Timed Reading — Street Food

Pad Thai is one of the most popular dishes in the world. It is a stir-fried noodle dish made with rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, and a sauce made from tamarind, fish sauce, and sugar. The sauce gives it a unique taste — sour, sweet, and salty all at the same time. It is usually topped with crushed peanuts and a slice of lime. Street vendors cook it quickly in a very hot wok. The whole process usually takes less than two minutes.

What most people do not know is that Pad Thai is a fairly new dish. Chinese noodle dishes had been popular in Thailand for a long time, but in the 1930s and 1940s the Thai government wanted to create something more uniquely Thai. The prime minister, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, wanted to build a strong national identity. He encouraged Thai people to eat noodles instead of rice, because noodles were cheaper and could feed more people. The government gave out recipes and encouraged street vendors to sell the new dish. It worked. Pad Thai spread quickly and became one of the most popular dishes in Thai street food.

Today, Pad Thai is sold on almost every street corner in Thailand. In Bangkok, it tends to be a little sweeter, made with shrimp or chicken. In the north, it is often spicier and is served with fresh vegetables. Wherever you buy it, the smell of frying noodles and garlic fills the air. It is fast, affordable, and delicious.