Are you eager to learn Thai language and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Thailand? One of the most enjoyable ways is by exploring the local cuisine, including the vibrant world of Thai street food. In this blog post, we will guide you through the art of ordering Thai food in polite and practical Thai language.
Eating rice (ข้าว) is a fundamental aspect of Thai cuisine, but it is important to note that not every meal in Thailand includes rice. With the increasing influence of international culinary traditions, Thai people have embraced diversity in their dining habits. It is common for Thai individuals and families to order à la carte dishes or opt for a meal rich with side dishes (กับข้าว) to share among families and friends. So, do not be surprised if you find Thai meals that omit rice in flavor of other dishes such as, noodles (ก๋วยเตี๋ยว), Hŏy-Tôd (หอยทอด), and Sôm-Tam (ส้มตำ) which are all part of Thai cuisine.
Essential Thai Phrases for Ordering Food
I’d like to have…… basically is ‘เอา’ /ao/ + the name of dish + quantity + classifier
Examples:
เอาข้าวผัดกะเพราไก่ไข่ดาว 1 จานค่ะ(ครับ)
/ao kâao-pàd-gà-prao-gài-kài-daao nèung jaan kâ(kráb)/
I would like 1 stir-fried chicken with basil leaf on rice topped with a fried egg.
Note: The words ค่ะ kâ (for female speakers) and ครับ kráb (for male speakers) are always used at the end of the sentence to make it polite when speaking to strangers, older people, or people who we need to pay respect to.
Sometimes, we can replace the word ‘เอา’ /ao/ with ‘ขอ’ /kŏr/ which sounds like asking politely. However, the word ‘เอา’ /ao/ is more frequently used.
Examples:
-ขอข้าวมันไก่ 1 ที่ค่ะ(ครับ)
/kŏr kâao-man-gài nèung tîi kâ (kráb)/
1 chicken rice please.
Note: the word ที่ /tîi/ refers to a place or a serve.
However, we can omit the word ‘เอา’ /ao/ and order the name of food right away and make sure to put the polite particle to make a sentence softer.
Examples:
ผัดไทยกุ้งสด 1 ห่อค่ะ(ครับ)
/pàd-tai gûng-sòd nèung hòr kâ (kráb)/
I would like 1 Pàd-Thai with Prawn, take away please.
Note: The word ห่อ /hòr/ refers to ‘wrapping’ food or ‘putting’ food in a food container, bag, or box. The order is for take-away. And if you want to say directly that you want to take away, you can say “เอากลับบ้าน” /ao glàb bâan/
Exclusive Thai Phrases for your Preferences
Despite the diverse and flavorful dishes, it is important to tell the seller or the chef directly if you have dietary restrictions or preferences.
1. Food allergy:
Examples:
เอาเส้นเล็กน้ำต้มยำหมูสับ ไม่ใส่ถั่วลิสง ไม่เผ็ด ไม่ใส่กระเทียมเจียว 1 ชามค่ะ(ครับ)
/ao sên lék náam dtôm-yam mǒo-sàb mâi sài tùaa-lí-sǒng mâi pèd mâi sài grà-tiaam-jieow nèung chaam kâ (kráb)/
(This sentence is for ordering a small-sized noodle soup with minced pork, requesting no peanuts, no spiciness, and no fried garlic garnish.)
Enjoy your tailored Thai noodle soup!
2. Food exception:
Examples:
ขอเปลี่ยนจากหมูเป็นไก่ได้มั้ยคะ(ครับ)
/kŏr bplìian jàk mǒo bpen gài dâai mái ká (kráb)/
Can I change from pork to chicken?
(This sentence is for ordering dishes with chicken instead of pork.)
3. Spiciness intolerance:
Examples:
ส้มตำไทยเผ็ดน้อยมากๆ ค่ะ ใส่พริกแค่ครึ่งเม็ดพอ
/sôm-dtam pèd nói mâak mâak kâ sài prík kâae krêung méd por/
I would like Som-Tum-Thai, very little spicy. Only half a chilly please.
(Please make sure you emphasise the level of spiciness as their spiciness and yours are not the same. It is better and clearer if you say how many chilly do you want.)
Being specific with your preferences will help you enjoy your meals more comfortably.
Paying the Bill and Showing Gratitude
Thai people are familiar with the word ‘check’ and ‘bill’ in English, but it is very common that you might hear they say ‘เช็คบิล’ /chék bin/ which literally means ‘check or bill please’. Other frequently-used phrases for asking ‘how much?’ are:
- เก็บตังด้วยค่ะ(ครับ) /gèb dtang dûuay kâ (kráb)/
- คิดเงินค่ะ(ครับ) /kíd ngoen kâ (kráb)/
- เท่าไหร่คะ(ครับ) /tâo rài ká (kráb)/
It is good to show your gratitude or politeness to say ขอบคุณค่ะ(ครับ) /kòb kun kâ (kráb)/ in response to the seller or the chef.
Cultural Insight
Here are some key cultural insights highlighted in the post:
- Politeness and Respect: Thai culture places a strong emphasis on politeness and respect in social interactions. The blog post includes polite Thai phrases such as ขอ..ได้มั้ยคะ/ครับ (May I have…..?) and ขอบคุณค่ะ/ครับ (Thankyou) that are essential in daily interactions in Thailand. Using these phrases reflects cultural norms and is greatly appreciated by locals.
- Street Food Culture: Thai street food is a vibrant and integral part of the country’s culinary landscape. The post emphasises the diverse range of street food dishes available and encourages readers to explore and enjoy these local delights. It underlines the cultural significance of street food as a communal and affordable dining option in Thailand.
- Customisation and Flexibility: Thai food ranging from restaurants to street food vendors are often accommodating and allow for customisation of orders to suit individual preferences. The post showcases this aspect by including sentences like ไม่เผ็ดค่ะ (not spicy, please). This flexibility reflects the customer-centric nature of Thai food culture.
Not only this blog gives you an insight to Thai diverse and local food, but also Thai cultural aspects related to Thai language and preferences are used in ordering food. It encourages language learners and food enthusiasts to appreciate both the language and the culture as they embark on their journey to discover Thai flavours.
