Busting Myths on Thai Food Misconceptions

Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines around the world. Known for its complex balance of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy flavors, aromatic herbs and spices, and fresh ingredients, Thai cuisine offers a delightful and unique culinary experience.

However, some common misconceptions and myths about Thai food are simply not true. At Family Thais Asian Bistro in Dallas, Texas, we believe in helping the Thai foodie community thrive! Join us as we debunk five of the most common misconceptions about Thai food that keep food adventurers away!

It's Always Spicy

One of the biggest misconceptions about Thai cuisine, particularly our menu, is that it is always extremely spicy. While many Thai dishes do contain chili peppers and bring the heat, not all Thai food is meant to set your mouth on fire.

Dishes like Pad Thai, Thai coconut soup (Tom Kha Gai), spring rolls, and Thai salads often have mild or no spice at all.

The key ingredients that add signature spice and heat to Thai dishes are fresh and dried chilies, as well as spicy chili pastes like nam prik and Sriracha sauce.

However, the spiciness can vary greatly depending on how much of these spicy ingredients are used. 

Most Thai restaurants (us included) will accommodate requests for mild, medium, or extra spicy. So you can still enjoy the bright, aromatic Thai flavors without burning your taste buds!

It's Not Authentic Outside of Thailand

Some people wrongly assume that they can't experience truly authentic Thai cuisine unless they travel to Thailand. However, thanks to increasing global connectivity, it's now easier to source traditional Thai ingredients directly to our downtown Dallas restaurant.

At Family Thais, our chefs have a direct connection with the motherland and strive to bring the most authentic tastes that make falling in love with Thai food an amazing experience.

We believe that as long as the recipes and cooking techniques stay true to tradition, authentic Thai food can be found pretty much anywhere, even in the heart of a busy metroplex like Dallas.

It's Cheap Fast Food

While Thai street food is known for being quick, flavorful, affordable, and served from no-frills stalls and shops, not all Thai food fits this profile.

In fact, Thailand boasts incredibly complex, labor-intensive dishes that can take hours or days to prepare. These special occasion or celebratory dishes made expertly by trained chefs use premium ingredients and intricate cooking techniques that are worthy of fine dining experiences.

Examples include gaeng hung lay, a northern Thai curry with pork belly and black garlic that simmers for days, or Chao Wang Royal Thai cuisine featuring live seafood and rare, exotic ingredients.

So, while you can grab a quick and delicious pad see ew or som tam salad from a street cart for cheap, Thai cuisine is incredibly diverse and has much more depth beyond fast food. Don't assume you'll spend just a few bucks on your meal if you visit a higher-end Thai restaurant.

It All Tastes the Same

With a vast array of aromatic herbs, curry pastes, proteins, vegetables, and sauces featuring distinct flavors from each region, it's a mistake to think all Thai food tastes the same. Thai cuisine varies greatly by region.

There's a world of difference between the herbs and spice mixes used throughout regional dishes in Thailand. Noodle dishes in Bangkok highlight sweeter tastes using sugar and tamarind, which contrasts with Northeastern (Isan) dishes that balance hot, sour, bitter, and salty flavors.

Once you explore beyond the popular pad thai and green curry, you'll discover a plethora of unique Thai tastes. With a culinary history that blends Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, and other cultural influences into traditional cooking, Thai cuisine offers astounding diversity that all food lovers can appreciate.

Bust Thai Food Myths at Family Thais Asian Bistro

Located off the legendary West End District in downtown Dallas, TX, Family Thais Asian Bistro is here to help bust any myths about Thai Food you may have fallen for over the years.

Our traditional tastes combined with the relaxed urban setting we offer, makes our local eatery a prime spot to indulge in your favorite Thai dishes.

Contact us today to learn more about our selection.