Thailand Travel

Thai Food Allergy Card

Create a bilingual English-Thai food allergy card for safe dining in Thailand and Thai restaurants worldwide.

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Traveling to Thailand with Food Allergies

A Thai allergy card (บัตรแพ้อาหาร) is a bilingual card that communicates your food restrictions to Thai restaurant staff in both English and Thai. Thailand's cuisine relies heavily on hidden allergens: fish sauce (น้ำปลา) appears in nearly all Thai dishes including fried rice and stir-fries; shrimp paste (กะปิ) is the flavor base of most curries and green papaya salad; crushed peanuts are a standard garnish; coconut milk is used throughout desserts and curries; and oyster sauce seasons most vegetable stir-fries.

Thailand is famous for its vibrant street food scene — but for allergy sufferers, Thai cuisine is one of the most challenging in the world. Peanuts appear as a garnish on almost every dish, shellfish-based pastes (like shrimp paste in pad thai) are base flavors, and cross-contamination in busy street wok cooking is nearly impossible to avoid without clear communication.

A Thai food allergy card gives you the tool to communicate clearly with Thai street vendors and restaurant staff in their native language. English is not widely spoken in local Thai eateries, making a professionally written Thai card essential.

Why Thailand Is High-Risk for Allergy Sufferers

Peanuts as garnish

Crushed peanuts are sprinkled on pad thai, curries, and som tam as a standard topping.

Shrimp paste base

Nam prik (fermented shrimp paste) is a flavor base in many Thai curries and sauces.

Shared wok cooking

Street food woks are used for many dishes in succession — cross-contamination is high.

Hidden fish sauce

Nam pla (fish sauce) is added to most Thai dishes including salads and stir-fries.

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How to Create Your Thai Allergy Card

Select peanuts and shellfish first

These are the highest-risk allergens in Thai cooking.

Choose English + Thai

Thai script ensures street vendors can read your card.

Enable cross-contamination warning

Critical for wok cooking environments.

Download before you fly

Thai allergy card works offline — no Wi-Fi needed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say "I am allergic to peanuts" in Thai?

ฉันแพ้ถั่วลิสง (Chan phae thua lisong). Our cards display this in large, clear Thai script.

Can I eat pad thai if I have a shellfish allergy?

Traditional pad thai contains dried shrimp and sometimes oyster sauce. Always show your card and request a shellfish-free version made with just soy sauce.

Is street food safe with food allergies in Thailand?

Street food is high-risk due to shared cooking equipment and limited English communication. Your Thai allergy card makes it much safer by allowing direct communication with vendors in Thai. However, table-service restaurants are generally safer.

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