Pad Thai · ผัดไทย
If you are wondering what to eat first in Thailand, try Pad Thai. Rice noodles are stir-fried with egg and tofu in a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce. Crunchy bean sprouts and rich peanuts give you several textures on one plate. Squeeze the lime served with it lightly over the noodles and the tang comes out more.
The sourness of tamarind blends with sweet and salty notes. Chew the bean sprouts and peanuts with the soft noodles and you get a crunchy, nutty taste. Where chilli flakes are served on the side, you can add as much as you like.
If you do not eat prawns, ask whether dried shrimp is also in the seasoning.
Pad Thai is Thailand's best-known stir-fried noodle dish. It is easy to find in Bangkok, but it is not a local speciality eaten only there. If Thai food is new to you, start with Pad Thai, and for the next meal try a noodle dish with broth, such as khao soi.
No. The main ingredient depends on the menu item. But even when no prawns are visible, dried shrimp is sometimes used in the seasoning, so if you cannot eat prawns, ask about both the main ingredient and the seasoning.
No. It is a signature dish eaten in many Thai cities. On a Bangkok trip, it is a good first meal for getting used to Thai food.
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.
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