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Pad Thai Picks
Bangkok
Pad thai is a stir-fried noodle dish made with tamarind paste, fish sauce, shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, and spring onions, then topped with peanuts and chili flakes. It originated around 60 years ago when former prime minister Luang Phibunsongkhram promoted the consumption of noodles after Thailand’s rice shortage. Today, the delicacy is a staple in most restaurant menus! Explore Bangkok to savor some of the country’s best versions of pad thai, from traditional street food-style to elevated casual dining fare!
Operating for over 50 years in Bangkok’s Old City quarter, Thipsamai Padthai serves the best pad thai in the capital! Several cooks man different stations as they whip up the noodle dish over a charcoal fire, lending to a frenzy of sounds and aromas. Get the Superb Pad Thai which includes giant prawns and comes wrapped in an omelette; then, pair it with their equally famous fresh pulpy orange juice! Pro tip: when asking for directions to Thipsamai, refer to it as “Pra-Too-Pee,” its local nickname.
- +66 2 226 6666
313-315 Mahachai Road, Samranrat, Pranakorn, Bangkok, Thailand
313-315 ถนน มหาไชย แขวง สำราญราษฎร์ เขต พระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร
Step into Nara Thai Cuisine for pad thai that’s perfect for uninitiated tongues! The foreigner-favorite restaurant uses fresh seafood and top quality ingredients to create a sweeter, less spicy variation of the dish. It’s finished with a delicious tamarind sauce; and, includes a few sides such as banana flower, crushed nuts, and spring onions. Slowly work your way into a more localized flavor by adding chili flakes and vinegar from the garnish selection. Order the mango sticky rice for dessert to end the meal on a sweet note!
- +66 2 129 4863
Ground Floor, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand
- http://www.naracuisine.com
Pad Thai Mae Am pays homage to the classics with their traditional take on pad thai. The modest eatery prepares the noodles with tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar before re-frying it. Choose to have it with chicken or different types of shellfish. Grab a miniature stool and enjoy your plate whilst watching locals come and go for takeaway! Pad Thai Mae Am also specializes in kway teow gai (rice noodles with chicken), in case you’re up for more food on the table!
- +66 89 230 4302
5 2253/5 Rama Khwaeng Khlong Toei, Khet Khlong Toei, Bangkok, Thailand
Open until 4:00AM, Pad Thai Ekkamai is a refuge for famished partygoers. The shop’s signature Pad Thai Ekkamai is hearty fuel, with two giant prawns, fresh squid, and mussels complementing the noodles. At THB150 (around USD5), it’s a bit pricier than most; but, they also have cheaper options on the menu, including a few other Thai favorites: pork satay (pork skewers) and tom yum (hot and sour soup)!
- +66 82 022 5000
303/4 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand
303/4 ซอย สุขุมวิท 63 แขวง คลองตันเหนือ เขต วัฒนา กรุงเทพมหานคร- https://restaurant-23224.business.site/
Pad Thai Sala Daeng is a hidden gem frequented only by employees in the area and in-the-know locals. To get here, enter Silom Complex and exit through the back; then, walk along the alley until you see an old blue Thai house. Pad Thai Sala Daeng sets itself apart by using homemade tamarind paste (made on weekends and simmered for two hours!) to prepare their noodles. There are no meat options here, so settle for seafood or tofu as add-ons!
- +66 84 899 5301
47 Sala Daeng Soi 2, Silom, Bangkok, Thailand
47 ซอย สาทร 2 แขวง สีลม เขต บางรัก กรุงเทพมหานคร
Baan Phadthai expertly innovates the beloved pad thai. Their noodle base itself is a superstar, made with an 18-ingredient secret sauce for a little more jazz. Enjoy a smorgasbord of pad thai variations such as Phad Thai “J” (vegetarian pad thai), Phad Thai Phoo (crab pad thai), and their best-selling Phad Thai Moo Yang (pad thai with grilled pork). Whet your appetite with one of their starters before digging in!
- +660206055534
21-23 Soi Charoen Krung 44, Bang Rak, Bangkok, Thailand
21-23 ถนน เจริญกรุง 44 แขวง สาทรเหนือ เขต บางรัก กรุงเทพมหานคร 10500- https://www.baanphadthai.com/
Parked across the Kikuya clothing store, Pad Thai Kikuya is an old-school pushcart run by an aged couple. They’ve kept a steady stream of regulars for years to sample their unique twist on the local delicacy. Here, they skip the tamarind paste and roasted peanuts. Instead, the noodles—which are thinner than usual and cut into short lengths—are cooked over a charcoal fire and served with Thai chives and a banana flower. The dish also uses duck egg for a richer flavor. Take your order to-go to and they’ll give it to you in a banana leaf cup!
- +66 81 253 5961
136 Ratchawong Road, Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok, Thailand
136 ถนน ราชวงศ์ สัมพันธวงศ์ กรุงเทพฯ, 10100
Chunky tofu, dried shrimp, and juicy prawns make up each plate of pad thai at Pad Thai Goong Sod Nai Sa Nga! The humble stall only started selling the noodle dish a few years ago, switching from kuay jub (noodle soup with intestines) and por pia sod (Thai fresh spring rolls). Their new sweet-tangy specialty became an instant hit! Come with an appetite; the portions are filling.
788 Rama IV Road, Khwaeng Si Phraya, Bangkok, Thailand
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