• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Videos
  • Online Private Lessons
  • ONLINE GROUP CLASSES
  • Reading and Writing Thai Course

Learn Thai with Mod

Learning Thai made easy with Mod!

Our Thai lessons focus on “realistic Thai”, meaning sentences and usage that will make you sound like an actual Thai person rather than a formal and dull text book.

  • Important Dates
  • Out Visiting
  • Read and Write Thai
  • Speak Like a Thai
  • Thai Food
  • Thai Culture

VIDEO: Eat Like A Thai 101

Saturday February 28, 2015 by Mod 17 Comments

 

Understanding how Thai people eat provides a greater understanding of the food and people. Here are a few tips on how to eat like the Thais do.

In the West, food is brought out in a certain order: Appetiser, Main Dish, and Dessert. In Thailand, there are really only two courses in a Thai meal: The food and the dessert.

When I travel it also makes me think of the difference of the eating styles between Western and Thai. I often noticed groups of foreign tourists, they ordered everything for themselves. But that is not exactly what we do here. J

Thais always eat ‘FAMILY STYLE’, we order many dishes, which sit in the centre of the table that everyone shares.

 Everyone has a plate of rice! Rice (ข้าว kâao)  is the base of a Thai meal. When you order your food at a restaurant, you also have to order rice, it doesn’t come automatically.

HOW DO WE ORDER FOOD?

You should try to order a good balance of dishes. Ordering four coconut milk-based curries is a bad idea.

I suggest you to order one fried vegetable dish, one soup or curry and one uncooked dish, or deep-fried dish. This also allows you to truly sample the variety of Thai cooking.

And from my personal experience, it is also a good idea to remember to not order all spicy dishes. Sometimes I do that and that is not good for my stomach.

HOW THE THAIS EAT?

1. We use a spoon ช้อน (cháwn) and a fork (ส้อม sâwn). We hold a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left hand.

2. When eating with others, we should use A SERVING SPOON in Thai is called ช้อนกลาง (cháwn glaang). We use this to spoon out your spoon-size servings onto your dish.

 HOW MUCH TO TAKE?

This is important thing – take only one or two spoonful at a time from the center dish, and eat them with the rice before proceeding onto the next dish you wish to try. Please don’t pile 10 dishes on top of your rice and mix. Thais like to savor each dish on it’s own, and not mix the flavours. If you mix them onto your rice, the flavors will mix.

When finished with your meal, your plate should be clean, unless you were given too much rice. It should NOT have huge piles of food on it that you took from the main dishes and didn’t eat.

Filed Under: Thai Food, Videos

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Graham says

    Thursday April 21, 2016 at 05:28

    Hi Mod

    I am an Australian. My wife Raweewan is Thai. We live in Bangkok (Kanna Yao).

    I just want to tell you that I think your sites on both language and food are brilliant.

    I am not a chef, but I have been cooking for over 50 years. I cook every cuisine, but Thai and Indian have been my favourites for a very long time. Even my Thai family loves my Thai cooking, so I must be doing something right. (Thais are so fussy! haha)

    The biggest problem I have in Thailand is trying to avoid MSG. I am allergic to it big time. If I eat it by accident, I get a massive headache that lasts about 12 hours or more. One of the first phrases I learned in Thai was “mai pong shu rot.” I am fortunate in having a Thai wife; otherwise I don’t think I could live here.

    I want to learn to speak Thai. I know enough to get me into trouble. The tones are very difficult for a farang to learn. There don’t appear to be any “rules.” It would appear that you just memorize the tone for each word from childhood up.

    I might sign up for your one on one later. I am too busy at the moment. But I just wanted to thank you for all that you do, and congratulate you on first class work. It is simply wonderful.

    Best wishes

    Graham Dyer

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Tuesday April 26, 2016 at 16:52

      Sawatdii ka Graham, it is nice to hear that you enjoy both eating and cooking Thai food. I agree with you on MSG , I often have to tell the cook not to add it in my dish too.

      Thank you for your kind words about my work. I am delighted. Please remember us when it is convenient for you to start Thai lessons. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Richard says

    Saturday March 14, 2015 at 14:19

    My favorite thai food is kaeng massaman laaw gor tom yum kung, aroi mak mak!

    Reply
  3. bernard says

    Wednesday March 11, 2015 at 11:43

    Hi Mod,
    Your video Eat like a Thai was interesting, but you used too much english and we couldn’t learn many new thai words or expressions.
    Keep on sending videos, we like them.

