Polite Wording In Thai Restaurants

[nakriian]

I am a vegetarian and when I request vegetables, I say "ขอผักหน่อยครับ ". I realize that I can say ขอผักครับ, however, it seems a bit abrupt and rude if I say it that way. Is it proper to make use of หน่อย in that situation to soften the sentence a little bit?

Also, what is a good sentence to use to prepare the waitress/waiter to take your order? Like for example, I find if I give my request with out advance notice, that I end up having to repeat myself. If I was at an english restaurant, I would normally say something like, "Can I give you my order now?", etc..

I would like some suggestions on getting the waitresses/waiter's attention and also some suggestions on how to prepare them to listen to my order. I guess I am looking for add lib if you will. I just want some way to soften the whole ordering process. I don't know if it is just me, it just feels so commanding to walk in and sit down and say "I want some vegetables". Any tips or pointers are greatly appreciated.

[nakriian]

ขอผักต่างๆหน่อยครับ Would this be the proper way to say "I would like a variety of vegetables"?

[ThaiGoon]

ขอผัก lhai lhai yang (na or หน่อย) ครับ would sound better. (Sorry I can't type Thai right now.) And to get attention of a waiter or a waitress, you can always call them "Nong" (brother or sister in English.) That should work.

You could also tell them that you are vegetarian by saying "Phom pen Mang Sawirat krab" = I'm a vegetarian, or "Phom mai tan Nueau krab" = I don't eat meat. I hope you can read my Thai karaoke.... Myabe some others can help you with the pronunications though.

[sutnyod]

Usually what works is: Chan than je, mee aray bang na krab/ka? That makes the personnel give you a list of the vegetarian dishes they have. Very often they are so friendly as to prepare a special curry for you, complete with vegetarian meet and without MSG and Nam Pla. But it takes time, so bring a book... :-)

[In the Rai!]

You could try:

ผมกินเจ เพราะฉนั้นผมชอบกินผักเยอะ pom gin je prowchanan pom chob gin pak yoh / I eat vegetarian food and I like to eat alot of vegetables.

ผมกินเจ เพราะฉนั้นผมชอบกินผักหลายชนิด pom gin je prowchanan pom chob gin pak lai chanid I eat vegetarian food and I like to eat alot of different types of vegetables.

I hope this helps..

ITR