Updated on June 9, 2025
The cuisine of Thailand is renowned for its distinctive flavor combination of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. It makes sense why more and more people have come to love Thai cuisine throughout the years. And yet, many visitors to Thailand are scared of Thai food’s reputation for spiciness.
Although it is true that Thais like spicy food, not all Thai food are spicy. A number of savory dishes in Thai cuisine often include fresh herbs and aromatics like lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, which adds rich and tasty layers to recipes without necessarily requiring heat.
Related article: 10 Best Thai Cuisine Served in Phuket
Savory Yet Mild Thai Dishes That Anyone Can Enjoy
While Thai food has become an international favorite, only a few guests in the popular destinations of Phuket and Koh Samui are aware of the milder dishes that deserve attention, apart from pad thai and spring rolls. Some of these mild dishes have their origins in different regions in Thailand and the influence of outside cultures, but they are distinctly Thai in their own way.
1. Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)
A popular dish in different regions of Thailand, som tam is made with shredded green papaya and other vegetables. Som tam is often served with crushed peanuts and a sour dressing, usually made from citrus juice and fish sauce. The refreshing contrast between sour and salty makes this dish a perfect salad or side dish for the hot and humid season.
2. Moo Hong (Braised Pork Belly)
From the Peranakan community in Phuket comes this recipe for braised pork belly. The dish is a combination of Chinese and Thai ingredients such as star anise, oyster sauce, and cilantro, plus both regular and sweet soy sauce. The pork is infused with layers of flavor from the spices and herbs before being cooked in a sticky-sweet and salty sauce.
3. Tom Kha Gai (Coconut Chicken Soup)
Classic Thai herbs like lemongrass, galangal, and makrut (kaffir) lime leaves are used to flavor tom kha gai, a Thai coconut chicken soup. It’s one of the most well-liked soups in Thailand, with coconut milk compleminting strong flavors from the galangal and lime leaves. The ingredients of tom kha gai also have health benefits that can improve overall wellness.
Related article: The Health Benefits of Thai Cuisine
4. Massaman Curry
A milder variation on the usual curry, Massaman curry combines elements of Thai and Indian variants. This version combines red curry paste with dry whole spices such as cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Roasted peanuts, which give the curry depth of flavor and texture, are sometimes added as well.
5. Pad See Ew (Drunken Noodles)
International menus often refer to pad see ew as “Thai drunken noodles,” but not every recipe has alcohol in it. In the most popular version, chewy rice noodles are stir-fried in a hot wok with black sweet soy sauce, garlic, and vegetables to make a distinct dish. No matter what it’s called, pad see ew is an appealing combination of salty, sweet, and smoky flavors.
6. Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry
Cashew-based stir fries are popular all-around Asia, but the Thai version is particularly tasty. The sauce is more concentrated, making for a drier form of stir fry. When the stir-fry is combined with a side order of jasmine rice, the rice takes on its own distinct color and flavor, which adds to the experience.
Related reading: 12 Must-Try Tropical Fruits When You Visit Thailand
Give Your Taste Buds a Break with a Non-Spicy Thai Dish
Even if you enjoy spicy food, you can give your palate a break from the endless one-two punch of chilis and spices in many Thai dishes. With the popularity of Thai food, restaurants catering to tourists in Thailand are willing to decrease the amount of chili peppers in their dishes. Guests staying in upscale villas in Phuket and private villas in Koh Samui also come with in-house chefs who are willing to adjust heat levels as well.
Consider this list of mild Thai dishes as a gateway to enjoying both the cuisine of Thailand and the cultures that have contributed to them. The more you explore Thai food beyond the spicy heat, the more you’ll realize why Thais consider their food a “Must-Taste” for their guests.
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Featured Photo from FoodHongKong
