Best & Worst Thai Food According to a Thai Chef

When you walk into an average Thai restaurant, which dishes are likely going to satisfy, and which are likely going to suck. Here's my tier list to help you maximize your chances of having a great Thai meal!
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RECIPES RANKED:
Green Curry hot-thai-kitchen.com/green-cu...
Tom Yum hot-thai-kitchen.com/tom-yum-...
Beef & Broccoli hot-thai-kitchen.com/beef-and...
Cashew Chicken hot-thai-kitchen.com/cashew-c...
Rad Na hot-thai-kitchen.com/rad-na/
Pad See Ew hot-thai-kitchen.com/pad-see-...
Green Papaya Salad hot-thai-kitchen.com/papaya-s...
Hat Yai Fried Chicken hot-thai-kitchen.com/hat-yai-...
Tom Kha Gai hot-thai-kitchen.com/tom-ka-gai/
Pad Kee Mao hot-thai-kitchen.com/pad-kee-...
Boat Noodles hot-thai-kitchen.com/boat-noo...
Chicken Satay hot-thai-kitchen.com/chicken-...
Yum Pladook Foo hot-thai-kitchen.com/yum-pla-...
Mango Sticky Rice hot-thai-kitchen.com/mango-st...
Pad Gaprao (Pad Kra Pao) hot-thai-kitchen.com/holy-bas...
Laab hot-thai-kitchen.com/laab-moo/
Pad Thai hot-thai-kitchen.com/best-pad...
MY KITCHEN TOOLS & INGREDIENTS: kit.co/hotthaikitchen
ALL MY RECIPES: hot-thai-kitchen.com/
MY COOKBOOK: hot-thai-kitchen.com/htk-cook...
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----------------
About Pai:
Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant is the author of the Hot Thai Kitchen cookbook, co-host of a Canadian TV series One World Kitchen on Gusto TV, and creator and host of the KZbin channel Pailin's Kitchen.
Pai was born and raised in southern Thailand where she spent much of her "playtime" in the kitchen. She traveled to Canada to study Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and was later trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in San Francisco.
After working in both Western and Thai professional kitchens, she decided that her passion really lies in educating and empowering others to cook at home via KZbin videos, her cookbook, and cooking classes. She currently lives in Vancouver, and goes to Thailand every year to visit her family. Visit her at hot-thai-kitchen.com

[@PailinsKitchen]

Hello lovely viewers! I hope you enjoy this video! Here are recipes for all of the dishes mentioned: Green Curry hot-thai-kitchen.com/green-curry-new-2/ Tom Yum hot-thai-kitchen.com/tom-yum-goong/ Beef & Broccoli hot-thai-kitchen.com/beef-and-broccoli/ Cashew Chicken hot-thai-kitchen.com/cashew-chicken/ Rad Na hot-thai-kitchen.com/rad-na/ Pad See Ew hot-thai-kitchen.com/pad-see-ew-new/ Green Papaya Salad hot-thai-kitchen.com/papaya-salad-v3/ Hat Yai Fried Chicken hot-thai-kitchen.com/hat-yai-fried-chicken/ Tom Kha Gai hot-thai-kitchen.com/tom-ka-gai/ Pad Kee Mao hot-thai-kitchen.com/pad-kee-mao-2/ Boat Noodles hot-thai-kitchen.com/boat-noodles/ Chicken Satay hot-thai-kitchen.com/chicken-satay/ Yum Pladook Foo hot-thai-kitchen.com/yum-pla-duk-foo/ Mango Sticky Rice hot-thai-kitchen.com/mango-sticky-rice/ Pad Gaprao (Pad Kra Pao) hot-thai-kitchen.com/holy-basil-stir-fry/ Laab hot-thai-kitchen.com/laab-moo/ Pad Thai hot-thai-kitchen.com/best-pad-thai/

[@ems4884]

Every time I hear proper Thai pronunciation, I realize I would really like to learn the basics of the language. It's so distinctive. But I wouldn't get very far into it. That writing system is a beast.

[@ems4884]

P.S. the first Thai dish I ever tried was in Boston and I was only 18. I had no idea what I was ordering and got Pad Gaprow. It was so spicy for me at the time, that I was crying. Lol. And I've been in love with Thai food ever since.

