Thai food for picky eaters
October 19, 2010 12:10 PM
What's the deal with Thai food?
My roommate and I are not the most adventurous eaters. He's going to a local Thai restaurant soon and we want to scope out the scene in advance.
He enjoys Americanized Chinese like sesame, general tso's and teriyaki chicken. Usually without the vegetables and lots of rice and soy sauce.
We're wondering what's on the menu that's super spicy and doesn't have many vegetables? Is it all fried rice or can you get steamed rice? Any delicious recommendations outside of those parameters are welcome with an explanation.
The menu also has a bunch of curry dishes that are only described by what color they are. What is the difference between a red curry and a yellow curry?
My roommate and I are not the most adventurous eaters. He's going to a local Thai restaurant soon and we want to scope out the scene in advance.
He enjoys Americanized Chinese like sesame, general tso's and teriyaki chicken. Usually without the vegetables and lots of rice and soy sauce.
We're wondering what's on the menu that's super spicy and doesn't have many vegetables? Is it all fried rice or can you get steamed rice? Any delicious recommendations outside of those parameters are welcome with an explanation.
The menu also has a bunch of curry dishes that are only described by what color they are. What is the difference between a red curry and a yellow curry?
"Pad Thai" is the picky eater's go-to dish. You might also enjoy some kind of meat stir-fry in a spicy black bean sauce.
At most Thai places I've been to, the rice is ordered seperately from the dish itself, so there may be a section on the menu detailing the kinds of rice available. A heap of steamed white rice is normally $2 or so.
All the curries are good - the restaurant will probably mix in coconut juice or coconut cream to make it rich and sweet.
posted by cranberrymonger at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2010
At most Thai places I've been to, the rice is ordered seperately from the dish itself, so there may be a section on the menu detailing the kinds of rice available. A heap of steamed white rice is normally $2 or so.
All the curries are good - the restaurant will probably mix in coconut juice or coconut cream to make it rich and sweet.
posted by cranberrymonger at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2010
Thai food is yum.
I love Thai curry. I couldn't tell you the difference, except I love green, red, and yellow curries. They are all super delicious.
Drunken noodles are also absolutely fantastic.
As is Tom Yum soup.
And it can all be as spicy or not spicy as you want.
And I am envious, because I am at my desk, hungry, and unable to get Thai food at the moment. Curse you, Cirrostratus, and your food adventuring ways! :)
posted by zizzle at 12:20 PM on October 19, 2010
I love Thai curry. I couldn't tell you the difference, except I love green, red, and yellow curries. They are all super delicious.
Drunken noodles are also absolutely fantastic.
As is Tom Yum soup.
And it can all be as spicy or not spicy as you want.
And I am envious, because I am at my desk, hungry, and unable to get Thai food at the moment. Curse you, Cirrostratus, and your food adventuring ways! :)
posted by zizzle at 12:20 PM on October 19, 2010
In a Thai restaurant you can ask for anything to be really spicy. If you want it extremely hot I usually say please make it "thai spicy."
Steamed rice is more common with a lot of the dishes than fried rice.
Green curry usually uses Green Chilis and is the hottest.
Red curry uses Red Chilis.
Yellow curry usually uses yellow peppers and is more of a sweet and spicy.
Pad thai + a Tom Yum soup is good for your first time. Then go back next time and try a curry. Pad See Ew is another good started dish.
posted by zephyr_words at 12:21 PM on October 19, 2010
Steamed rice is more common with a lot of the dishes than fried rice.
Green curry usually uses Green Chilis and is the hottest.
Red curry uses Red Chilis.
Yellow curry usually uses yellow peppers and is more of a sweet and spicy.
Pad thai + a Tom Yum soup is good for your first time. Then go back next time and try a curry. Pad See Ew is another good started dish.
posted by zephyr_words at 12:21 PM on October 19, 2010
Steamed rice is normal. Someone who wants a hot dish without many vegetables might enjoy beef or chicken with basil, or rat na (also known by its Laotian variant lad na), which consists of wide noodles, gravy, and meat. It's not terribly spicy, though. One Thai restaurant I used to visit had a dish called "original hot #1," which was a green curry with meat and bamboo shoots. It was out of this world hot.
The Wikipedia page on Thai cuisine answers a lot of your questions.
posted by brianogilvie at 12:21 PM on October 19, 2010
The Wikipedia page on Thai cuisine answers a lot of your questions.
posted by brianogilvie at 12:21 PM on October 19, 2010
Wikipedia has a whole category for Thai dishes, including the three main types of Thai curry (Yellow, Red, and Green)
posted by atrazine at 12:24 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by atrazine at 12:24 PM on October 19, 2010
pad thai is mostly noodles, stir fried with eggs, peanuts, fish sauce, and sugar.