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Saturday March 21, 2015 at 12:31

      Thank you for watching my video. This particular lesson is meant to talk about Thai culture,we just want to share the tips on how to eat like a Thai. That is why I didn’t talk about Thai language unlike the other lessons that purely focus on speaking Thai. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Yvan says

    Wednesday March 11, 2015 at 06:26

    I can’t hear the dialogue. Only the introduction music can be heard, What’s the problem?

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Saturday March 21, 2015 at 12:57

      I think the problem is the microphone I used to record this lesson only records to the left channel, and the speaker in your computer perhaps works only from the right channel so you can’t hear the audio of the lesson. I have this problem with one of my computers that has a problem with a left speaker, but when I play the video from the other computers, I can hear everything fine. Sorry about that.

      Reply
  5. Robin says

    Wednesday March 11, 2015 at 03:35

    Hi Mod,
    I have seen the same thing in Thailand as Gerhard in a KFC when a group of Thai Chinese people ordered lots of things and afterwards walked out leaving more than half of it to be thrown away.
    I may be wrong but I thought it looked like a rich guy trying to impress his friends.

    I think European or American food is sometimes thought to be ‘exotic’ to Thais but actually some of them find it a bit boring and ‘mai aroi’.
    Maybe he was showing off to his friends that he could afford to pay the “check bin” but wasted all this food which then ended in the rubbish bin..
    I have also seen the same thing with people in the UK over- ordering when they do not know if they will like the type of food or not.

    Elderly European people who lived in the war never wasted food because it was rationed.
    When I was in Hatyai I saw Thai girls with their boyfriends order five or six dishes but only pick little bits of food and the rest was wasted. Ordering many dishes is good for a big group of people so everyone can try a little bit of everything. I think that the best way to try lots of Thai food is with a Thai family.

    Reply
  6. Nigel says

    Tuesday March 10, 2015 at 22:45

    Hello Mod,
    I always enjoy your videos, but perhaps you could tell people the Thai name for many dishes and what food it is. I like Thai food but do not know the name and do not know how to order. Could you do a video of food names and what they are.
    Take care and thank you for your help.

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Saturday March 21, 2015 at 12:33

      Thank you for watching my video and your suggestion. I will remember to make a video on Thai dishes. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Gerhard says

    Sunday March 1, 2015 at 03:36

    Dear Mod,

    I have some experience in eating in Thai restaurants.
    Very unfortunately I must say that many Thai people do not follow your advice of leaving their plate clean. It always made me sick at heart to see so much food wasted and thrown away. And it made me sad to see Thai(!) people do this. How do you account for such “bad behaviour”?
    I wish I did not have to write this comment, but I would appreciate your answer.

    I beg your pardon
    and wish you all the best
    Gerhard

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Wednesday March 4, 2015 at 22:49

      Sawatdee ka Gerhard, thank you for your comments. I am sorry to see that too. I am not sure if I can give a good explanation. We all have different backgrounds and upbringing. At the very least, we can be responsible for our own behaviour and do our best. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Ken says

    Saturday February 28, 2015 at 13:29

    Hi Mod! Sawadee khrap!

    I am studying Thai in Chiang Mai and I love your videos. Your bubbly personality makes the learning process a lot of fun! Sanuuk!

    I’m not sure why but your latest two videos, including this one, does not have any audio when I view it. I get the intro music but not the conversation.

    Can you please advise how I can get to hear the conversation?

    Kop khun khrap!
    Ken
    09 4207 5025
    furbabieshaven.com

    Reply
    • Mod says

      Wednesday March 4, 2015 at 22:50

      Sawatdee ka Ken. I am happy to hear that you enjoy my videos. I am sorry to hear that there is a problem at your end. Uhmm… I am not sure what the problem is, let me try to figure it out. Thank you for your patient.

      Reply
      • Mark says

        Wednesday March 11, 2015 at 04:04

        The audio is only on the left channel. Maybe Ken is listening to the right channel.

