The History of Pad Thai

June 14, 2022

A blog about the history of Pad Thai.

Pad Thai is one of the most popular dishes that is served in Thai restaurants. While the name seems to be inauthentic, it is actually derived from the word phad Thai (Thai: ผัดไท, “fried Thai style”), a translation of the term, phat Thai originally referring to the stir-frying technique and not the dish itself.

Pad Thai is a meal made from rice noodles

Pad Thai is Thailand’s most popular national dish, and just about every Thai person has eaten it at some stage in their lives. But it’s actually a fairly new addition to the Thai culinary repertoire, and its history is somewhat of a mystery. The first written description of Pad Thai was published in the 20th century. It was in Krom Khun Pathom Sua, a cookbook by a Thai noblewoman named Khun Sua Khrong Ratana. The book was published in 1933, but it was actually written in the late 19th century and contains a recipe for a dish called “Thaï-mee.” That recipe calls for stir-fried thin rice noodles with bean sprouts, egg, fish sauce, tamarind water, and dried shrimp. Other recipes from the book calls for noodles made from either mung bean starch or from rice. The word “pad” literally translates to “fried,” while “Thai” refers to the people of Thailand. So it’s probably not too much of a stretch to assume that the name of the dish refers to it being a popular Thai dish. Thailand is a country of more than 60 million people and has a culture that dates back centuries. The food of this country is a great reflection of the variety of its people, their lives, and their tastes.

Pad Thai is a popular street food

Pad Thai is a traditional Thai dish made with stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, tofu, beansprouts, and a multitude of spices. The dish is one of the most famous street food in the world, but the dish is not meant to be eaten on the go. The word “pad” means “fried” while “thai” means “Thai”. It is a staple food in Thai Cuisine. The recipe of pad thai has evolved over time. It is believed to be originally a Chinese dish and later on got adapted to the taste of Thais. It is not clear when pad thai became popular but the first pad thai recipe was published in the cookbook ‘Rabiang Phaeng’ in 1917. It is believed that the dish was first introduced to the country by Chinese traders in the early 20th century. The ingredients were different from the current ones. The recipe back then called for ingredients such as shrimp, Chinese chives, salted radish, rice noodles, and palm sugar.

You can find Pad Thai in Thailand in almost every street food cart and restaurant

Pad Thai, the beloved Thai noodle dish, is a favorite among foodies who have an interest in Thai cuisine. You can find Pad Thai in Thailand in almost every street food cart and restaurant. However, this very popular dish was actually not invented in Thailand. It was actually invented by Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century who came to Thailand to work as cooks and domestic helpers. They adapted the Chinese dish, chow mein, to the local taste and it quickly became a favorite among the Thai people. The Thai name for the dish (Gway Tai) actually means “Thai-style stir-fried noodles”. The word “Gway” actually refers to the Chinese word for “fried noodles”. So, if you were to say, “I want Gway Tai” in Thai, you would be saying “I want fried noodles” in Thai. The dish has become so popular that it has spread to restaurants in other countries and it is now considered one of the most famous Thai dishes in the world.

Pad thai is a noodle dish that has its roots in Thailand. However, it is also a dish that is popular around the world. In fact, you may have even eaten pad thai at a restaurant outside of Thailand before. If you are ready to experience Thailand, come visit Sawasdee Thai Elevated and experience our Sawasdee Pad Thai. We serve authentic Thai food that has been passed down from generation to generation in the most welcoming and delicious environments. We know that you will enjoy your experience with us, so please come in today to try some of our dishes or book your next event with us.

The History of Pad Thai - Sawasdee Thai Elevated (2024)