Menu decisions
What to order at a Thai restaurant if you don’t like spicy food
Compare stir-fried noodles and rice, ask for no chilli in the sauce and garnish, and avoid assuming creamy Thai curries have no heat.
Reviewed by SeEat editorial ·
Start here
Ask for a dish the kitchen can prepare with no chilli, including the sauce and garnish. Fried rice or a stir-fried noodle dish may be useful options to discuss. Do not assume a coconut curry is mild just because it looks creamy.
Choices to compare
Fried rice: confirm additions
Ask which fried rice can be made without fresh chilli or a hot sauce. Choose a protein you enjoy and check the seasoning. Request any chilli condiment separately so you can decide whether to use it.
Noodles: ask about the sauce
Thai Express describes its pad Thai with eggs, tofu and a sweet-sour sauce.[1] That is a specific restaurant example; your menu’s recipe may differ. Check the sauce’s heat before using pad Thai as your default choice.
A main staff can confirm
If the kitchen recommends a dish, ask whether its chilli is already in a prepared paste. deSIAM explains that Thai flavour can come from aromatics without necessarily using chilli.[2] Request a confirmed no-chilli preparation rather than only a low number on a heat scale.
Make the request clear before choosing
Try: “I would like no chilli in the food, sauce or garnish. Which dish can you make that way?” If pepper is also a concern, say so. Ask what the restaurant’s mild setting actually means.
If the sauce is already made with chilli, choose another dish. A garnish change cannot undo a spicy base. Let a companion add their own chilli at the table instead of choosing one hot shared dish for everyone.
A first order that keeps choices small
Our editorial plan is one confirmed no-chilli rice or noodle main and one side you actually want. Ask about portion size and included accompaniments first. You do not need a curry to make the meal complete.
If you prefer less sweetness or less richness as well as less heat, say so separately. “Not spicy” does not communicate those preferences. Compare sauce, texture and cooking method to choose a dish you will enjoy.
Build your order
Suggested starting plan; adjust to the restaurant’s portions and your appetite.
- Explain that you want no chilli, not simply “mild.”
- Choose a dish whose base can meet that request.
- Keep chilli condiments separate and check the garnish before serving.
Ask your server
- Is there chilli in the prepared sauce or paste?
- Can this be made with no chilli, including garnish?
- Is the chilli condiment served separately?
Before you order
Is pad Thai always non-spicy?
No. Ask about this restaurant’s sauce and finishing ingredients. A familiar name does not guarantee a particular heat level.
Does coconut milk mean a curry is mild?
No. Check the paste and the restaurant’s preparation. Creaminess and chilli heat are separate features.
Sources
- Thai Express. Pad Thai: restaurant ingredient description. Accessed
- deSIAM. Is all Thai food spicy?. 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.