Phat Si-Io Recipes: Simple, Bold Thai Noodles You’ll Love

Q: Are pad see ew and drunken noodles the same?

No. Though both use wide rice noodles, pad see ew (phat si-io) is more mellow with sweet-salty soy flavors and minimal spice. Drunken noodles ( pad kee mao ) are fiery, herbal, and loaded with chili, garlic, and basil. Think of pad see ew as the calm cousin and pad kee mao as the bold one.

Q: What veggies do you put in a pad see ew?

Traditional recipes use Chinese broccoli (gai lan) , which has a bitter bite that balances the soy. But you can use baby bok choy , broccolini , or even kale if needed. Stick to hearty greens that won’t turn mushy in high heat.

Q: Is Phat Thai the same as Pad Thai?

Yes— Phat Thai is simply the more accurate Romanization of the Thai spelling. "Pad Thai" became more common in Western countries, but they refer to the same dish. Just note: phat si-io is a different noodle dish entirely, darker and more soy-forward than Pad Thai.

Q: What makes Pad Thai so orange?

The bright orange color in some Pad Thai dishes comes from tamarind paste , paprika , and sometimes food coloring used by vendors. Phat si-io skips these, leaning into dark soy for a caramelized, brownish glaze.

Question 1

What are the 5 flavors of Pad Thai?

Accepted Answer

Pad Thai balances five key tastes: sweet (usually from palm sugar), sour (often from tamarind paste), salty (from fish sauce or soy), spicy (from chili), and umami (from dried shrimp or peanuts). Phat si-io, in contrast, focuses on salty and sweet, with a deep, savory soy base and no tamarind or shrimp.

Question 2

Are pad see ew and drunken noodles the same?

Accepted Answer

No. Though both use wide rice noodles, pad see ew (phat si-io) is more mellow with sweet-salty soy flavors and minimal spice. Drunken noodles (pad kee mao) are fiery, herbal, and loaded with chili, garlic, and basil. Think of pad see ew as the calm cousin and pad kee mao as the bold one.

Question 3

What veggies do you put in a pad see ew?

Accepted Answer

Traditional recipes use Chinese broccoli (gai lan), which has a bitter bite that balances the soy. But you can use baby bok choy, broccolini, or even kale if needed. Stick to hearty greens that won’t turn mushy in high heat.

Question 4

What is the Chinese version of Pad Thai?

Accepted Answer

There isn’t a direct Chinese version of Pad Thai, but dishes like chow fun (wide rice noodles stir-fried with soy sauce and beef) share similarities. Chow mein is another close cousin—different flavors, but the same quick-fry, noodle-forward technique.

Question 5

Is Phat Thai the same as Pad Thai?

Accepted Answer

Yes—Phat Thai is simply the more accurate Romanization of the Thai spelling. "Pad Thai" became more common in Western countries, but they refer to the same dish. Just note: phat si-io is a different noodle dish entirely, darker and more soy-forward than Pad Thai.

Question 6

What makes Pad Thai so orange?

Accepted Answer

The bright orange color in some Pad Thai dishes comes from tamarind paste, paprika, and sometimes food coloring used by vendors. Phat si-io skips these, leaning into dark soy for a caramelized, brownish glaze.

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition