Ordering guide
What to order at a Thai restaurant
From the punchy heat of a green curry to the sweet-sour balance of pad thai, Thai menus reward people who know what to order. Here's the community's playbook.
Must-try Thai dishes
- Pad thai with prawns
- Green curry with chicken
- Tom yum goong
- Massaman beef curry
- Som tam (green papaya salad)
- Mango sticky rice
Frequently asked questions
What should I order at a Thai restaurant for the first time?
Start with pad thai or a green curry — both are flavour-forward but approachable. Add a tom yum goong soup to share and finish with mango sticky rice. These four cover the sweet, sour, spicy and savoury spectrum that defines Thai cooking.
What is the most popular Thai dish?
Pad thai is the most ordered Thai dish worldwide, followed by green curry, tom yum soup and massaman curry. On DishVote, pad thai and green curry consistently rank in the top three at most Thai restaurants.
What is the best Thai dish for someone who doesn't like spicy food?
Massaman curry, pad see ew, chicken satay and pad thai are mild by default. Ask for 'no spice' or 'Thai mild' — most kitchens will adjust. Avoid green curry, tom yum and any salad with the word 'yum' if you're heat-averse.
What is a good vegetarian dish to order at a Thai restaurant?
Pad see ew with tofu, vegetable green curry, som tam (ask for no fish sauce), and fresh spring rolls are reliable picks. Always confirm the kitchen can swap fish sauce for soy — it's the single ingredient that makes most Thai dishes non-vegetarian.
How do I know which Thai dish is best at a specific restaurant?
Check DishVote's restaurant page — every dish is ranked by real diners who voted on what's actually best at that venue, not just what's popular nationwide.
Top Thai restaurants right now
Ranked by community votes on DishVote.
