Spice level
❃ Spice level
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ผม/ฉันไม่กินเผ็ดครับ/ค่ะ
[ phom/chan mai kin phet khrap/kha ] -
I don't eat spicy food
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ไม่เผ็ดเลยนะครับ/ค่ะ
[ mai phet loei na khrap/kha ] -
Not spicy at all, please
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เผ็ดนิดหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ
[ phet nit-noi khrap/kha ] -
A little bit spicy
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เผ็ดปกติครับ/ค่ะ
[ phet pok-ka-ti khrap/kha ] -
Normal spicy (Thai style)
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เผ็ดมากครับ/ค่ะ
[ phet maak khrap/kha ] -
Very spicy
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ใส่พริกสองเม็ดพอครับ/ค่ะ
[ sai phrik song met pho khrap/kha ] -
Just put 2 chilies, please
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ไม่ใส่พริกเลยครับ/ค่ะ
[ mai sai phrik loei khrap/kha ] -
Do not put any chili at all
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ขอพริกน้ำปลาหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ
[ kho phrik nam-plaa noi khrap/kha ] -
Can I have fish sauce with chili?
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ขอน้ำตาลหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ
[ kho nam-taan noi khrap/kha ] -
Can I have some sugar?
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ขอมะนาวหน่อยครับ/ค่ะ
[ kho ma-naao noi khrap/kha ] -
Can I have some lime?
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ไม่ใส่ผงชูรสนะครับ/ค่ะ
[ mai sai phong-chuu-rot na khrap/kha ] -
No MSG, please
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ไม่ใส่น้ำตาลนะครับ/ค่ะ
[ mai sai nam-taan na khrap/kha ] -
No sugar, please
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เผ็ดเกินไปครับ/ค่ะ
[ phet koen pai khrap/kha ] -
It is too spicy
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เค็มเกินไปครับ/ค่ะ
[ khem koen pai khrap/kha ] -
It is too salty
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หวานเกินไปครับ/ค่ะ
[ waan koen pai khrap/kha ] -
It is too sweet
Thai cuisine is globally celebrated for its explosive, vibrant flavors, but it is also infamous for its blistering heat. For many Western tourists, navigating the spice level is a matter of gastronomic survival. The Thai word for spicy is เผ็ด (phet). If you have a low tolerance for spice, the single most important phrase you must memorize is ไม่เผ็ดเลย (mai phet loei), which means "not spicy at all," or ไม่ใส่พริก (mai sai phrik), meaning "do not add chili." Do not rely on simply saying "a little spicy" to a street vendor, because what a Thai person considers เผ็ดนิดหน่อย (phet nit noi - "a little spicy") could still involve two or three fiery bird's eye chilies that will leave you sweating and crying. In Thailand, achieving the perfect flavor balance—spicy, sour, sweet, and salty—is a deeply personal affair. That is why almost every table features a condiment caddy known as พวงพริก (phuang phrik). This set typically contains fish sauce with chopped chilies (พริกน้ำปลา - phrik nam pla), sugar, chili powder, and chilies in vinegar. You are entirely expected to season your own bowl to match your specific taste. Furthermore, many travelers suffer from adverse reactions not just to chili, but to monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is heavily used as a flavor enhancer in street food. If you are sensitive to it, you must clearly tell the vendor ไม่ใส่ผงชูรส (mai sai phong-chu-rot - "no MSG, please"). Thais are very accommodating and used to customizing dishes. By firmly but politely controlling your spice and seasoning levels, you can explore the magnificent depth of Thai cuisine without risking an upset stomach or an uncomfortably numb mouth.
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