Curry color is mostly about what kind of peppers are used in the paste. They all have big lemongrass, ginger, and galangal flavors to them.
Note that Thai food is full of very sharp, distinct flavors - fish sauce (salt), palm sugar, sourness (lime). Something like tom yum soup or larb might be unpleasantly sour if you like milder food.
You might try:
- satays (grilled meats on skewers with sweet peanut sauce)
- spring rolls and other fried random things
- curries - I think green tends to be smoothest/sweetest
- pad thai
- sesame chicken
- yummy Thai iced coffee and tea
posted by peachfuzz at 12:30 PM on October 19, 2010
Curry color is mostly about what kind of peppers are used in the paste. They all have big lemongrass, ginger, and galangal flavors to them.
Note that Thai food is full of very sharp, distinct flavors - fish sauce (salt), palm sugar, sourness (lime). Something like tom yum soup or larb might be unpleasantly sour if you like milder food.
You might try:
- satays (grilled meats on skewers with sweet peanut sauce)
- spring rolls and other fried random things
- curries - I think green tends to be smoothest/sweetest
- pad thai
- sesame chicken
- yummy Thai iced coffee and tea
posted by peachfuzz at 12:30 PM on October 19, 2010
Most Thai stir fry and curry dishes will come with steamed rice, or you can request it. It might be called "Jasmine rice". So this includes any of the fried chicken dishes.
Noodle dishes don't come with rice (they come with noodles), but you can usually order steamed rice on the side.
Could you not just ask the waiter these questions while you were there?
posted by muddgirl at 12:30 PM on October 19, 2010
Noodle dishes don't come with rice (they come with noodles), but you can usually order steamed rice on the side.
Could you not just ask the waiter these questions while you were there?
posted by muddgirl at 12:30 PM on October 19, 2010
Fairbanks, Alaksa.... population ~33,000. 13 Thai food restaurants. 13! I think we have more Thai food restaurants than fast food restaurants. The menu should have good descriptions of the ingredients in each dish. However, if you really want it hot, don't say "hot" when they ask "how spicy?" say "I want it *Thai* hot" otherwise you may get an Americanized version of hot, which, to me, is for sissies.
We even have a drive-thru Thai food place...
posted by madred at 12:34 PM on October 19, 2010
We even have a drive-thru Thai food place...
posted by madred at 12:34 PM on October 19, 2010
In general Thai food is spicier than Americanized "Chinese" food available widely here in the states. (Not you, NYC, SF, LA, DC, etc. We know you have wonderful Chinese food. But most of ours comes from places in strip malls, ok? And is made with what I'm sure is an Asian restaurant version of Sysco supplies.)
So if what you're used to is General Tso's, DO NOT walk into this Thai restaurant and be all "Give me the hottest you got, man, I can take it." Because you'll be mightily sorry, unless you really are otherwise adapted to spicy food.
Chances are even the place you're going will mention almost every major ingredient in a dish. e.g., A mussamun curry dish might have mostly potatoes (along with meat), while another one will have mushrooms and pineapple, while still another will have not much in the way of veggies at all except the basil that's trying to distract you from how delightfully mother-f-ing hot it is. In my experience the ones that have the least veggies are the different curries: red, green, yellow, and the dishes that are based around rice noodles, such as pad thai and drunken noodles.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:34 PM on October 19, 2010
So if what you're used to is General Tso's, DO NOT walk into this Thai restaurant and be all "Give me the hottest you got, man, I can take it." Because you'll be mightily sorry, unless you really are otherwise adapted to spicy food.
Chances are even the place you're going will mention almost every major ingredient in a dish. e.g., A mussamun curry dish might have mostly potatoes (along with meat), while another one will have mushrooms and pineapple, while still another will have not much in the way of veggies at all except the basil that's trying to distract you from how delightfully mother-f-ing hot it is. In my experience the ones that have the least veggies are the different curries: red, green, yellow, and the dishes that are based around rice noodles, such as pad thai and drunken noodles.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:34 PM on October 19, 2010
"Thai hot" can be REALLY hot, even for someone who eats spicy food everyday.
posted by goethean at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by goethean at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2010
Some Thai restaurants will have pineapple fried rice, which is friend rice with cashews and bits of pineapple. Not spicy at all. There's also sometimes Thai spicy fried rice with Thai basil, or some other types of fried rice.
