it spicy? = phet mai, (khrab/Kha)

6. No, it isn't = mai phet, (khrab/Kha)

7. Yes, it is spicy = phet, (khrab/Kha)

8. It's a little bit spicy = phet nit noi, (khrab/Kha)

9. It's very spicy = phet mark, (khrab/Kha)

10. Don't add chilli = mai sai prik (khrab/Kha)

11. Breakfast = aa haan Chau

12. Lunch = aa haan klang wan

13. Dinner = aa haan yen

For a detailed breakdown of communicating in Thailand and the Thai language, take a look at our in-depth dive into the Thai language, go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/communicating-in-thailand

In Thailand, there isn't traditional food eaten only at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Many Thai people will eat whatever they feel like eating! However, some popular foods that can be found easily in the morning for sale at food stalls are:  

Sticky Rice (Khao-Niew)

This meal consists of a large serving of steamed glutinous rice with some meat placed on top and then wrapped in a banana leaf. Usually, there is an assortment of meats to choose from, including sweet pork, sour pork, salty pork, and pork on a stick, to name just a few.  

Rice Soup (Kao-Tom)

This rice-based soup usually comes with several optional extras that you can add, including egg, pork, vegetables, ginger, soy sauce, etc.

Like most other countries, lunch in Thailand is eaten at 12:00 or just before. It is often fried rice, noodles, or a specific dish served on a rice bed. The portions are relatively light compared to Western nations’ portion sizes, and many foreigners will devour two meals at lunchtime, which can be a mistake as Thai food can be very calorie-dense.

Dinner in Thailand is typically consumed by around 18:00 or just after. Although if you attend a special event, the food will be served later, around 19:30. Most special events consist of a meal eaten at a round table with several different dishes being served for everyone at the table to share. There usually is a fried dish, a steamed dish, a type of curry or soup, or a Thai-style salad, and in every instance, rice in some form is served.

There is no particular food reserved only for the evening. You can eat anything on the menu! Almost all Thai food is served with rice because rice is the staple food of Thailand.

Some food shops/stalls sell pre-cooked food in large trays, and you can point to the dish that takes your fancy, and a portion will be packaged for you to take home or for you to sit and enjoy on the spot.

Here are some Food-Related Words

1. Chicken = gai

2. Pork = moo

3. Egg = kai - Fried egg = Khai daao - Boiled egg = Khai dtohm

4. Beef = Nua

5. Duck = pet

6. Prawn/Shrimp = gung

7. Fish = pla

8. Squid = pla muk

9. Shellfish = hoi kreng

10. Crab = boo

11. Seafood = aa haan taley

12. Onion =hom

13. Tomato = makeatet

14. Chilli = prik

15. Mushroom = het

In Thailand, many dishes contain garlic, coriander, lemongrass, chilli, and ginger. These ingredients are commonly found in most Thai dishes and are combined to create delicious concoctions.

Here are some Food-Related Dishes to Help you to Order in the Thai Language

Sour and Spicy Thai Soup (Tom Yam)

This is a hot and spicy soup that can have chicken, mushrooms, or shrimp added to it. The shrimp version is considered a national dish called Tom Yam Kung.

(Kao Pad)

This is fried rice and is very popular among locals and visitors. You can add meat or fish and vegetables to it if you are a vegetarian. This dish is typically served with a bowl of broth/soup, cucumber, spring onions, and a wedge of lime.

There are Many Types of Curry in Thailand

1. (Gaeng Pet Kiau) = Thai Green Curry-

   A mild and creamy dish, usually with chicken.

2. (Gaeng Pet Deng) = Thai Red Curry-

   A spicy and creamy dish, often with pork.

3. (Gaeng Massaman) = Thai Massaman Curry-

   A spicy and generally contains beef, potatoes, onions, and nuts.

(Kwetiau) = Noodles

Various types of noodles are thick, thin, rice-based, and soy-based. Noodle stalls have several ingredients that you can add to personalize the dish, including vegetables, meat, and meatballs. It can also be served with or without soup/broth. This dish is usually eaten with chopsticks and a small soup spoon.

Regarding desserts, several in Thailand are delicious, and you should try as many as you can; however, Thai people typically eat fruit as a dessert. Thailand has a fantastic variety of fruit, usually very affordable and freshly picked. Some fruit stalls peel and slice the fruit for you to eat immediately. Also, coconuts can be bought fresh with the top chopped off and a straw inserted so you can drink the juice.

Here are Some Fruit-Related Words

1. Pineapple = sap bpa roht

2. Mangosteen = munkut

3. Papaya = malagor

4. Mango = mamuang

5. Banana = gluai

6. Coconut = maprao

7. Oranges = som

Drinking Alcohol in Thailand

Finally, if you find yourself dining with Thai people and enjoying an alcoholic beverage with the meal, here are some valid words and phrases for you to use.

1. Cheers = chohn gaaeo

2. Glass = gaaeo

3. Bottle = khuaat

Relevant

1. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/teacher-training-program-thailand to read about Meaningful Work and Travel Teaching Positions starting in May 2023 with teacher training in April 2023.

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