Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and Beyond: A Guide to Thai Noodles

Pad thai gets all the fame, but it is only the start of Thailand's love affair with noodles. Across the country, the wok turns out a whole family of dishes, each with its own character. Here is how to read a Thai noodle menu.

Pad thai, the famous one

Pad thai balances sweet, sour and savoury with tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar, finished with peanuts and lime. It is the gateway dish for good reason, and our deep dive into pad thai tells the full story.

What is pad see ew?

Where pad thai is bright, pad see ew is dark and smoky. Wide rice noodles are tossed with soy sauce, egg and greens over a fierce flame, giving a savoury, slightly charred flavour known in Thailand as wok hei. It is comfort food, plain and simple.

How to choose your noodles?

Go for pad thai when you want bright and tangy, pad see ew when you want rich and savoury, and a soupy noodle bowl when you want something warming. The whole range is on the menu, so book a table and work your way through.