Still, I think you should try the noodle dishes or other things as recommended above.
posted by cabingirl at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2010
Still, I think you should try the noodle dishes or other things as recommended above.
posted by cabingirl at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2010
I don't like almost any of the Thai food I've tried in my life. I don't like pad thai. The one dish I have found that I do like is pad see eiw. It's not spicy at all, but neither is pad thai. If you're looking for a safe, not-pad-thai option, I suggest pad see eiw.
posted by phunniemee at 12:38 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by phunniemee at 12:38 PM on October 19, 2010
Red curry has little in the way of vegetables. Just protein in a spicy coconut milk sauce, flavored with kaffir lime and basil. You might have red bell pepper and bamboo shoots in there. If you enjoy spicy, like tears-down-your-face spicy, ask for the restaurant's spiciest red curry.
Green and yellow curry are different colors (naturally) and add more vegetables, usually squash, zucchini, bamboo shoots and bell pepper. And basil. These are usually not as hot, but you can ask for the heat and they'll give it to you.
Other than pad Thai, I think a lot of the dishes you'll find will be Americanized versions of other recipes. I'd recommend the red curry to start with, if you want fireworks.
You order rice separately, either steamed white rice or fried. I go with steamed white rice so that I get all the flavor from the curry, but that's me. And the white rice helps cool my mouth down after the spicy assault. You could order both and share.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:43 PM on October 19, 2010
Green and yellow curry are different colors (naturally) and add more vegetables, usually squash, zucchini, bamboo shoots and bell pepper. And basil. These are usually not as hot, but you can ask for the heat and they'll give it to you.
Other than pad Thai, I think a lot of the dishes you'll find will be Americanized versions of other recipes. I'd recommend the red curry to start with, if you want fireworks.
You order rice separately, either steamed white rice or fried. I go with steamed white rice so that I get all the flavor from the curry, but that's me. And the white rice helps cool my mouth down after the spicy assault. You could order both and share.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:43 PM on October 19, 2010
I came in to recommend pad see eiw. Mostly since you wanted something plainer and mentioned liking lots of soy sauce. It's like wide rice noodles with a super soy saucey sauce on it. It rarely has any vegetables. I like it with beef.
That said, Thai food is awesome and I hope this visit gets you to start branching out and trying some of the other stuff.
posted by advicepig at 12:45 PM on October 19, 2010
That said, Thai food is awesome and I hope this visit gets you to start branching out and trying some of the other stuff.
posted by advicepig at 12:45 PM on October 19, 2010
My fiance wishes to add this:
If you ask for spicy, the waiter might ask you for the level of spicy you want, on a scale of 1 to 100. The correct response is not "Oh, I like spicy food. Give me a 99."
posted by specialagentwebb at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2010
If you ask for spicy, the waiter might ask you for the level of spicy you want, on a scale of 1 to 100. The correct response is not "Oh, I like spicy food. Give me a 99."
posted by specialagentwebb at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2010
One note of caution about Thai cuisine. Like Indian & Vietnamese cuisine, Thai cuisine often uses coriander leaf, which has a flavor that is alien to the American taste, and which some people dislike severely. Corainder seed is part of the curry flavor, but curry - although too spicy for some people - is not nearly as much of a challenge as coriander leaf.
posted by grizzled at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by grizzled at 12:46 PM on October 19, 2010
Nobody's mentioned sticky rice. You say you're not the most adventurous eaters so you might hate it, but Thai sticky rice is second only to Laotian sticky rice in awesomeness.
posted by xueexueg at 12:48 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by xueexueg at 12:48 PM on October 19, 2010
Laotian sticky rice in awesomeness.
Not to mention Laotion pepper sauce > Thai pepper sauce. So good.
posted by yeloson at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2010
Not to mention Laotion pepper sauce > Thai pepper sauce. So good.
posted by yeloson at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2010
Just realized that I botched this question. I meant NOT spicy but said super spicy. Oh dear. Thanks for the advice so far.
posted by cirrostratus at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by cirrostratus at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2010
I eat spicy food on occasion. Like, seriously spicy.
I once went to my favorite Thai place and ordered my favorite spicy thai soup. I said to my friend, the owner's son, "I want it the way you have it."
Spiciest. Dish. Ever. Seriously. The normally fairly clear and brown colored broth was RED. Easily in the top 3 spiciest things I've ever eaten... and the other two were deliberate attempts at face-melting heat levels.
Now I don't go higher than 7 or 8 out of 10 on their scale.
But on that note, check out their soups. Thai places often have incredible soups, and some won't be too veggie heavy.
Most curries have lots of veggies, but they might have a yellow or a massaman curry that doesn't.
posted by utsutsu at 12:53 PM on October 19, 2010
I once went to my favorite Thai place and ordered my favorite spicy thai soup. I said to my friend, the owner's son, "I want it the way you have it."
