Delicious Thai food
Aug 12th, 2007, 03:03 AM
#41
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laartista -
No question that "mai pet" is about the most important phrase you can learn in Thai. We used it often, but unfortunately, it doesn't always help. During our trip to Thailand in January, my wife and one of our traveling companions couldn't tolerate the spicy food and after a week, swore off Thai food altogether. Their lips and faces were swollen from allergic reations to the spices.(I enjoyed the food!)
If you would like to learn a few useful phrases in Thai, check out the site below. It's really excellent and includes audio of all the words and phrases they teach. The pronunciation in Thai is very very difficult and it's very important to hear what you are trying to say!
http://www.learningthai.com/speak_thai.html
Here's another site to check out - my own site about our trip to Thailand. Maybe it will help you find a good restaurant:
http://www.travel.stv77.com/thailand/thailand.htm
No question that "mai pet" is about the most important phrase you can learn in Thai. We used it often, but unfortunately, it doesn't always help. During our trip to Thailand in January, my wife and one of our traveling companions couldn't tolerate the spicy food and after a week, swore off Thai food altogether. Their lips and faces were swollen from allergic reations to the spices.(I enjoyed the food!)
If you would like to learn a few useful phrases in Thai, check out the site below. It's really excellent and includes audio of all the words and phrases they teach. The pronunciation in Thai is very very difficult and it's very important to hear what you are trying to say!
http://www.learningthai.com/speak_thai.html
Here's another site to check out - my own site about our trip to Thailand. Maybe it will help you find a good restaurant:
http://www.travel.stv77.com/thailand/thailand.htm
Aug 12th, 2007, 04:32 AM
#42
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Oh dear.... "Mai Pla" or "Pla Mai" when spoken also mean burnt or over cooked fish. "Mai Ow Pla" means "I don't want fish".
From my experiences a foreigner trying to say something will often be mistaken for something else. If you have food allergy the best thing to do is to get a Thai friend to write it down for you in Thai and show it to the restaurant.
Bon Appetit!
From my experiences a foreigner trying to say something will often be mistaken for something else. If you have food allergy the best thing to do is to get a Thai friend to write it down for you in Thai and show it to the restaurant.
Bon Appetit!
Aug 12th, 2007, 06:40 AM
#44
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Kuranosuke - you can get the raw shrimp with garlic at restaurants like Bua or Somboon. We go to a seafood restaurant called Lantay in Samut Sakhon province about an hour away from Bangkok.
The Thai name for this dish is Goong Chare Nam Pla. The second word sounds like "chair" but with a silent "r". The restaurants will know what you are talking about.
We don 't eat raw anything from the street vendors - we get this dish at established seafood restaurants.
This person has a great list of Thai dishes and restaurants including another place for the raw shrimp dish (which I have not been to) -- http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/bca65/160d76/2/
The Thai name for this dish is Goong Chare Nam Pla. The second word sounds like "chair" but with a silent "r". The restaurants will know what you are talking about.
We don 't eat raw anything from the street vendors - we get this dish at established seafood restaurants.
This person has a great list of Thai dishes and restaurants including another place for the raw shrimp dish (which I have not been to) -- http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/bca65/160d76/2/
Aug 12th, 2007, 08:12 AM
#45
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bkk95, i've been to somboon a few times but never saw it on the menu. probably because i never get past the curry crab and ong choi.
thanks for the info. bua looks interesting, and on my list for next time.
thanks for the info. bua looks interesting, and on my list for next time.
Aug 13th, 2007, 07:44 AM
#47
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For some reason my posts are showing up, so I guess I will repost.
I had no problems with Montezuma's Revenge, Bangkok Belly, whatever you'd like to call it. It was a huge surprise to me, since I have a VERY sensitive stomach and usually have issues one way or the other, even when eating my friend's houses!
I drank bottled water only, but I had other drinks with ice in them with no problems. I also brushed my teeth with whatever water came out of the faucet (no problem). It is not in any restaurant's/hotel's best interest for you to get sick, so they go through the trouble of making sure their water is treated. I also ate fruit in all my hotels. Be cautious the first day and then just ease in as the days go on! If anything you can scale back.
As for the spicy foods, I know for a fact that they toned it down because we were foreigners. In fact, I even heard our waiter yell back to the kitchen staff "pet noi!" (little spice). We are Southern Californians who are used to eating spicy, so we had to eventually start telling our servers "pet pet!" (which in my poor translation means '"spice spice!"
I think you should be ok without even saying "mae pet" or anything close. Every restaurant and noodle cart has a tray of spices that you can add to your dish for more flavor.
Enjoy your time!
I had no problems with Montezuma's Revenge, Bangkok Belly, whatever you'd like to call it. It was a huge surprise to me, since I have a VERY sensitive stomach and usually have issues one way or the other, even when eating my friend's houses!
I drank bottled water only, but I had other drinks with ice in them with no problems. I also brushed my teeth with whatever water came out of the faucet (no problem). It is not in any restaurant's/hotel's best interest for you to get sick, so they go through the trouble of making sure their water is treated. I also ate fruit in all my hotels. Be cautious the first day and then just ease in as the days go on! If anything you can scale back.
As for the spicy foods, I know for a fact that they toned it down because we were foreigners. In fact, I even heard our waiter yell back to the kitchen staff "pet noi!" (little spice). We are Southern Californians who are used to eating spicy, so we had to eventually start telling our servers "pet pet!" (which in my poor translation means '"spice spice!"
I think you should be ok without even saying "mae pet" or anything close. Every restaurant and noodle cart has a tray of spices that you can add to your dish for more flavor.Enjoy your time!
