We're planning to dine at a Thai restaurant soon.  I've researched a restaurant (authenticity of product, quality of preparations, service, etc.), but as 'real' newcomers to Thai food, we really could use some help in choosing what to try for our first time with this fare.

We'll be our usual (dining out) threesome - senior couple, w/daughter - and it will be for lunch.  We wish to try dishes other than soups, and order a few dishes to share.  In terms of "level of hot", daughter likes a level of hot & spicy much more than we do, so wondering what sort of level might work for the three of us when sharing dishes, etc.  I believe the restaurant uses a 1-5 level for their dishes.  

Thai food preparations look so good in pictures ... we know we're up for it, but just hope we can steer the researching a little to something we should definitely give a try.

Would much-appreciate any and all suggestions!!

Cheers!!

Yo I know you said no soup, but tom yum soup is a great intro to Thai food. Then try pad Thai and maybe a Thai curry, a spicy red curry or creamy Penang. Larb is also awesome if they have it. Most of those be staples of most Thai restaurants, and you can't really go wrong with them. I think it's up to you guys to choose spice level.

I second Penang. It's a sweeter coconut curry. Also you might see something called Pad garpao or basil chicken and it's usually very good. I also like Thai sweet and sour as its lighter than the Chinese variety and usually does not have deep fried meat. Also masaman curry is great with beef- usually comes with potatoes.  Also for noodles- pad Thai will usually be a thinner noodle and pad see ew will be a thick flat rice noodle. Hope this helps! Oh and don't forgot to order coconut rice if they have it!

Caspian, I second your tom yum soup suggestion.  Soooooo delicious.

Caspian .... thanks, you've provided a great guide!! ... now back to their menu to check on the offerings you've suggested.

Jasmine .. thanks, may have to re-consider on having soup, eh!!

Kieren ... "hope this helps" ... a big thanks, it sure has!!  

Now to get back to the website and check out the menu offerings again .... and this time, armed with some information I needed.

What Thai restaurant are you going to by the way?

If their Pad Thai consist of ketchup  I would say no because that is a westernized version.

Yeah let us know the restaurant. One of us may have been!

The restaurant is Thai New West - it's near our favourite sushi place (Ikoi Sushi) in New Westminster.

Having medical appointments in New West one day soon, and thought it would afford a perfect opportunity to try lunch at the restaurant on the way home.

john I have eaten at a decent Thai in burnaby and I see that's where u live...I think I reviewed it. another one to check out. cheers

J N .... thanks, and will look for your review.  
But for this time, we're going with the restaurant I named.  And from browsing the menu offerings on their website, we should have no problem trying some of the suggestions that been posted here.
.... and looking forward to doing so!!

Tip thai in poco best thai food ever I promise

Let us know how your foray into Thai food turns out.

Caspian ... will do.
Patrick M ...  thanks for the suggestion - daughter works in Port Coquitlam, must get her to check it out for us.

2 words: papaya salad.

Jamie K ... it's on the menu .. sounds good!!
Caspian ... I see larb on the menu as well.

Thanks everyone, you've been very helpful!!   It's now time for me to zero in on what might provide an appropriate lunch for our first time --- some of this, and a little of that .... and the rest for the next time!  :-)  

We're really forward to this - another dining 'adventure' - and the day will "soon come".

John - glad to see Ikoi is on your top list, I still go there pretty often!  As for thai, I second Jamie's suggestion on papaya salad. I usually order lemongrass chicken when I'm at a vietnamese resto - I don't usually see it on thai menus but that could be nice to try?  
And for dessert, if you're feeling adventurous, try the black rice pudding!

John, a well made papaya salad is amazeballs and it's not a big item between 3 people.  The pics on the Yelp page all look pretty good.

Ouch!! .. you guys are making it harder!   But lots of fun too!!!  
And 'yes', we want to be able to order and share .... that way we will get to taste a little of more, eh!!

I definitely recommend papaya salad! So delicious! Tom kha gai is also a fantastic soup to try (sorry - not helping on the no soup front!)

Red curry is typically a bit spicy, but check with restaurant as they'll definitely have good suggestions for you on spice levels!

Most of all, try a few different things and ENJOY! I adore Thai food - I hope you do too!

@ Ayla ... Definitely plan to try a few different things.  It looks so good .. sure hope we enjoy (even half as much) as you do!!  Thanks!

I hope so too! Please do report back - I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)

Update ---- well, we finally did it.  With eyes fully-dilated (from our eye appointments) and a bright sunny day on the go - ouch!! - we made it to the restaurant just as it was about to open at 11:30 am today.  Their first customers of the day.

Think we did good, and gave quite a wide variety of items a taste.  Here's what we had (shared amongst the three of us):  paw paw tod (crispy rice rolls), som tam (papaya salad), tom yum (hot & sour soup w/chicken), gaeng kiew wan (green curry w/beef), pad thai (w/prawn), coconut rice, and jasmine tea.

We kept the level of hot & spicy to 'mild' for this, our first try (would 'up' that a touch the next time).

The restaurant was bright, clean, and neat.  Service friendly and helpful.  And the food, a wonderful mix of flavours, and 'pretty' (presentations).  Still in what I would call an "assessing mode" on how we relly felt about the food itself.

Sure glad we gave it a try .... and thankful and most-appreciative of the help received here on Talk!!!

... and posted a review of our experience today.