Spiciest. Dish. Ever. Seriously. The normally fairly clear and brown colored broth was RED. Easily in the top 3 spiciest things I've ever eaten... and the other two were deliberate attempts at face-melting heat levels.
Now I don't go higher than 7 or 8 out of 10 on their scale.
But on that note, check out their soups. Thai places often have incredible soups, and some won't be too veggie heavy.
Most curries have lots of veggies, but they might have a yellow or a massaman curry that doesn't.
posted by utsutsu at 12:53 PM on October 19, 2010
just saw yer update. If you want NOT spicy, just say so. Just about everything on a thai menu can be made in the whole range from very mild to very spicy.
posted by utsutsu at 12:54 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by utsutsu at 12:54 PM on October 19, 2010
PAD KRA POW, or however they want to spell it, is what you want. With chicken. It might be called Spicy Basil Chicken.
It has everything you could want out of Thai food - neat Thai-specific ingredients (Thai basil, fish sauce), spiciness, a nice sweet/spicy soy sauce-ish sauce, and damn fantastic flavor. I love pad thai, but I think it's kind of the boring way out in this situation. Pad kra pow forever!
I've never heard of fried rice in a Thai restaurant! You'll usually get it white, and it'll be great for when you hit something too spicy.
As an appetizer, get the FRIED TOFU TRIANGLES. "Tofu triangles?!" you'll cry out. "I don't want to eat tofu triangles!" After you've clamed down, I'll explain to you that you aren't getting it because you love tofu, you're getting it because you love sauce. It comes with a super sweet chili (and possibly garlic) sauce that you will henceforth die for. It might also come with any manner of spring or summer rolls, but those can be very hit or miss.
posted by soma lkzx at 12:56 PM on October 19, 2010
It has everything you could want out of Thai food - neat Thai-specific ingredients (Thai basil, fish sauce), spiciness, a nice sweet/spicy soy sauce-ish sauce, and damn fantastic flavor. I love pad thai, but I think it's kind of the boring way out in this situation. Pad kra pow forever!
I've never heard of fried rice in a Thai restaurant! You'll usually get it white, and it'll be great for when you hit something too spicy.
As an appetizer, get the FRIED TOFU TRIANGLES. "Tofu triangles?!" you'll cry out. "I don't want to eat tofu triangles!" After you've clamed down, I'll explain to you that you aren't getting it because you love tofu, you're getting it because you love sauce. It comes with a super sweet chili (and possibly garlic) sauce that you will henceforth die for. It might also come with any manner of spring or summer rolls, but those can be very hit or miss.
posted by soma lkzx at 12:56 PM on October 19, 2010
I would like to second Pad See Eiw - although it is sometimes spelled slightly different depending on the restaurant. Noodles, soy sauce, chicken and broccoli. That's it.
For anyone who says Pad Thai is good for picky eaters: I hate bean sprouts and always order it without them. Be warned.
Oh, and yellow curry is really tasty and usually pretty plain - just meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. And it comes with steamed rice.
posted by tacodave at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2010
For anyone who says Pad Thai is good for picky eaters: I hate bean sprouts and always order it without them. Be warned.
Oh, and yellow curry is really tasty and usually pretty plain - just meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. And it comes with steamed rice.
posted by tacodave at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2010
Just realized that I botched this question. I meant NOT spicy but said super spicy. Oh dear. Thanks for the advice so far.
Ah, then you are like me! Nothing on a Thai menu should be natively spicy, save for maybe the curries - if they ask you for a spice level, ask for "the lowest spice level possible." Usually that's a 0 or a 1.
posted by muddgirl at 12:59 PM on October 19, 2010
Ah, then you are like me! Nothing on a Thai menu should be natively spicy, save for maybe the curries - if they ask you for a spice level, ask for "the lowest spice level possible." Usually that's a 0 or a 1.
posted by muddgirl at 12:59 PM on October 19, 2010
If you like potatoes and peanuts, definitely give massaman curry a try sometime. It's my personal favorite go-to dish at Thai places.
posted by MsMolly at 1:01 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by MsMolly at 1:01 PM on October 19, 2010
Sorry for the multi-post, but just thought of another crowd pleasing dish.
Mee Krob.
Can be extremely sweet, almost dessert like. Can likely be ordered with a meat or meatless. Often has tofu or sprouts, but they are easy to avoid if necessary.
My Grandpa liked this one... and he didn't like anything else at the Thai place.
posted by utsutsu at 1:03 PM on October 19, 2010
Mee Krob.
Can be extremely sweet, almost dessert like. Can likely be ordered with a meat or meatless. Often has tofu or sprouts, but they are easy to avoid if necessary.
