Pad thai
ผัดไทย Pad thai · Bangkok, Thailand
A 'national dish' that only appeared in the 1930s, promoted to build national identity.
Antes de ir · Know before you go
- Don't put food in your mouth with a fork (Thais hold the spoon in the right hand and the fork in the left, using the fork only to push food onto the spoon)
- don't point your feet at food or step over food on the floor
Este artículo está «Sin verificar». Consulte los avisos oficiales sobre precios, horarios y fechas.
Culture
Cultura y costumbres
Contexto cultural
Pad thai is a street dish of stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp, peanuts, spring onion, egg, sugar and bean sprouts. Stir-fried rice noodles came to Thailand with Chinese immigrants centuries ago — the word 'kuay teow' is borrowed from Teochew — but the dish called 'pad thai' ('Thai-style stir-fry') only appeared in the 1930s, named 'Thai' to build national identity. A common story is that during the Second World War, with rice short because of war and floods, the government promoted a noodle dish made with rice noodles.
Costumbres locales
- The table has four condiments — sugar, fish sauce, chilli flakes and vinegar — to add as you like
- squeeze in lime before eating
Etiquette
Normas y tabúes
Normas que se aplican aquí
Drones must be registered in Thailand
- Register with Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) within 30 days of arrival or purchase, even if you don't plan to fly
- Bringing in an unregistered drone
Fines of up to THB 100,000 or 5 years in prison, or both.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
E-cigarettes are completely illegal in Thailand
- Leave e-cigarettes, pods and e-liquids at home before you travel
- Carrying or using e-cigarettes, pods, e-liquids or heated-tobacco devices
Confiscation, fines (usually THB 5,000–30,000), detention and prosecution; no exceptions for tourists or personal use.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
Never insult the Thai royal family
- Treat portraits of the royal family and related topics with respect and care
- Posting or sharing any criticism of, or jokes about, the royal family, online included
The lèse-majesté law is interpreted very broadly and can bring long prison sentences; it applies to past and present members of the royal family.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Thailand travel advice
No lo haga DON'T
- Don't put food in your mouth with a fork (Thais hold the spoon in the right hand and the fork in the left, using the fork only to push food onto the spoon)
- don't point your feet at food or step over food on the floor
Lo que aprecian los locales DO
Thais appreciate visitors who can say 'aroi' (delicious).
Plan your visit
Información práctica
Consejos de viaje
- There are many old shops around Khao San Road and the old city
- night-market stalls are cheapest. Prices and opening hours are set by each shop
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Fuentes y notas de verificación
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