Thai food allergy guide for restaurants
Common Thai restaurant allergy questions for peanut, shellfish, fish, soy, egg, coconut, and wheat/gluten.
At a glance
- Common Thai restaurant allergy questions for peanut, shellfish, fish, soy, egg, coconut, and wheat/gluten.
- Verify peanut, shellfish, fish, soy, egg, coconut before ordering.
- Ask about the dish, sauce, garnish, and shared equipment before you order.
- Log what staff said and what happened later so the next visit starts with better evidence.
What to ask first
Thai restaurant allergy questions should separate the dish, sauce, curry paste, garnish, and cooking surface. Peanuts may be a topping, a sauce ingredient, or part of a marinade. Fish sauce, shrimp paste, oyster sauce, soy sauce, egg, coconut milk, and wheat noodles can matter even when the menu name sounds simple.
Ask about the restaurant in front of you. A place that can remove crushed peanuts from one dish may still use a prepared sauce or paste that cannot be changed.
Common allergens to verify
- peanut
- shellfish
- fish
- soy
- egg
- coconut
Where those allergens may appear
Pad Thai
Ask whether peanuts are only a topping or also used in the sauce, marinade, or prep. If staff cannot check the sauce, treat that uncertainty as part of the answer.
Satay and peanut sauces
Ask about peanut sauce, peanut marinade, dipping sauces, and whether the same utensils touch peanut-containing sauce.
Curries
Ask about curry paste, shrimp paste, fish sauce, coconut milk, soy sauce, and prepared bases made before service.
Fried rice and noodles
Ask about egg, soy sauce, oyster sauce, shrimp paste, wheat noodles, and whether the dish can be prepared with clean tools.
Soups and salads
Ask about fish sauce, dried shrimp, shrimp paste, peanuts, and premixed dressings.
Desserts and drinks
Ask about coconut milk, condensed milk, sesame, peanut, tree nuts, and shared scoops or topping containers.
How to ask without guessing
For peanut allergy, ask whether peanuts are in the sauce, garnish, marinade, or prep area. Do not rely on whether peanuts are visible.
For shellfish or fish allergy, ask about shrimp paste, dried shrimp, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and prepared curry or soup bases.
Useful Thai phrases
Use these as a starting point. For travel or severe allergy, carry a professionally checked allergy card in Thai and show it before ordering.
ฉันแพ้ถั่วลิสง
Chan phae thua lisong. I have a peanut allergy.
อาหารจานนี้มีถั่วลิสงหรือน้ำมันถั่วลิสงไหม
Does this dish contain peanuts or peanut oil?
ช่วยถามครัวให้แน่ใจได้ไหม
Could you please ask the kitchen to confirm?
กรุณาไม่ใส่ถั่วลิสง ซอสถั่วลิสง หรือเครื่องปรุงที่มีถั่วลิสง
Please do not add peanuts, peanut sauce, or peanut ingredients.
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Start a free logMedical disclaimer
This guide is general information for restaurant planning. It is not medical advice. For emergency symptoms, call local emergency services. For personal diagnosis, medication, or action-plan questions, talk with your allergist.
Read the medical disclaimer