My Grandpa liked this one... and he didn't like anything else at the Thai place.
posted by utsutsu at 1:03 PM on October 19, 2010
Besides the "colored" curries, take a look at Massaman or Panang Curry. The common American Thai restaurant menu will list the ingredients that come in these and other curries. They are often in large so it isn't hard to eat around things that you might not want to eat.
posted by mmascolino at 1:06 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by mmascolino at 1:06 PM on October 19, 2010
I'm guessing it could be different where you are, but here in Australia most Thai restaurant menus tell you how hot each dish is. If they don't, your waiter can.
Also, there's a hefty Chinese (and other East Asian regional) influence in Thai cuisine, so it's likely there'll be stuff you'll recognize. Satay, shrimp toasts, grilled or crispy skin chicken, beef/broccoli in oyster sauce, omelets, etc.
For something that can be made as hot as you like (ie no pre-prepped paste) try tom kha gai. They just leave out the chillies if you want it super mild.
posted by Ahab at 1:12 PM on October 19, 2010
Also, there's a hefty Chinese (and other East Asian regional) influence in Thai cuisine, so it's likely there'll be stuff you'll recognize. Satay, shrimp toasts, grilled or crispy skin chicken, beef/broccoli in oyster sauce, omelets, etc.
For something that can be made as hot as you like (ie no pre-prepped paste) try tom kha gai. They just leave out the chillies if you want it super mild.
posted by Ahab at 1:12 PM on October 19, 2010
If either of you are not fans of cilantro, please note that coriander leaf *is* cilantro, which is used extensively in Thai food.
posted by crankylex at 1:13 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by crankylex at 1:13 PM on October 19, 2010
Here's the menu of what many consider the best Thai restaurant in the US, Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas. Not every place will have all these dishes, obviously (and very few will have the Northern dishes), but the menu descriptions are excellent. A few non-spicy suggestions:
Pad Thai
Rad Na or its Laotian cousin Lard Na
Mee Krob
Yellow Curry will be the mildest of the curries. Best with chicken IMO.
And get mango sticky rice for dessert!
posted by bgrebs at 1:19 PM on October 19, 2010
Pad Thai
Rad Na or its Laotian cousin Lard Na
Mee Krob
Yellow Curry will be the mildest of the curries. Best with chicken IMO.
And get mango sticky rice for dessert!
posted by bgrebs at 1:19 PM on October 19, 2010
Cilantro or coriander is also used extensively in southwestern, Mexican and other regional US cuisines so I have no idea why people think its going to be offensive? One of the more familiar items on the menu for a young US'ian I'd think.
Another thing worth trying is the soup. A meal to itself but typically wonderful.
posted by fshgrl at 1:26 PM on October 19, 2010
Another thing worth trying is the soup. A meal to itself but typically wonderful.
posted by fshgrl at 1:26 PM on October 19, 2010
If you see a Thai beef salad, be warned, it will fry your tongue off with heat. Just sayin.
Chicken coconut soup is awesome. Pad thai is awesome. As for sticky rice, in some restaurants you have to order it a day in advance (it has to be soaked) as it is more a Northern Thai dish. Again, depends on the restaurant, so call and ask.
Talk to your server. They will make sure you have something incredible. And they understand that American palates have to be careful with the heat, so just let them know-lots of places have a "heat scale" you can order by.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:27 PM on October 19, 2010
Chicken coconut soup is awesome. Pad thai is awesome. As for sticky rice, in some restaurants you have to order it a day in advance (it has to be soaked) as it is more a Northern Thai dish. Again, depends on the restaurant, so call and ask.
Talk to your server. They will make sure you have something incredible. And they understand that American palates have to be careful with the heat, so just let them know-lots of places have a "heat scale" you can order by.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:27 PM on October 19, 2010
The phrase you are looking for is "mai ow pet." (Not want hot.) Say this with an apologetic smile, which will help endear you to the Thai staff.
While no Thai dishes are bland, many aren't actually created hot, but have the chilis brought out as a condiment, so you can season it the way you like.
posted by cyndigo at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2010
While no Thai dishes are bland, many aren't actually created hot, but have the chilis brought out as a condiment, so you can season it the way you like.
posted by cyndigo at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2010
Depending on where you are, this restaurant will almost certainly have Americanized options for you. You might have to pick around some vegetables though. There will probably be some chile pepper symbol next to dishes that are spicy, and they'll cook them to how spicy you like it. A lot of places do a scale, 1, 2, 3.
If you want 0 spicy, don't order a dish with their "spicy" symbol next to it. Believe me, you're not the first picky eater to go to a Thai restaurant— almost every other dish won't be spicy.
Satay is going to be pretty safe for you. It'll be grilled chicken skewers and toast. There will be a peanut sauce that'll probably be mild, and a spicy chile sauce which you can skip.
