Order food in Thailand
Eat out, in Thai.
You are hungry, the menu is in Thai, and nobody speaks English. Find what you want to say below, tap Listen, and let the staff hear it in Thai. Or show them the Thai script on your phone. Big text, big buttons, made to work at a table or a street stall.
The phrases use ครับ, the polite ending for men. If you are a woman, say ค่ะ instead of ครับ.
🍽️ Order it
Search in English, like "spicy", "bill", or "water". Tap Listen to hear it in Thai, tap Syllables to hear it slow.
🍜 Dishes to point at
The dishes you will see on almost every menu. Tap Listen and say the name, or just point at the Thai script on your phone. The notes tell you what is in each dish, so you know what you are ordering.
⚠️ My allergies, in Thai
Show this card to staff before you order. Each line says "I am allergic to" in Thai, in big text. Tap Listen and let them hear it. If your allergy is serious, say it twice, show this card, and ask them to check with the cook.
Please note: fish sauce, shrimp paste, and peanuts are in a lot of Thai food, even dishes where you would not expect them. If an allergy could put you in hospital, tell the staff clearly and ask "does this dish have it in it" before you eat. The phrase for that is in the ordering list above.
💵 Paying and tipping
How paying works
Cash is king at street stalls and small restaurants. Many places take QR payment, look for a QR code on the counter or ask "Can I pay by QR code?" Bigger restaurants, malls, and hotels take credit cards, small places usually do not. Always carry small notes and coins, a 1,000 baht note can be hard to change at a street stall.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Thailand the way it is at home. Nobody will chase you for it. If the food and service were good, leaving the small change or 20 to 50 baht is a kind gesture and always welcome. Some bigger restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to the bill, check the bill before you tip on top of that.
Check the bill
The bill usually comes to the table when you ask for it. Check it before you pay, mistakes are usually honest ones, and the phrases for the bill and your change are in the ordering list above.