Enough Thai to order, and get exactly what you asked for.

Starting the order

The easiest pattern in Thai is khor, the dish name, then noi: "may I have, please". It works for a dish, a drink, or pointing at something on another table.

If you do not know the name, point at the menu photo or the dish next to you, then say khor … noi. No one will mind.

Saying not spicy

Mai phet means not spicy. Phet noi is a little spicy, and phet mak is very spicy: say one of these before the kitchen asks, especially for soups and curries.

Thai "not spicy" is not the same as bland. Garlic, white pepper, fish sauce and lime still go in, so a mai phet dish can taste warm and savory even with the chilies left out.

Common swaps

The same khor … noi pattern works for leaving things out. Mai sai means "do not put in", so mai sai plus the ingredient removes it.

Kin jay or mangsawirat tells a kitchen you eat vegan or vegetarian. Expect them to ask what that means for fish sauce and eggs, since the words cover a range of diets in Thailand.

Paying and saying thanks

Check bin and kep tang both mean the bill, please; check bin is the more common one in Bangkok. Say aroi mak (very delicious) on the way out and the kitchen remembers you.

Finish anything polite with khrap if you are a man and kha if you are a woman. It is the one word that makes a short sentence sound respectful.

Questions

How do you say not spicy in Thai?

Say mai phet. If you want some heat but not much, say phet noi (a little spicy) instead.

How do men and women say thank you in Thai differently?

The thank you itself, khop khun, is the same. Men add khrap and women add kha at the end to make it polite.

How do I ask for the bill in Thailand?

Say check bin or kep tang. Both mean the bill, please, and either one works anywhere in Thailand.

Is Thai food really not spicy if you ask for mai phet?

It will have far less or no chili, but Thai cooks still season with garlic, fish sauce, lime and white pepper, so the dish can still taste full, just not hot.