Thai curry is a soupy sauce and meat (or tofu) cooked with probably carrots and bell peppers. Red green and yellow are different spice combinations and if they're cooking to order, aren't inherently spicy-hot. I love red curry personally. If they can't tell you if the curry won't be spicy, don't order it.
Of course if there were only one Thai dish you'll ever eat, it should probably be Pad Thai. Pad Thai has been called "Thailand's ambassador to the world". It's got bean sprouts and cilantro, and I'm not sure if either of those are deal breakers for you. I'm inclined to say suck it up and order it anyways or you'll be missing out. You didn't go to a Thai restaurant to order chicken fingers and french fries right? A combination of tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, pickled radish, lime juice balance out savory, salty, sweet. Chewy and soft rice noodles are balanced out with crunchy peanuts and raw bean sprouts. It's a pretty good example of how Thais think about their food: a balance of intense flavors.
Pro tip: Most Thai (excepting Chinese immigrants) don't use chopsticks. The Thai way to eat is to push food onto your spoon with your fork, and put the spoon in your mouth. It isn't considered correct to put the fork in your mouth. Which, if you consider forks are sharp pointy things, it makes sense to not put them in your mouth. It also makes sense considering how important sauces are in Thai dishes. If you're just picking out the meat with a fork, you're missing half the meal.
posted by fontophilic at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2010
If you want 0 spicy, don't order a dish with their "spicy" symbol next to it. Believe me, you're not the first picky eater to go to a Thai restaurant— almost every other dish won't be spicy.
Satay is going to be pretty safe for you. It'll be grilled chicken skewers and toast. There will be a peanut sauce that'll probably be mild, and a spicy chile sauce which you can skip.
Thai curry is a soupy sauce and meat (or tofu) cooked with probably carrots and bell peppers. Red green and yellow are different spice combinations and if they're cooking to order, aren't inherently spicy-hot. I love red curry personally. If they can't tell you if the curry won't be spicy, don't order it.
Of course if there were only one Thai dish you'll ever eat, it should probably be Pad Thai. Pad Thai has been called "Thailand's ambassador to the world". It's got bean sprouts and cilantro, and I'm not sure if either of those are deal breakers for you. I'm inclined to say suck it up and order it anyways or you'll be missing out. You didn't go to a Thai restaurant to order chicken fingers and french fries right? A combination of tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, pickled radish, lime juice balance out savory, salty, sweet. Chewy and soft rice noodles are balanced out with crunchy peanuts and raw bean sprouts. It's a pretty good example of how Thais think about their food: a balance of intense flavors.
Pro tip: Most Thai (excepting Chinese immigrants) don't use chopsticks. The Thai way to eat is to push food onto your spoon with your fork, and put the spoon in your mouth. It isn't considered correct to put the fork in your mouth. Which, if you consider forks are sharp pointy things, it makes sense to not put them in your mouth. It also makes sense considering how important sauces are in Thai dishes. If you're just picking out the meat with a fork, you're missing half the meal.
posted by fontophilic at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2010
Basil crispy duck is my favorite. Thai Square in Arlington, VA is the best place I've personally had it. It can be very hot if you don't ask for mild.
posted by callmejay at 2:36 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by callmejay at 2:36 PM on October 19, 2010
Pad See Ew is my personal favorite (and I'm a picky, non-adventurous eater).
Noodles, egg, chicken/beef/shrimp/tofu, and chinese broccoli. All stir fried together in a yummy sauce. It isn't spicy but it is delicious.
Personally, I don't like curry, it isn't too spicy I just don't like that combination of flavors. ymmv of course.
posted by magnetsphere at 3:32 PM on October 19, 2010
Noodles, egg, chicken/beef/shrimp/tofu, and chinese broccoli. All stir fried together in a yummy sauce. It isn't spicy but it is delicious.
Personally, I don't like curry, it isn't too spicy I just don't like that combination of flavors. ymmv of course.
posted by magnetsphere at 3:32 PM on October 19, 2010
I love me some Thai foods. All sorts of the stuff. That said, I would agree that either Pad Thai or Pad See Ew are your safe bets, maybe Pad See Ew being the safest, depending on the restaurant. And chicken satay is a very accessible and peanuty-delicious appetizer.
I personally wouldn't recommend starting with a red or yellow curry. Massaman Curry, however, is usually very friendly tasting. That is a sweeter, coconut-based curry with peanuts, potatoes, and your meat of choice (I like it with chicken). There might be other stuff in it too, again, depending on the restaurant. Also keep in mind that a lot of Thai restaurants have different spellings of the same dishes, so if anything sounds like it might be pronounced Massaman or Pad See Ew, it's most likely the dish you're looking for, even if it's spelled "pad sie eil" or something.
