How Do You Ask for Non-Spicy Food in Thailand?

I do not handle spicy food very well and I would like to know how to ask for a meal without chilli when eating in Thailand. Is there a simple Thai phrase I can use, and are some dishes easier to order mild than others?

Yes. The simplest expression is mai phet, which means “not spicy”. In restaurants used to foreign visitors, this is normally easy to understand.

If you want to be more precise, you can say mai sai prik, meaning “do not add chilli”. This can be useful when you want the dish prepared without chilli rather than simply made less spicy.

Dishes such as khao pad (fried rice), pad see ew and some grilled chicken dishes are usually easier to prepare mild. Som tam, some curries and certain soups are more difficult to make completely mild because chilli may be an important part of the recipe.

If you are very sensitive to spice, make it clear that you want no chilli at all. What a Thai restaurant considers “a little spicy” may still feel quite hot to someone who is not accustomed to chilli.