15 Best Thai Noodle Dishes

Pad Thai

Pad Thai is a quintessential Thai street food dish that combines sweet, sour, and savory flavors with a delightful mix of noodles, proteins, and vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 200g shrimp or chicken, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Soak rice noodles in hot water for about 10 minutes or until soft, then drain.
2. In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic until fragrant.
3. Add shrimp or chicken and stir-fry until cooked through.
4. Push the protein to one side and crack eggs into the pan, scrambling until set.
5. Add drained noodles, bean sprouts, fish sauce, sugar, tamarind paste, and chili powder; toss to combine.
6. Serve topped with lime wedges, crushed peanuts, and garnish with cilantro.

Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

A spicy and aromatic dish, Drunken Noodles are known for their bold flavors and are perfect for those who enjoy a kick in their meals.

Ingredients:

• 200g wide rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 200g beef or chicken, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 Thai bird's eye chilies, chopped
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• Fresh basil leaves

Cooking method:

1. Soak the rice noodles in hot water until soft, then drain.
2. Heat oil in a wok and stir-fry garlic and chilies until fragrant.
3. Add meat and cook until browned, then add onion and bell peppers, stir-frying until vegetables are tender.
4. Toss in the drained noodles, soy sauce, and oyster sauce, mixing well to coat.
5. Stir in fresh basil leaves and serve hot.

Thai Glass Noodle Salad (Yum Woon Sen)

This refreshing salad combines glass noodles with fresh herbs and a zesty dressing, perfect for a light and healthy meal.

Ingredients:

• 100g glass noodles
• 200g ground pork or shrimp
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
• Fresh cilantro and mint leaves

Cooking method:

1. Soak glass noodles in warm water until soft, then drain.
2. Cook ground pork or shrimp in a skillet until fully cooked, then set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar to create a dressing.
4. Combine noodles, cooked pork or shrimp, onion, carrot, and tomatoes, and toss with the dressing.
5. Top with chopped peanuts, cilantro, and mint leaves before serving.

Khao Soi

Khao Soi is a flavorful northern Thai noodle soup with a rich coconut curry broth, commonly served with egg noodles.

Ingredients:

• 200g egg noodles
• 300g chicken thighs
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons red curry paste
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Pickled mustard greens
• Fried shallots for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Cook egg noodles according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
2. In a large pot, bring coconut milk and chicken broth to a simmer.
3. Stir in curry paste, fish sauce, and sugar, then add chicken thighs and cook until tender.
4. Divide cooked noodles into bowls, ladle soup over them, and garnish with lime wedges, mustard greens, and fried shallots.

Pad See Ew

This popular street food is a savory and slightly sweet noodle dish made with soy sauce and Chinese broccoli.

Ingredients:

• 200g wide rice noodles
• 200g chicken or tofu, sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup Chinese broccoli, chopped

Cooking method:

1. Soak rice noodles in hot water until soft, then drain.
2. Heat oil in a pan and stir-fry garlic until fragrant.
3. Add chicken or tofu and cook until browned, then add Chinese broccoli and continue stir-frying.
4. Add the drained noodles, soy sauces, and sugar, tossing to coat evenly.
5. Serve hot and enjoy the savory flavors.

Green Curry Noodles

A fusion of traditional Thai green curry and noodles, this dish is aromatic and rich in flavor with a creamy coconut base.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons green curry paste
• 200g chicken or shrimp
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, zucchini)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• Fresh basil leaves

Cooking method:

1. Cook rice noodles according to package instructions and set aside.
2. In a pan, simmer coconut milk and green curry paste together until fragrant.
3. Add chicken or shrimp and mixed vegetables, cooking until fully done.
4. Stir in fish sauce and toss with cooked noodles.
5. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.

Thai Beef Noodle Soup

A comforting and savory soup that's perfect for warming up on a cool day.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 300g beef slices
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Bean sprouts and fresh cilantro for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Cook rice noodles as per package instructions and set aside.
2. In a pot, bring beef broth to a simmer, adding soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, and sugar.
3. Add beef slices and cook until tender.
4. Serve soup over noodles, garnished with bean sprouts and cilantro.

Tom Yum Noodles

This dish takes the iconic Tom Yum soup and turns it into a flavorful noodle dish with a spicy, tangy kick.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 200g shrimp
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons Tom Yum paste
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Prepare rice noodles as per package instructions and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, bring chicken broth and Tom Yum paste to a simmer.
3. Add mushrooms and shrimp, cooking until just done.
4. Stir in fish sauce and lime juice, then add noodles to the broth.
5. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Thai Peanut Noodles

Creamy and nutty, these Thai Peanut Noodles are a treat for anyone who loves the rich flavor of peanut sauce.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (e.g., carrots, bell peppers)
• Crushed peanuts and green onions for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Cook rice noodles according to package instructions and set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and lime juice to make the sauce.
3. In a pan, stir-fry mixed vegetables until tender, then add noodles and sauce.
4. Toss everything to coat the noodles well.
5. Garnish with crushed peanuts and green onions before serving.

Red Curry Noodles

Combining the spice of red curry with the heartiness of noodles, this dish is both satisfying and packed with flavor.

Ingredients:

• 200g rice noodles
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons red curry paste
• 200g chicken or tofu
• 1 cup vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, carrots)
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• Fresh basil leaves

Cooking method:

1. Cook rice noodles as per package directions and set aside.
2. In a skillet, heat coconut milk and red curry paste until fragrant.
3. Add chicken or tofu and vegetables, cook until everything is tender.
4. Stir in fish sauce and add in the cooked noodles, mixing well.
5. Serve garnished with fresh basil leaves.