Menu decisions
What to order at an Indian restaurant if you don’t like spicy food
Compare creamy curries and simple sides, ask about chilli already in the sauce, and build an Indian restaurant order without relying on a mild label.
Reviewed by SeEat editorial ·
Start here
Ask which dishes can be prepared without chilli, then choose one confirmed main with plain rice or bread. Korma and butter chicken are useful names to ask about, not promises of zero heat. A creamy sauce can still contain chilli.
Choices to compare
Korma: ask about the base
RASA lists chicken korma with cashew. Use that as an ingredient clue for this example, not a rule for every restaurant.[1] Ask whether its sauce is already spicy before choosing it.
Butter chicken: check heat separately
A rich sauce may suit you if you enjoy creamy food. Ask for a description of this kitchen’s version, whether chilli is in the prepared base, and whether they can make a genuinely no-chilli portion.
Plain rice or bread
Choose a simple accompaniment instead of adding another unfamiliar sauce. Confirm whether rice comes with the main before paying for a duplicate side; order extra bread after seeing the portion.
Say what you mean by “not spicy”
Try: “I enjoy aromatic spices, but I don’t want chilli heat. Which dish has no chilli in the base?” If black pepper also bothers you, say so separately. A numeric spice scale only helps after you understand the restaurant’s scale.
Ask before choosing a dish. If the kitchen uses a prepared sauce containing chilli, requesting mild at the end may not change that base. Switch to an option staff can confirm rather than hoping cream will remove the heat.
Build around one confirmed main
For a first meal, keep the decision small: one main you have discussed, one plain accompaniment, and any extra dish you actually want. You can taste first and add more if the restaurant allows it.
If your companion wants heat, ask for their chilli or sauce separately. Avoid sharing a hotter main when that would leave you with only the rice.
Build your order
Suggested starting plan; adjust to the restaurant’s portions and your appetite.
- Confirm a no-chilli main before ordering.
- Check what rice or bread is included; add one accompaniment if needed.
- Keep hotter dishes and condiments separate, then decide whether to add more.
Ask your server
- Is chilli already in this sauce, or added to order?
- Which dish can you make with no fresh chilli, chilli powder or hot sauce?
- Is the rice included, and is the bread plain or filled?
Before you order
Is korma always mild?
No. Treat the name as a starting point for a conversation. Recipes, prepared sauces and heat levels differ between restaurants.
Should I just choose a dish without a chilli icon?
An absent icon is not confirmation. Ask about the actual sauce and preparation, especially if avoiding heat is essential to enjoying your meal.
Sources
- RASA. Restaurant menu: ingredients and accompaniments. Accessed
Choose from the menu in front of you
SeEat reads menus and helps you compare dishes with your taste. Confirm undisclosed ingredients and portions with restaurant staff.