Does Pad Thai always have shrimp?
No. The main ingredient depends on the menu item. Even when you cannot see shrimp, dried shrimp is sometimes used in the seasoning, so if you cannot eat shrimp, ask about both the main ingredient and the seasoning.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai · ผัดไทย
If you cannot decide what to eat first in Thailand, order Pad Thai. Rice noodles are stir-fried with egg and tofu in a sweet and tangy tamarind sauce. Crunchy bean sprouts and savory peanuts give you several textures on a single plate. Squeeze the lime wedge that comes on the side and the tang really comes alive.
Phat thai - Chiang Mai - 2017-07-08 (002) · Iudexvivorum · CC0
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What does it taste like?
Tamarind's tang meets sweetness and salt. Eat the soft noodles together with bean sprouts and peanuts and you get a crunchy, nutty bite. At places that bring dried chili flakes on the side, you can add as much as you like.
If you cannot eat shrimp, ask whether dried shrimp and the seasoning contain it too.
Dish basics
- Dish name
- Pad Thai · Pad Thai
- Thai name
- ผัดไทย
- Type
- Rice & noodles
- Region
- Central Thailand · Thailand's signature dish
- Key ingredients
- Rice noodles with egg, tofu and bean sprouts, seasoned with tamarind. Shrimp, dried shrimp and peanuts are sometimes used, so tell the staff before you order if there is anything you avoid.
The dish and where it comes from
Pad Thai is Thailand's best-known stir-fried noodle dish. It is easy to find in Bangkok, but it is not a local specialty eaten only there. If you are new to Thai food, start with Pad Thai, and at your next meal try a noodle dish with broth such as khao soi.
How to order and eat it
- Choose the main ingredient you want, such as shrimp, and place your order. If you cannot eat shrimp, ask whether dried shrimp is included as well.
- When the plate arrives, try it as it is first. Add the lime and peanuts a little at a time to adjust the tang and the nuttiness to your taste.
- If you like heat, add a little dried chili. If you need to leave out egg or peanuts, tell the staff before the dish is made.
Frequently asked questions
Can I only eat it in Bangkok?
No. It is a signature dish eaten in many cities across Thailand. On a trip to Bangkok, it makes a good first meal to ease into Thai food.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and recipes can vary from one restaurant to the next.
View official sources · 1
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