Although Alan Wong, general manager of Kung Fu Plaza, has worked hard to dispel the myth that all Thai food is spicy, spice does make for a nice addition to any Thai meal. He says milk is the best remedy, but there are other drinks that can help beat the heat.

"About 8,000 years ago, it was Central and South Americans who began adding hot chilies to their food," said Wong. "But once the Portuguese brought chilies from the new world to Thailand, our people fell in love with the flavor, especially because chilies immediately help balance a dish."

As soon as Thai people began adding chillies (and probably before), people also started to look for ways to beat the heat they loved. Over the centuries, there have been plenty of myths about what might be the best remedy.

"My family has always known it was milk, but I recently caught an episode of MythBusters that proved the point," said Wong. "They tried several remedies ranging from water to beer. Water, of course, was the worst."

The reason water doesn't work is because chilies contain capsaicin, which spreads the heat-causing compound all over the mouth. Frequently, people who drink water with spicy food feel a brief period of relief and then a more pronounced sensation of heat.

"They also tested beer as a cure on the show and said it was a myth," said Wong. "But I know that some beers, especially dense and creamy beers, can provide some relief. It's one of the reasons people pair beer with Thai food. However, no beer beats milk."

There Are Several Cures For Spicy Foods, But Milk Is The Best.

Milk works because it contains casein, which is a lipophilic protein that washes away the capsaicin molecules. Coconut milk also produces relief to a lesser extent as does Thai iced tea, which contains cream. Iceburg lettuce, cucumbers, and yogurt can also cool spicy sensations, all for different reasons.

"Milk is still the champion for everything we know, which is one of the reasons we always keep at least a gallon of fresh milk in our kitchen," says Wong. "We don't really sell milk by the glass, but sometimes it is useful for people who over indulge in adding more spiciness in our foods. We have a scale of 1-10, like most restaurants with spicy food, even though we also advise that the taste is best when it follows whatever the chef intended. Thai food is about balance."

Kung Fu Plaza is the oldest and most authentic Thai food and Chinese food restaurant in Las Vegas. It is the authority on authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine, using its location in Las Vegas to introduce as many people as possible to new and timeless Asian dishes.