What to Order at Sunset Thai if It’s Your First Time

Trying a Thai restaurant for the first time can be exciting, but a menu filled with noodles, curries, soups, rice dishes, appetizers, and specialties can also make it difficult to know where to begin.

The good news is that there is no single “correct” first Thai meal.

Some people fall in love with Pad Thai. Others discover that curry, Thai basil dishes, fresh rolls, or mango sticky rice are what bring them back.

If you are visiting Sunset Thai Restaurant Pismo for the first time, here is an easy way to explore several sides of Thai cuisine without overthinking your order.

Start With an Appetizer

Sharing an appetizer gives everyone at the table a chance to try something before the main dishes arrive.

The Sunset Thai menu includes starters such as:

• Fresh Roll — fresh vegetables, rice noodles and tofu wrapped in rice paper, served with Thai peanut sauce
• Pot Stickers — fried dumplings served with black bean sauce
• Satay — grilled skewers served with Thai peanut sauce and cucumber salad

Try Pad Thai for a Classic Introduction

Pad Thai is one of the most recognized Thai dishes, and there is a reason it is so popular.

It combines rice noodles with sweet, savory, tangy, and nutty flavors, making it approachable for someone who has never tried Thai food.

For many first-time diners, Pad Thai is an excellent benchmark: familiar enough to be comfortable but distinctive enough to introduce the balance of flavors found throughout Thai cooking. If you are choosing between noodle dishes, you can compare Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles before you order.

Add a Curry to the Table

If you are dining with more than one person, consider ordering a curry in addition to a noodle dish.

That gives you two very different expressions of Thai cuisine.

Noodles emphasize stir-fried textures and sauces, while curry offers a creamy, aromatic sauce that pairs naturally with rice.

The menu features red, green, and yellow curry, along with other favorites such as Panang curry. Not sure which to pick? Read our guide to red, green and yellow Thai curry.

Try Something With Thai Basil

Thai basil-style dishes can introduce another side of Thai cooking.

They tend to have a more savory, aromatic character than Pad Thai and can be a good choice for diners who want stronger flavors.

On the Sunset Thai menu, Chili Basil is a wok-fried dish with chili garlic sauce, vegetables and Thai basil, and the menu marks it as bold and spicy.

Add Something Fresh

A fresh appetizer or salad can provide contrast when the rest of the table includes richer noodles or curry.

The menu includes Fresh Roll, Papaya Salad, and Beef Salad, all of which add a lighter note to a shared meal.

Save Room for Mango Sticky Rice

Mango sticky rice is a classic Thai dessert combining sweet sticky rice with ripe mango and a creamy coconut element.

Its simple combination of fruit, rice, and coconut makes it a popular finish after a flavorful Thai meal.

An Easy First-Time Meal

If you would like a general way to build a varied first meal, try something along these lines:

• one appetizer to share
• one noodle dish such as Pad Thai
• one curry or Thai basil-style entrée
• rice where appropriate
• one dessert to share

This is simply an idea for ordering, not a set package or special. For two or more diners, sharing a few different dishes is one of the easiest ways to discover what you like.

What Should I Order if I Don’t Like Spicy Food?

Thai cuisine is not automatically extremely spicy.

Many dishes emphasize sweet, savory, tangy, herbal, or creamy flavors rather than heat alone.

Several dishes on our menu are described as spicy, including the curries, so ask the restaurant which current dishes best match your preference. Noodle dishes such as Pad Thai and Pad See Eaw are not described as spicy on the menu.

What Should I Order if I Like Spicy Food?

Thai cuisine offers many bold and aromatic dishes.

Rather than guessing, speak with the restaurant about current dishes that have more heat. Menu descriptions flag dishes such as Chili Basil and the Spicy Noodle (Drunken Noodle) as bold and spicy.

First Visit to Sunset Thai Restaurant Pismo

Sunset Thai Restaurant Pismo is located at 561 5 Cities Dr in Pismo Beach, California and serves a range of Thai favorites. See the full menu or get hours and directions before you go, and browse more Thai food guides for ideas.