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Find what your looking for

Bangkok Day Trip featured Fishing Floating Market get well soon holiday Hor Mok How many in Thai Learn Thai Learnthaiwithmod.com on TV Living in Thailand Loi Kratong Song Lyrics Nam Neung New Year practice listening Thai rainy season Speak Thai Study Thai Thai chili and fish sauce recipe Thai classifier Thai consonants Thai Culture Thai food Thai Grammar Thailand Thailand travel Thai Language Thai Language Teacher Thai Lessons Thai letters Thai Middle class consonants Thai proverbs Thai Slang Thai street food Thai tradition Thai vowels Thai Wedding Traditional Thai Ceremony useful expressions Vegetarian Festival in Thailand What to Eat What to eat during vegetarian festival Where To Go

Feedback from the fans

  • Rebhsde on Thai Traditional Wedding Ceremony – Counting the Dowry
  • Kelvin on “Nang Kwak” The Goddess of Wealth
  • Mkay on “Nang Kwak” The Goddess of Wealth
  • Steven on Top 10 most Common Thai nicknames, and some weird ones
  • Laura on Hor Mok (ห่อหมก) – Thai Curried Fish Custard
  • Mod on Everyday Thai Phrase: Please Forgive Me!
  • ALIZA EARNSHAW on Everyday Thai Phrase: Please Forgive Me!
  • Anthony ando on Lesson 1 – Read and Write Thai
  • Tom on Practice Forming Thai Sentences : I Havn’t…Yet
  • Katya Bulgakova - Photographer and Makeup Artist on Thai Traditional Wedding Ceremony
  • lovestory4812@gmail.com on Thai Iced Tea Recipe
  • Sununta Schnittker on Things That Really Annoy Farangs in Thailand
  • Sununta Schnittker on Things That Really Annoy Farangs in Thailand
  • Buy Research Chemicals Online and API's on The Full Name of Bangkok
  • Antara on “Nang Kwak” The Goddess of Wealth
  • Kendall Young on Lesson 2 – Middle Class Consonants
  • Toni on Intermediate Thai : Usage of ที่ /tîi/
  • Anna on Kwan-Riam Floating Market
  • Jojo on 12 months in Thai language
  • GREFEUILLE Sylvain on Practice Forming Thai Sentences : I Havn’t…Yet

Archives dating all the way back to 2010

  • September 2024 (1)
  • June 2024 (1)
  • February 2024 (1)
  • August 2023 (1)
  • July 2023 (2)
  • June 2023 (2)
  • May 2023 (1)
  • March 2023 (2)
  • February 2023 (1)
  • December 2022 (1)
  • November 2022 (3)
  • October 2022 (2)
  • September 2022 (4)
  • August 2022 (1)
  • July 2022 (4)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (3)
  • April 2022 (3)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (4)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • November 2021 (5)
  • October 2021 (2)
  • September 2021 (2)
  • August 2021 (2)
  • July 2021 (3)
  • June 2021 (3)
  • May 2021 (4)
  • April 2021 (5)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (3)
  • January 2021 (3)
  • December 2020 (5)
  • November 2020 (6)
  • October 2020 (7)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • August 2020 (2)
  • July 2020 (4)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (2)
  • March 2020 (4)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (2)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (1)
  • August 2019 (3)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (5)
  • January 2019 (2)
  • December 2018 (3)
  • November 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (3)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (3)
  • May 2018 (3)
  • April 2018 (3)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (2)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (2)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (2)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (5)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (5)
  • September 2015 (2)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (8)
  • March 2015 (1)
  • February 2015 (4)
  • January 2015 (1)
  • December 2014 (3)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (2)
  • June 2014 (7)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (5)
  • March 2014 (7)
  • February 2014 (7)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (5)
  • September 2013 (7)
  • August 2013 (5)
  • July 2013 (6)
  • June 2013 (6)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (6)
  • March 2013 (5)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (4)
  • December 2012 (1)
  • November 2012 (4)
  • October 2012 (8)
  • September 2012 (7)
  • August 2012 (13)
  • July 2012 (10)
  • June 2012 (7)
  • May 2012 (6)
  • April 2012 (6)
  • March 2012 (6)
  • February 2012 (9)
  • January 2012 (6)
  • December 2011 (6)
  • November 2011 (5)
  • October 2011 (4)
  • September 2011 (5)
  • June 2011 (1)
  • March 2011 (4)
  • February 2011 (4)
  • January 2011 (4)
  • December 2010 (9)
  • November 2010 (2)
Your Thai Guide
From as little as US$104 a day you can have fully licensed English speaking Thai tour guide at your side to explain, translate and help you understand what you are seeing and hearing during your stay.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in