Aug 13th, 2007, 02:27 PM
#48
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I thought the idea of the Lonely Planet food guide was fantastic so I decided to look it up and buy one. I guess it must be out of print because there are only some used ones on the internet and they are selling for around $100 each!
Aug 14th, 2007, 07:12 AM
#51
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my favorites:
larp pla duk ( shredded catfish served with a wedge of cabbage, like a side salad )
rua mit ( sp? ) coconut milk with crushed ice with colorful floating thingees in it. very refresing dessert.
and to the thai food experts: what do you call that dish that's a rice porridge with some ground meat in it?
larp pla duk ( shredded catfish served with a wedge of cabbage, like a side salad )
rua mit ( sp? ) coconut milk with crushed ice with colorful floating thingees in it. very refresing dessert.
and to the thai food experts: what do you call that dish that's a rice porridge with some ground meat in it?
Aug 14th, 2007, 07:40 PM
#52
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Have no idea what the Thai word for it is but the general Chinese/American word is "congee"...if you get it at a hotel they should know it by that name.
I'd love to know the Thai name too because I love congee!
I'd love to know the Thai name too because I love congee!
Aug 15th, 2007, 04:33 AM
#55
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Wow, some of you travel really paranoid. I truly believe you might be missing out on the "real" Thailand by sticking to eating at places like the Four Seasons and "quality places." Not to mention paying way more money for it. Sometimes good food does not have to cost a fortune, especially in Thailand.
Traveling is about adventure and trying new things. Be cautious yes, but also try the little restaurant that isn't considered top knotch. You'll pay a heck of a lot less, and get a more real Thai experience.
I've been to Thailand a number of times, and I always have some street food, because it's cheap, and delicious, and part of the culture. I've never been sick. I do brush my teeth with bottled water, and eat only fruits and I can peel and take all those kinds of precautions, but to limit myself to only big name restaurants, no thanks. I don't go to Thailand to eat at the Four Seasons or top hotel restaurants.
Don't stress too much and enjoy your trip. The food is some of the best in the world IMO, you can't really go wrong with any of it.
Have a great trip.
Traveling is about adventure and trying new things. Be cautious yes, but also try the little restaurant that isn't considered top knotch. You'll pay a heck of a lot less, and get a more real Thai experience.
I've been to Thailand a number of times, and I always have some street food, because it's cheap, and delicious, and part of the culture. I've never been sick. I do brush my teeth with bottled water, and eat only fruits and I can peel and take all those kinds of precautions, but to limit myself to only big name restaurants, no thanks. I don't go to Thailand to eat at the Four Seasons or top hotel restaurants.
Don't stress too much and enjoy your trip. The food is some of the best in the world IMO, you can't really go wrong with any of it.
Have a great trip.
Aug 15th, 2007, 05:16 AM
#56
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bug---you miss the point totally....its a safety issue and insurance to assure that you continue your vacation sickness free...
as far as "real thailand", four seasons and other places are just as much real thailand as is a vendor on the street....
isn't mcdonalds "real american"?? afterall....and so is 5* dining...
as far as "real thailand", four seasons and other places are just as much real thailand as is a vendor on the street....
isn't mcdonalds "real american"?? afterall....and so is 5* dining...
Aug 15th, 2007, 05:52 AM
#57
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My food list just keeps getting longer, thanks to all the great suggestions. I probably will indulge in some street food. I did in Morocco was just selective in what I ate. From this thread it seems that those that have been to Thailand return many times after which makes me meven more psyched to go. It seems people just fall in love with the place.
Aug 15th, 2007, 06:09 AM
#58
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That is it,the name of congee in thai is joke=chok.
Been living in Thailand for the last 19 years.Brush my theeth with tap water also clean the vegetables,fish,meat,dishes without problem.Do not try this at home
Live in Bangkok
Been living in Thailand for the last 19 years.Brush my theeth with tap water also clean the vegetables,fish,meat,dishes without problem.Do not try this at home
Live in Bangkok
Aug 15th, 2007, 07:22 AM
#59
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Well...interesting... especially about some folks being paranoid...well, personally,while staying at my serviced apartment in Bangkok and just being around Bangkok in general, I brush my teeth everyday in tap water, drink tap water on occasion at regular restaurants if that's what's available,wash all my fruit/vegetables in tap water, and eat any kind of fruit whether or not it can be peeled or not.But, I almost always drink bottled/filtered water at the apartment which I also do here at home. I use the Brita at home. But,I don't eat much street food...almost none these days...I don't eat it here at home in L.A. either...like the peeled-fruit stand in front of the gas station near work...and all of the food carts on the streets of L.A. However, while in Bangkok I do eat at 4-5 star restaurants when I want since I'm eating there because I like many of the dishes. I've also eaten at regular neighborhood type of restaurants that are not in that category.
So, does that make me more or less paranoid that I don't eat street food as much as others, but do use tap water daily and eat unpeeled fruit on a regular basis? When I was in Ghana, I bought all of my fruit out of the car window from people selling along the road. I usually bought apples and never peeled them, but I wasn't going to eat street food. So, the bottom line is different folks have different definitions of what they think is safe or not safe and I don't think any one person is necessarily more paranoid than any other. We all kind of know what I systems can and can not take. Happy Travels!
So, does that make me more or less paranoid that I don't eat street food as much as others, but do use tap water daily and eat unpeeled fruit on a regular basis? When I was in Ghana, I bought all of my fruit out of the car window from people selling along the road. I usually bought apples and never peeled them, but I wasn't going to eat street food. So, the bottom line is different folks have different definitions of what they think is safe or not safe and I don't think any one person is necessarily more paranoid than any other. We all kind of know what I systems can and can not take. Happy Travels!
