Ordering in Thailand: reading a Thai menu

Read the cooking word first

Thai dish names are usually a cooking method plus the main ingredient. Once you know the method, the rest is the protein or vegetable that follows. See the short list below.

Sizes and spice

Prices are often given per size: ธรรมดา is the regular portion and พิเศษ is the larger, extra-ingredient one. เผ็ด means spicy and ไม่เผ็ด means not spicy — say it when you order, because the default can be hotter than you expect.

Check the bill line

Some restaurants add a 10% service charge and 7% VAT on top of menu prices, sometimes shown as “++”. Menu prices at street stalls are usually final.

How Koala Order helps

Photograph the menu and see names, prices and what each dish is made of in one pass. Choose the dishes and generate an order card in Thai, including your spice level and restrictions, to show the server.

Ordering as a group

Thai meals are usually shared. Use a shared table so everyone adds the dishes they want and the host sees the whole order in one list before it goes to the kitchen.

Allergies

Fish sauce, shrimp paste and peanuts show up in many dishes without being named. AI reading can be wrong, so confirm allergies with the staff.

Words worth recognising

ผัด

Stir-fried

ต้ม

Boiled, usually a soup

ทอด

Deep-fried

แกง

Curry

ยำ

Spicy salad