If you like fried rice, pineapple fried rice with chicken can be delicious, but I don't really think of that as representative of Thai flavors.
posted by wondermouse at 4:32 PM on October 19, 2010
I personally wouldn't recommend starting with a red or yellow curry. Massaman Curry, however, is usually very friendly tasting. That is a sweeter, coconut-based curry with peanuts, potatoes, and your meat of choice (I like it with chicken). There might be other stuff in it too, again, depending on the restaurant. Also keep in mind that a lot of Thai restaurants have different spellings of the same dishes, so if anything sounds like it might be pronounced Massaman or Pad See Ew, it's most likely the dish you're looking for, even if it's spelled "pad sie eil" or something.
If you like fried rice, pineapple fried rice with chicken can be delicious, but I don't really think of that as representative of Thai flavors.
posted by wondermouse at 4:32 PM on October 19, 2010
By the way I hate cilantro but I love Thai food. So don't let the possibility of cilantro throw you if you aren't a fan
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:33 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:33 PM on October 19, 2010
I find green curry quite mild. Green curry chicken over sweet sticky rice is my go-to Thai food.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:46 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:46 PM on October 19, 2010
Also, regarding cilantro, there are plenty of dishes that don't have it. You may love it so maybe it's not an issue either way. I've found that if there is cilantro in a dish, they'll list it in the description, but it's worth asking if that could be a problem.
posted by wondermouse at 4:48 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by wondermouse at 4:48 PM on October 19, 2010
Pad see ew is rice noodles and broccoli stir-fried in sweet soy sauce (along with the protein of your choice—try beef.) Not spicy at all.
posted by emelenjr at 5:18 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by emelenjr at 5:18 PM on October 19, 2010
You could always try the chicken larb (or larb gai?). It's essentially minced chicken fried up in a spicy sauce. That, or the basil chicken is kind of my go to. Absolutely delicious. The way I look at my life sometimes is that I wasted 30 years of it before I got around to trying Thai food. It's just that good, and the last four years have been spent making up for lost time.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:05 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by Ghidorah at 6:05 PM on October 19, 2010
Here to recommend pad see ew as very accessible -- it's what we order for our picky 4-y-old when we eat Thai. The wide noodles have a satisfying chew, like those extra-wide egg noodles.
posted by palliser at 6:19 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by palliser at 6:19 PM on October 19, 2010
I am of Thai descent and grew up eating my mom's Thai food.
Thai food really depends on the city you are in. I have had some great Thai food in middle of nowhere towns where some Thai people have decided to settle down and open up shop. Yet in bustling multicultural downtown Toronto where there are countless Thai restaurants I have not eaten at a single Thai restaurant that came close to being authentic. Of course, some people do not like "authentic" so that may actually work out to a plus in some cases.
If your friend doesn't like super spicy food, then I would recommend ordering the lad na (may also be written as rat na, it's really just a Romanization issue than any Laotian/Thai difference) or pad see ew as others have recommended. Both of these dishes are originally from the Thai-Chinese community (pretty much any Thai dish that is not very spicy typically has Chinese influence).
If you are ordering food in a restaurant catering to Westerners then pretty much anything you order will be not very spicy - in fact, in my experience with Toronto Thai restaurants, you may have to plead with the waiter just to get them to make it at all spicy.
Pad Thai as mentioned above is another good choice. It is flat rice noodles stir-fried with fried tofu, shrimp, green onion, pickled radish, bean sprouts, and crushed peanut. The authentic way is to make it with a bit spicy tamarind sauce with the noodles turning slightly brown, but in most places in the West I have had it, it ends up like a bright red goopy mess. At any rate a lot of people I know are quite big fans of the red-style Pad Thai so that may be something your friend will want to try first.
posted by pravit at 6:20 PM on October 19, 2010
Thai food really depends on the city you are in. I have had some great Thai food in middle of nowhere towns where some Thai people have decided to settle down and open up shop. Yet in bustling multicultural downtown Toronto where there are countless Thai restaurants I have not eaten at a single Thai restaurant that came close to being authentic. Of course, some people do not like "authentic" so that may actually work out to a plus in some cases.
If your friend doesn't like super spicy food, then I would recommend ordering the lad na (may also be written as rat na, it's really just a Romanization issue than any Laotian/Thai difference) or pad see ew as others have recommended. Both of these dishes are originally from the Thai-Chinese community (pretty much any Thai dish that is not very spicy typically has Chinese influence).
