Is All Thai Food Spicy? The Facts Explained

Thai food is also known as one of the spiciest food in the world. Most foreigners are afraid to try Thai food because they think all Thai dishes will be too spicy. However, this is not true at all!

Massaman Curry, Pad Thai, Gaeng Jued, and Namtok Noodles are non-spicy food that many foreigners enjoy. Even Thai spicy food still has a non-spicy version for those who can’t handle the heat. For example, Tom Yum Goong is a famous spicy Thai soup, but you can ask for Tom Yum Good Mai Phed, which means “spicy shrimp soup less spicy version.”

In this article, you will learn more about Thai non-spicy dishes and how to order non-spicy dishes in a Thai restaurant. And Tips on how to make your Thai dishes less spicy with less changing flavor.

7 non-spicy Thai dishes to try

Massaman Curry

Massaman is a mild curry with potatoes, onion, peanuts, and coconut milk. It is usually served with chicken or beef, but you can also find vegetarian versions of this dish.

Although this dish is curry, it does not mean it is spicy because massaman curry does not use chili as the main ingredient. The main spice in this dish comes from cardamom, coriander leaves, toasted cloves, sliced lemongrass, cumin, and cinnamon. Grind the mixture into a curry paste. Mixed with coconut milk, that helps reduce spicily.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai is Thailand’s famous dish, and you will find it everywhere in Thailand. Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle with shrimp, tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, and chives. The noodles are cooked in a tamarind sauce and served with lime wedges and ground peanuts on top.

Although the tamarind sauce gives the pad thai a sour taste, it is not spicy because there is no chili in the dish. You can add chili flakes on top if you want them to be spicy.

Gaeng Jued

Gaeng Jued is a clear soup with chicken or pork, tofu, seaweed, mushrooms, and vegetables. It served with rice on the side. It’s a popular menu that every cooked-to-order Thai restaurant can make.

The soup is not spicy because it does not use chili or any other spices that would make it spicy. However, you can add chili flakes to the soup if you want it to be spicy.

Namtok Noodles

If you are in Thailand and looking for a delicious, hearty soup, you must try Namtok noodles(or Boat Noodles). Namtok soup is made with either raw cow blood or pig’s blood and served with rice noodles, vegetables, and meat.

The Namtok plain soup is not spicy, but Thai people like to eat it with their seasoned noodles, and the seasonings placed in the noodle restaurant are dried chili. Vinegar, fish sauce, or if you go to Chonburi, sriracha chili sauce is a popular seasoning for Namtok. That’s why the Namtok noodles are so spicy.

The spiciness is not a problem if you can handle it. Some people cannot take even a little spice in their food. For those who cannot take spice in their diet, I suggest not adding any seasoning when you order your Namtok soup. Just plain old soup without anything added to it except for the vegetables and meat that come with it.

Fun Fact: “Namtok” is also used for the menu “Laab” which uses meat slices instead of ground beef. Sometimes, you can get confused.

Hoi Tod

Hoi Tod is a delicious fried oyster dish that is popular in Thailand. The oysters are fried with garlic, pepper, and eggs and served with a sweet chili hot sauce on the side.

Hoi Tod is an excellent option for anyone looking for a delicious. However, Thais stir-fry using too much vegetable oil may not suit people who lose weight. The sauce is not spicy, but it does add a lot of flavor to the dish. Many Pad Thai restaurants can make Hoi Tod too.

Khao Moo Krob

Khao Moo Krob is a Thai rice dish with crunchy pork and eggs. It is usually served with cucumber slices, pickled radish, and a sweet chili sauce on the side.

Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew is rice noodles, Chinese broccoli, eggs, and your choice of meat. The noodles are stir-fried in soy sauce and served with a sweet chili sauce for dipping.

How to order non-spicy dishes in Thai 

As you can see, even I picked non-spicy Thai dishes on the list for you. Many still use chili, hot sauce, or spice in the dish or side dish. So if you don’t like heat, you can ask the chef to make any Thai dish in a non-spicy version.

Here are some Thai words you need to know when ordering non-spicy food:

• Kho Phed Noi Kwa Nee (ขอเผ็ดน้อยกว่านี้)
• Mai Phed (ไม่เผ็ด)
• Mai Phed Loei (ไม่เผ็ดเลย)
• Mai Sai Prik Loei (ไม่ใส่พริกเลย)

Kho Ped Noi Kwa Nee

If you want a milder version of the dishes, you should say Kho Phed Noi Kwa Nee, which means “I would like it to be less spicy, please.”

Mai Phed

If you don’t want your food to be spicy, you should say Mai Phed, which means “No spice, please.” Anyway, sometime Thai chefs may still add chili to your dish. You can also use the next word, which is more straightforward for Thai chefs.

Mai Phed Loei

If you don’t want your food to be spicy and don’t want chili flakes or any other type of chili in the dish, you should say Mai Phed Loei, which means “No spice and no chili, please.”

Mai Sai Prik Loei

If you don’t want any chili on your dish and don’t want chili flakes or any other type of chili in the dish, you should say Mai Sai Prik Loei, which means “No chili, please.”

Prik(พริก) = Chili peppers

How to make Thai dishes less spicy at home.

If you cook at home or order Thai food but still receive a spicy version, don’t worry. Here are some tips for you.

1. If the dish has chili peppers, remove them before eating.
2. If the dish is cooked with chili paste, curry, or sauce, add more sugar, tamarind juice, or coconut milk to make it less spicy.
3. Add more cooked rice to your plate if the dish is too spicy. The starch in rice will help to reduce the spiciness.
4. Add more boiled water to make the dish less spicy if the dish is a soup. (Just one or two spoons)
5. Eat yogurt or drink milk after eating a spicy dish. It will help to reduce the spiciness in your mouth.

Final Thoughts

Thai food is beloved by many for its spicy flavor. However, not everyone can handle the heat. If you have a low tolerance for spice, you may want to stick to the non-spicy versions of Thai dishes.

But if you’re brave enough to develop a spice tolerance, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most delicious food you’ve ever tasted. Thai cuisine uses fresh herbs and spices; these flavors come alive when the dish is prepared with a bit of heat.

So if you’re up for the challenge, don’t be afraid to ask for your food to be a little bit spicier than usual. You might just be surprised at how much you enjoy it.