If you have ever been to Thailand or fond of going to a Thai restaurant or try the Thailand’s cultural cuisines, you would have definitely heard about or tried Pad Thai – the most popular Thai street food.

For you and for all other unversed about this dish, Pad Thai is Thailand’s national dish, a typical Thai street food, which is in the form of stir-fried noodle dish.

What Exactly is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai, basically is a stir-fried noodle dish that is made with egg, chopped tofu, and consists of ingredients like tamarind pulp, fish sauce, shallots, garlic, dried shrimp, palm sugar and red chilli pepper.  A variety of textures and umami flavours make this into a delicious meal which is often served with chopped roasted peanuts and lime wedges, resulting in a flavourful and tasty meal that is loved by everyone.

Origin of Pad-Thai

Pad Thai is a part of popular, globally present stir-fried noodles. Phibunsongkhram, also known as Phibun, who became Thai PM in 1938 is belied to have propagated the creation of a new national dish of Thailand, which ultimately resulted in Pad Thai. It is also believed that the rice shortage after World War II prompted the Thai government to encourage use of noodles which paved the way for making Pad Thai so much popular as it is now.

While Pad Thai was created in its simplest form, it was not long before different ingredients and textures were added to create varieties of Pad Thai dish. However, there are still many vendors around Thailand where you can find Pad Thai in its original recipe.

What is So Special About Pad Thai?

When I was on a trip to Thailand, as an avid foodie I wanted to experience everything indigenous what Thai culture had to offer me. This is when I heard about a popular saying from famous chef and Thailand native Nick Srisawat, “we try Pad Thai first, because that is a way to judge how good a restaurant is.” And as it turned out, I fell in love with Pad Thai from the very first beginning. I tried varieties of Pad Thai across different regions including the original recipe and one made with Chanburi rice noodles and crushed peanut, bean curd and egg. But the original and traditional one was what I loved the most, and I recommend it to everyone visiting Thailand.

Pad Thai is a special and staple street food in Thailand and is sold in city streets as well as in villages. It’s an easy-to-make dish and is usually found in 5 different flavours – salty, sweet, bitter, sour and spicy.

An interesting fact about Pad Thai is that although it is national dish in Thailand, this is inspired from Chinese stir-fried noodle food culture.

And for all those, wondering what is ‘Pad’ in Pad Thai; it actually means ‘fried’.

Some of the Popular Pad Thai Restaurants in Thailand

• Thip Samai (also known as Pratu Pee, meaning ‘ghost gate’)
• Baan Phadthai Restaurant
• Pad Thai Mae Am
• Sukhumvit Soi 38 Street
• Yaowarat Street (Chinatown)

So, whenever you are in Thailand, these places are a must visit for you to try some lip-smacking, delicious Thai national dish.

We also have packing tips for you if you’re planning to visit the wonderful country of Thailand.

The post What Exactly is Pad Thai? appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

When you move abroad, one of the biggest challenges we face is the language burden. And for people who have travelled a bit, or are a passionate traveller they understand that language barrier is not just limited to basic language skills. There are certain phrases that you can come across and may find themselves jumbled juggling them to find the right answer.

Sometimes, when we travel abroad, we do want to feel invited and are not able to connect with the locals as efficiently as possible. When I travelled Europe last year, there was a sense of disconnection I could feel coz I wasn’t able to greet them, have a bonhomie in local pubs or with the shop owners, which somewhat made me felt isolated. That was the point when I bookmarked learning phrases beforehand whenever I travel to another country, something that helped me exceedingly well in my summer trip to Thailand this year.

Here, I have compiled a list of some must-learn Thai phrases that you must learn before you pack your bags to leave:

For Addressing People

You can’t just point up to someone; but being educated in general terms for addressing people are what is going to get people comfortable with you:

• Chán – Female
• Pŏm – Male
• Kun – You
• Kao – He/She/They
• Nong – Junior (Male/Female)
• Pee – Senior (Male/Female)

For Greeting People

Greeting when you meet a new person, or expressing your gratitude to someone, and so are some instances when connecting in their local phrases is something really takes your connection to the next level. So, here goes some must-know Thai phrases for greeting:

• Sawatdii – Hello
• Sabaaidii – I’m fine
• Kun chuu arai? – What is your name?
• Pŏm / Chán chuu __ – My name is __
• Sabaaidii – How are you?
• Khop kun – Thank you
• Mai bpenrai – No problem
• Khot hort – Sorry
• Lah gorn – Goodbye
• Chai / Mai Chai— Yes / No
• Kor Tot – Excuse me

For Asking / Communicating Directions

When in a new place, there are always times when you are lost for directions, and you are gonna need some local help to look for the ways around the town. There is possibility that you may meet a local who may not be fluent in English, and so you will need the following phrases ready to ask:

• Leo Sai / Leo Kwaa – Turn Left / Turn Right
• Yut / Bai – Stop / Go
• Hai Chah Long – Slow Down
• Haawng Naam Yuu Thee Nai? – Where Is The Bathroom?

At the Market

Being fluent in some key phrases can help you negotiate and find the item at good bargain:

• A Nee Tao Rai? – How Much Is This?
• Ao annii – I want this one
• Phaeng Mark Pai – Too Expensive

At a Restaurant

Trying local cuisine is a must-do for every traveller. But finding a delicious food item, talk about the cuisines with a restaurant staff and get personalised service can get comfortable when you are proficient in following phrases:

• Hiu – I’m Hungry
• Nam – Water
• Mai Sai Nam Tam – No Sugar
• Chawp Pet Noi – I Like It A Little Bit Spicy
• Aroi – Delicious

So, these are some key phrases which came a lot handy for me, and I’m sure, these are going to be for you too.

The post Going to Thailand? Wait appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.