Published May 03, 2019 Updated Sep 02, 2024
What Is Pad See Ew
Pad See Ew (sometimes spelled Pad Siew, Pad Siu or Phat Si-Io) is a Thai fried rice noodle dish with soy sauce, meat or seafood and vegetables. Pad means fried and See Ew means soy sauce, so it means fried soy sauce in Thai language. It’s a Chinese recipe that has been adapted to local Thai flavor. If you go to Thailand, you can find it sold by street vendors all over the country, just like Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles). Pad Siew is one of my favorite Thai recipes, it’s delicious and utterly satisfying. I can eat it almost every day.
Flat Rice Noodles
Authentic Pad See Ew is easy to find in Thailand, but for the best experience, look for local spots that use fresh ingredients and traditional methods. Street vendors are known for their tasty Pad Siew. They often set up small stalls or carts along the roadside (called “soi” in Thai) and cook the dish right in front of you. They use a hot wok to stir-fry wide rice noodles with soy sauce, garlic, eggs, veggies, and meat or tofu. The cooking is quick and lively, filling the air with delicious smells. Each vendor might add their own special touch, so you can enjoy different flavors wherever you go. It’s a fun and authentic way to enjoy this noodle dish. In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make Pad See Ew at home, with easy-to-follow ingredient guides to help you cook Thai food with ease. Sidenote: In Thailand, street food often comes with a variety of condiments to customize the flavor according to your preference. These are typically housed in a condiment canister set on the tabletop and may include dried chili powder or chili flakes, sugar, fish sauce, and Thai chilies in vinegar. Sometimes, you might also find lime-based chili sauce and chopped peanuts. My favorite is the Thai chilies condiment (pictured above), which is great with noodle dishes.
Pad See Ew Ingredients
There are different types of rice noodles used in Thai cooking, for the best recipe, you will need fresh flat rice noodles. They are available fresh at Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai or Asian stores. They are packaged in a plastic bag. The rice noodles are soft, pliable, flat, white in color, and shiny looking as the noodles are coated with oil. If fresh rice noodles are not available, you may use dry rice sticks. For this recipe, I recommend wide rice noodles, measuring 3/8″ (1-cm) in width, as pictured below. To prep, just follow the package instructions and soak the dried rice noodles in warm water for 30-60 minutes until they become soft and pliable. Rinse the rice noodles with cold water, drain and set them aside for cooking. If they’re still a bit firm, quickly cook them in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then rinse and drain them. And that’s it—your noodles are good to go!
Chicken – a popular choice of protein for this noodle dish. Shrimp – I like a combination of chicken and shrimp. Gailan (Chinese broccoli) – When picking gailan/kailan, go for ones with bright, dark green leaves and crunchy, firm stems. Skip any with yellowing leaves or limp, wilted stems. Egg – The egg gets scrambled right into the noodles, making them creamy and helping everything stick together.
Shopping Guide: In the United States, you can buy Nona Lim brand fresh Pad See Ew Noodles at Whole Foods.
Pad See Ew Sauce
The sauce calls for a few basic seasonings below. The noodles are stir-fried with the sauce but the dish is actually pretty dry.
Soy sauce – Pad Siu, which translates to “stir fried soy sauce noodles” in Thai, gets its deep, savory flavor and rich color from soy sauce. Thai sweet soy sauce – This sauce gives Pad Siu its signature rich and slightly sweet flavor. It also adds that classic color to the rice noodles. Fish sauce – Adds a savory, umami boost. Oyster sauce – Adds a savory, slightly sweet taste and makes everything glossy. Sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the salty and savory flavors from the sauces.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Pad See Ew
Helpful Tips For Home Cooks
This is a quick, easy, tried-and-tested Pad Siew recipe. You will need garlic, chicken, shrimp, rice noodles and the seasonings above. For the best results, stir fry the noodles in a hot and well-seasoned wok. If you don’t have a wok, you can make the noodles in a skillet. High heat is very important to flash cook and stir fry the noodles. I love eggs in my Pad Siu, which you can add during the cooking process. You can certainly make it without eggs. If you want to make a vegetarian or vegan version of the recipe, you can skip the chicken and replace with tofu. For the sauce, you can use soy sauce instead of fish sauce and oyster sauce. For extra flavors, you may add Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce.
What To Serve With This Recipe
This Thai stir fried rice noodles is best served alone or with a main dish (such as Green Curry) or appetizers. For a wholesome Thai meal at home , I recommend pairing it with the following recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates. Additionally, feel free to explore my other authentic Thai recipes, such as Tom Yum, Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Thai Cucumber Salad next. They are all amazing and taste just like the ones in Bangkok!
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