If you are ordering food in a restaurant catering to Westerners then pretty much anything you order will be not very spicy - in fact, in my experience with Toronto Thai restaurants, you may have to plead with the waiter just to get them to make it at all spicy.
Pad Thai as mentioned above is another good choice. It is flat rice noodles stir-fried with fried tofu, shrimp, green onion, pickled radish, bean sprouts, and crushed peanut. The authentic way is to make it with a bit spicy tamarind sauce with the noodles turning slightly brown, but in most places in the West I have had it, it ends up like a bright red goopy mess. At any rate a lot of people I know are quite big fans of the red-style Pad Thai so that may be something your friend will want to try first.
posted by pravit at 6:20 PM on October 19, 2010
As others said, I would start with Pad Thai. Most people that are scared of weird new foods try it and like it, it's a good introductory dish to get you used to the unique and very different from chinese food flavors that are in Thai food. But if you want rice, just look through the descriptions of the rice dishes to see which ones don't have a lot of vegetables. Moo tod rad prig is also a dish that people who have never had Thai food generally like - delicious crispy pork in a chili sauce. Whatever you get, ask for mild to start, not too spicy at first. Most restaurants have a spice cart thing you can ask for to mix in more spiciness if it's not enough.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 8:05 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by KateHasQuestions at 8:05 PM on October 19, 2010
To go against the general recommendation, I'll offer a counter data point (note: I'm kind of an adventurous eater). For a long time I thought I didn't like Thai food that much because pad thai was so dull (to me). A popular and safe bet is a simple green curry (gaeng kiow wan), which is typically made with some heat but is something that can be easily adjusted at most restaurants. The green is my go-to for Thai comfort food.
posted by ch3ch2oh at 8:32 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by ch3ch2oh at 8:32 PM on October 19, 2010
I enjoy Thai food but have never understood the love for pad thai (plus I've seen it made badly in too many places). I would suggest pad see ew, as suggested above.
And if it's cold where you are, get tom kha soup - chicken soup made with coconut milk - it is delicious, buttery, a tiny bit spicy, and will warm you up just right.
And mango with sticky rice for dessert.
Thai iced tea or coffee is yummy, it's iced tea or coffee with sweetened condensed milk in it, so it's very sweet and milky. Mmm.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:57 PM on October 19, 2010
And if it's cold where you are, get tom kha soup - chicken soup made with coconut milk - it is delicious, buttery, a tiny bit spicy, and will warm you up just right.
And mango with sticky rice for dessert.
Thai iced tea or coffee is yummy, it's iced tea or coffee with sweetened condensed milk in it, so it's very sweet and milky. Mmm.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:57 PM on October 19, 2010
There should be a Masaman Chicken curry on the menu -- it's salty and peanuty and full of stringy awesome chicken and potatoes, with nary a healthy vegetable in sight. I like it at the level just under Thai hot, which is pretty damn hot still.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 9:11 PM on October 19, 2010
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 9:11 PM on October 19, 2010
Almost anything that is a "fried rice" option will remind you of Polynesian Chinese food, and will be a safe bet. Pad Thai is of course the best known and not usually spicy.
I personally hate Tea of any kind, but LOVE Thai Iced Tea. Not even sure why it's called tea because it's not the watery almost tasteless stuff I generally consider tea. You definitely want it with milk/cream. No matter what you order, make sure you get Thai Iced Tea with it.
posted by inthe80s at 9:17 AM on October 20, 2010
I personally hate Tea of any kind, but LOVE Thai Iced Tea. Not even sure why it's called tea because it's not the watery almost tasteless stuff I generally consider tea. You definitely want it with milk/cream. No matter what you order, make sure you get Thai Iced Tea with it.
posted by inthe80s at 9:17 AM on October 20, 2010
It has vegetables, but the first dish I introduce my "Oh My God, Thai Food is WEIRD," people to is pineapple fried rice. Generally accepted after the first skeptical bite with, "Huh... That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," and usually, a cleaned plate at the end of the meal.
posted by muirne81 at 3:13 PM on October 20, 2010
posted by muirne81 at 3:13 PM on October 20, 2010
I went to a Thai restaurant last week and had shrimp fried rice, so it's definitely on the menu. Be warned that Thai food sometimes contains shrimp paste or fish sauce, which to me is delicious (and just a little bit fishy), but if you're wary of that, ask.
posted by vickyverky at 4:30 PM on October 20, 2010
posted by vickyverky at 4:30 PM on October 20, 2010
Spicy Basil Fried Rice, and Tom Yum soup changed my life. I go www.puketcafe.com in Wethersfield, CT. It's the best ever. EVER!
posted by Draccy at 6:28 PM on October 20, 2010
posted by Draccy at 6:28 PM on October 20, 2010
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