Top 5 Thai Restaurant Dishes
A tiny space with a big menu, this Woodside mainstay has dishes with an elevated wow factor. Expect more adventurous fare like fried duck heads and Isan sour sausage, along with a wide range of noodle and curry options.
The decor here is a visual extravaganza, featuring a floor-to-ceiling collage of window shutters and tables painted in bright colors. Cocktails are excellent, too, such as the Pandan-mic, which subs Hendrick’s gin for coconut rum.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai is a popular Thai dish made with noodles, protein, vegetables and other healthy ingredients. It is easy to make at home and can be a delicious option for a fast and healthy meal.
While different chefs have their own variations of this dish, the base is always a delicious combination of stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, and tofu or shrimp. The dish also includes tamarind (or tamarind paste) to add the signature sweet, sour, and tart flavor.
While this food is a great source of fiber, protein and vitamin A it can be high in carbohydrates and calories. However, by limiting the amount of noodles and adding more vegetables, it can be made a healthier option. Also, using a cooking oil that provides health benefits will help keep the calorie count low.
Pad See Ew
Pad See Ew is a stir-fried Thai noodle dish that translates to “fried with soy sauce.” It’s one of the most popular takeout dishes in Thailand. This rice noodle dish is made with noodles, protein, vegetables and sauce. The main flavoring ingredient is dark soy sauce. This Asian condiment has a rich umami and is essential for this recipe.
Another important flavoring is oyster sauce. This Asian seafood sauce adds a salty, savory, sweet and sticky texture to this delicious noodle dish.
This is a healthy cooking method, but you can also bake your noodles and veggies in the oven to reduce the amount of oil needed. This is especially useful if you’re following a low carb diet. For a healthier version of this dish, use alternative noodles like shirataki or zucchini noodles that are lower in carbohydrates.
Tom Yum Goong
This classic Thai dish features a fragrant, flavorful broth with succulent shrimp and other herbs. It is a great source of protein and has a high nutritional value. It also contains capsaicin, which can help relieve pain and improve the immune system.
The broth is a blend of lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves to give the soup a unique herby flavor. Adding a splash of coconut milk makes it creamy. It is also rich in antioxidants, which help boost the immune system.
Using the shrimp head and shells is essential to the dish, as they are what provide the umami seafood flavor in the broth. Other healthy ingredients include mushrooms, straw mushroom or shimeji and Thai chili paste (nam prik pao) which is similar to a sweet savoury chile jam.
Thai Fried Rice
Khao Pad Goong, also known as Thai Fried Rice, is a classic street food dish. It is served at most stir fry restaurants and can be made with any kind of meat or vegetables, though shrimp is the most popular choice.
This fried rice is best made with day-old steamed jasmine rice. The slightly dried rice absorbs more of the sauces and aromatics that are added to the wok. The dish is seasoned with salt, thin soy sauce, fish sauce, and white pepper. To add a touch of heat, we recommend adding finely chopped Thai chili peppers (use sparingly) or sprinkling in some red pepper flakes.
Fresh basil leaves add a fragrant aroma and flavor to the dish. You can replace them with cilantro or Chinese broccoli, if desired.
Thai Noodles
Noodles were a latecomer to Thai food, but they are now ubiquitous. You’ll find a noodle shop in every town. Phad thai and pad see ew are two of the most popular options, featuring wide rice noodles, greens, eggs, and your choice of protein. They are stir fried to pick up a bit of the wok hei that distinguishes so many Chinese dishes, and topped with peanuts and bean sprouts.
This easy recipe for thai-inspired noodles is perfect for weeknight dinners. The homemade peanut sauce is simple, and the veggies are fresh and satisfying. It’s a great meal to prepare ahead of time, and it tastes good warm, lukewarm, or even cold. Just remember to top it with the nuts and sesame seeds right before serving.