This week’s Thai Phrasebook teaches you how to order one of the most iconic Thai street foods... noodles!
You’ll learn how to:
- Ask for a bowl of noodles
- Add meat or toppings
- Ask for takeaway like a local
Let’s jump in because knowing how to order a good bowl of gúaid-tǐao is one of the best skills to have in Thailand.
1) "one bowl of noodles please"
Say: gúaid-tǐao nèung chaam kráp/kâ
ก๋วยเตี๋ยวหนึ่งชามครับ/ค่ะ
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- gúaid-tǐao = noodles — ก๋วยเตี๋ยว
- nèung = one — หนึ่ง
- chaam = bowl — ชาม
- kráp/kâ = polite particle (male/female) — ครับ / ค่ะ
This is your go-to base sentence to order noodles!
2) Add-On: "with pork, please"
Say: sài mǔu ná kráp/ká
ใส่หมูนะครับ/นะคะ
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- sài = add / put — ใส่
- mǔu = pork — หมู
- ná-kráp/ná-ká = particle used to soften requests, suggestions, or to seek confirmation — นะครับ/นะคะ
Swap “mǔu” for any topping like:
- Chicken = gài (ไก่)
- Beef = núa wua (เนื้อ)
- Wontons = gíao (เกี๊ยว)
- Shrimp = gûng (กุ้ง)
3) "put in a bag, please.”
Say: sài túng ná kráp/ká
ใส่ถุงนะครับ/นะคะ
Thai Vocabulary Broken Down:
- sài = add / put — ใส่
- tǔng = bag — ถุง
- ná-kráp/ná-ká = particle used to soften requests, suggestions, or to seek confirmation — นะครับ/นะคะ
Use this when you want to take your noodles to go.
Key Things To Remember:
Noodle stalls are everywhere in Thailand and each vendor has their own style and setup.
Start simple, like: gúaid-tǐao nèung chaam sài mǔu ná kráp
That’s: “one bowl of noodles with pork, please.”
Want to impress them even more? Try ordering sài túng and take it to go like a local.
So... if you really want to practice, just reply to this email and tell me how YOU would order "noodles with chicken to go" in Thai. You have all of the information you need to do this and if you do... I’ll reply and tell you my go-to noodle combo :)
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See you in next week’s Thai Phrasebook!
~ Kru Fah
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