A dish of humble beginnings, Pad Thai is one of Thailand’s most famous culinary treats, and no doubt one of the most ordered items off Thai menus worldwide. It was even ranked as #5 in CNN’s Readers’ Choice of “World’s 50 Best Foods” in 2011. But fewer people would know that Pad Thai was once a dish of nationalistic motivation.
Pad Thai traces its origins back to the 1930s. The end of absolute monarchy in 1932, a name change from Siam to Thailand, and the beginning of the current democratic system of constitutional monarchy led to a wave of nationalistic pride combined with a desire to modernise and westernise Thailand. To help build Thailand’s new identity, Prime minister Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram held a public contest to find a national noodle dish.
Part of the aim of this was to move away from the culinary influence of China and the dependence on popular rice and wheat noodles as primary food staples. The winning dish used thin sen chan rice noodles (what we know today), similar to those in Vietnamese pho.
It’s one of the only times you catch us muttering this, but ‘Hooray for nationalism!’ It gave birth to this ubiquitous dish of rice noodles, stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu, flavoured with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper, and palm sugar, topped off with chopped roasted peanuts, and served with lime wedges. Magnificent.
If Thailand is out of reach this winter season, you can be sure there is no shortage of Thai restaurants right here in town to satisfy your taste buds.
T For Thai @ 1502 HuaiHai Zhong Lu, 2/F – Is an expat favourite with a great modern ambiance conveniently located in the Former French Concession. For those with kids, you’ll be happy to know they have a children’s play area so both parents and the little ones can enjoy themselves! Don’t miss the neat tuk-tuk decor photo ops.
First Thai Boat Noodles @ 388 MaDang Lu, Soho Fuxing Plaza, B1-22 – If you’re in Xintiandi and looking for a reasonably priced quick fix, foodies are raving about this place. Be sure to try their Boat Noodles (obviously), the Shrimp Balls, and the Fried Pig’s Feet side dishes.
Thai Gallery @ 127 DaTian Lu – A cozy spot in Jing’An. The Green Papaya Salad is a hit, as is the tatami mat seating. The Green Curry and Shrimp Dishes are also on the must-order list.
Urban Thai @ 938 ChangLe Lu – Owned by a mother-daughter duo, it has two Puxi locations but is also available for delivery through Sherpa’s. They use fresh ingredients, and make a fantastic Thai Iced Tea.
Simply Thai – This popular and award-winning restaurant opened in 1999. With great appetizers like their Satay Mixed Platter plus tons of delicious Curries, you can’t go wrong. If you can’t make it to one of their numerous branches across town, it’s also available for delivery through Sherpa’s.