Over the past 15 years, the Thai population in America has grown to be twice its previous size. With this amazing spike in people with welcoming traditions, fun events, and interesting beliefs, another great change has taken place: the rise of Thai food in the US.
Pad Thai is one of the most popular foods in both Thailand and in America, and you’ve likely had (and loved) it many times before. But where did this delicious dish come from? That’s what we’re going to talk about here today! Read on to learn the history of Pad Thai and how it became the popular comfort food that it is today.
The Invention of a National Dish
The man who invented Pad Thai, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, was the true definition of a renaissance man. Known more popularly as Phibun, he played a huge role in a 1932 military coup that stripped the Thai monarchy of absolute power. He then went on to become a military officer that defeated the royalist rebellion and went on to be the Thai Minister of Defense.
As you might imagine, Phibun was quite a patriotic man. He decided to invent a national dish that brought the nation together and symbolized the people’s love for their country.
While there are many ways that Pad Thai may have come to be, the common denominator is that Phibun had noodles stir-fried in the Chinese style with Thai spices and ingredients like peanuts, tamarind, and palm sugar.
What Happened During World War II
From there, it became a common Thai street food that’s sold at many markets and small restaurants.
Much of the promotion for Pad Thai took place during World War II, which makes sense considering that the dish was invented in 1938. Thailand suffered a shortage of rice during this time because of the military action and floods. By this point, Phibun was the Prime Minister of Thailand and, therefore, the leader of the nation. He encouraged the people to eat rice noodles instead.
Proliferation in Popularity
At the end of WWII, Pad Thai was a solidly established part of Thailand’s national identity. When Thai immigrants came to the US (and to other countries), they brought this dish with them. Because essential ingredients could be imported from Thailand, the dishes were authentic and delicious.
People all around the world began to enjoy Pad Thai, and Thai immigrants were happy to share in this part of their culture. In time, it was listed as one of CNN’s ‘World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods’ and has appeared many times in pop culture all around the globe.
Order Pad Thai (and More) Now
Now that you know the history of Pad Thai and how such a delicious dish came to be, it’s time to enjoy a delicious bowl of these noodles. Check out our noodle menu to order our award-winning Pad Thai and to view the many other noodle dishes that we offer. We’re excited to cook you some fresh food and make your day brighter!
Sign Up for Our Mailing List
FAQs
Pad Thai was created during the dictatorship of Plaek Pibulsonggram, known as Phibun, who ruled Thailand for two periods: 1938-1944 and 1948-1957. This ruler made the request to create a dish that would be an emblem for the country and that would make Thai cuisine stand out in the world.
What makes Pad Thai famous? ›
What makes Pad Thai the most popular of all Thai dishes could be attributed to taste, ease of preparation, low cost, and high availability as street food. It is a dish that hits all the flavorful notes – sour, sweet, bitter, salty and umami.
What is an interesting fact about Pad Thai? ›
What's the back story? Siam was renamed Thailand in 1939 and soon after a competition was run to create a “national dish”. Pad Thai was the dish picked by Prime Minister Phibun, partly because the noodles made it a thrifty (and filling) choice during those tough World War II years.
Why is Thai food so amazing? ›
Over time, Thai cuisine absorbed influences from neighboring countries like China, India, and Malaysia, as well as European traders and explorers. These cultural exchanges brought new flavors, spices, and cooking techniques that blended with indigenous Thai ingredients to create a unique fusion of tastes.
Is Pad Thai actually eaten in Thailand? ›
Many people seem to think that this is not a real Thai dish. (Spoiler: It is. It's not a popular one, but it certainly exists.)
What does Pad Thai mean in English? ›
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”.
Why does Pad Thai taste so good? ›
There is a scientific reason why Pad Thai is so delicious. It follows a Thai culinary tradition of using all five tastes which are salty, sour, sweet, spicy and bitter. That is why the dish is so tantalizingly tasty!… It hits all five flavor profiles in the mouth!
What does pad stand for in Thai food? ›
Pad (ผัด) – means fried. There are however, countless Thai dishes with the word Pad in it. The main ingredient in Pad Thai is rice noodles which are stir-fried. So, if you were to roughly translate Pad Thai, you'd have to say the dish is stir-fried noodles Thai style.
Why is Pad Thai orange color? ›
When it's sold in restaurants outside Thailand, the noodles are sometimes bright orange – that's because sauces or spices, like paprika, have been used instead of tamarind. Authentic Pad Thai is a light reddish-brown colour.
What does Pad Thai symbolize? ›
The dish was created because Thailand was focused on nation-building. So this dish was created using rice noodles and it was called Pad Thai as a way to galvanize nationalism." Another explanation of pad thai's provenance holds that, during World War II, Thailand suffered a rice shortage due to the war and floods.
10 facts about peripheral arterial disease
- PAD affects 12-14% of the world's population.
- PAD affects six times more people worldwide than HIV.
- Eight million Americans suffer from PAD.
- PAD affects 20% of patients over age 75.
- One in three diabetics over age 50 suffer from PAD.
The original name for Pad Thai, was 'Gway Teow Pad Thai'. 'Gway Teow' is a Chinese word for rice noodles, while 'Pad' means 'fried' and 'Thai' means 'in Thai style'. Some people believe that a similar creation to Pad Thai was brought to Siam by Chinese traders in the 1700s.
What is the secret of Thai food? ›
So here are the two real tricks to achieving that great Thai taste when cooking at home. Firstly, always use entirely fresh produce whenever you can. Secondly, avoid pre-made or off the shelf seasonings, instead prepare them yourself using the raw ingredients.
How was pad thai invented? ›
PAD THAI HISTORY
Pad Thai was born in Thailand during the time of World War II. Interestingly, a dish as delicious as Pad Thai was created by a politician! The Prime Minister made this popular dish at the time. He was concerned about the country's high rice consumption.
Why is Thai food so addictive? ›
One of the most distinctive features of Thai food is its complex flavor profile. Thai cuisine is a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors, creating a symphony of tastes in every dish. The combination of these flavors is what makes Thai food so addictive and mouth-watering.
Is Pad Thai Japanese or Thai? ›
Pad Thai is a Thai noodle stir fry with a sweet-savoury-sour sauce scattered with crushed peanuts. It's made with thin, flat rice noodles, and almost always has bean sprouts, garlic chives, scrambled egg, firm tofu and a protein – the most popular being chicken or prawns/shrimp.
Can Muslims eat Pad Thai? ›
Pad Thai – Thailand's Famous Stir-Fried Noodles
You can choose to have your pad thai with shrimp or chicken, and it can be prepared according to how mild or spicy you want it. If you would like it to be Halal, let the chef know not to add shrimp paste, fish sauce, or alcohol.
Why is Pad Thai red? ›
What's the secret to an authentic Pad Thai? When it's sold in restaurants outside Thailand, the noodles are sometimes bright orange – that's because sauces or spices, like paprika, have been used instead of tamarind. Authentic Pad Thai is a light reddish-brown colour.