[@Usctrojanduo]

We missed you and I would love for you to post new content weekly. My husband is Thai and I am trying to up my Thai cooking game. I am a master at soul food and other classic American dishes. This California girl needs your help. Wishing you, Adam and the kids a fabulous 2024. #foodnetwork @foodnetwork #newtvstar #pailinsthaikitchen

[@user-vj9zv6ly6n]

Hi Pailin. I'm subscribed for almost 2 years now an enjoying this channel ever since. Picturesque, explicitly, knowledgeable, useful, practical and nicely presented. Uncle Roger also referred to your expertise when mocking Jamie Olver’s green curry. It was something like …”If you want to learn to cook green curry, go watch Hot Thai Kitchen” As for this particular video, could you please supplement the description with the Tier List in written, rather than only graphical form with no dish names in the body of the video. This will be useful as a quick ref when going to a Thai restaurant. Thank you.

[@mikedavis9724]

Hi, big fan. I have seen a couple of red curry videos from a while back, but would you mind updating and going into a deep-dive for making red curry with maybe different proteins and vegetables? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@SenyaiGrubs]

If Yum Pladook Foo didn’t end up in s-tier I was going to riot

[@deadfr0g]

Well, well, well! If it isn’t my third-favourite bean influencer. 😀

[@llocz1jq]

😂😂😂😂

[@eskipotato]

thanks for putting me on Pad Grapao

[@uttopya1]

One of my favourite Laotian/ Thai places in Paris got complaints because their Papaya salad was too spicy, the new waitress apologised to us before she served it, it was pretty mild. I'm fed up with these people who ruin dishes for the rest of us. Don't be so sure about Pad kra pao, I recently ordered one at a new place and they forgot to put any chilli in it at all..... or any basil.

[@edwarddeatley1117]

In regards to papaya salad, it’s really just a matter of telling the waiter how spicy you like it. No spice, foreigner spice, or Thai style. Also, I’ve had really delicious mango sticky rice here in Northern California during the summer months. My favorite is Lao/issan style with the dark little crab pounded into the dish.

[@Aeonleaf]

​@@edwarddeatley1117 It's also very common for the locals in Thailand to taste the papaya salad while the hawker is pounding the salad to ensure they get the right taste.

[@jshoota19ify]

​@edwarddeatley1117 Yes, I live in the northern California Central Valley as well. We are very fortunate to have many very good Southeast Asian restaurants. Now, after watching this video, I'm gonna keep an eye out for those elite tier dishes.

[@bacca71]

My experience in Thailand and throughout Isaarn was when you order som tahm, you specify how hot/sour you want it. pet-piew, for 'hot & sour' or pet-pet piew-piew for 'really spicy and really sour.' Also a more specific qualifier by specifying by how many chili peppers you want pounded into your papaya salad - maximum in Bangkok usually about 8 chili peppers, but in Isaarn specifying 15 chili peppers not uncommon (and my personal maximum in the old days). Since it's made to order by dish it should be easy to be specific as to how spicy and tart you want it. Should be this way in North American Thai restaurants, but it is not always so, unless you are familiar with the staff and owners.

[@nightwing4872]

I went to a Japanese restaurant and the wasabi tasted like starch and no trace of horseradish. When I asked for another one they said all of it is the same because ppl complained that it was too strong 🤯

[@ZeroFox0909]

So happy to see Pad Thai on the D-list. Restaurants, take note, stop cutting corners on ingredients.

[@zippity888]

so true in Australia , no dry prawn and rarely any garlic chive... and charge 24 dollars in my town.

[@g.e.boroush5176]

Completely agree with you. The same occurs with Drunken Noodles. One gets served a plate of greasy wide noodles with 3 bean sprouts and we're supposed to rave about it? SO disappointing! And if a restaurant does that to me, I don't go back. My brother and I found a wonderful Drunken Noodle dish in Boston in a little hole in the wall spot with LOTS of vegg, spice, etc. It is heaven and every Drunken Noodle dish is compared to that one. I'm tired of spending good money for a boring plate of greasy noodles - don't go back!

[@greenislandserenade1]

they need to stop subbing ketchup for tamarind paste 😭

[@songhoang4120]

Can you tell me the name of the restaurant in Boston? I'd like to visit@@g.e.boroush5176

[@failtolawl]

Cutting corners? My guy the whole point of Pad Thai was cutting corners. It was invented for a food shortage.

[@anarey-oktay2683]

I’ve never been disappointed in a Mom&Pop Thai restaurant. Where one spouse is front of house, the other is in the kitchen, and the kids/cousins are waiting tables. Those places make me feel like I’m a guest in their home. Always, the food is excellent.

[@vincentlane1175]

This is my experience as well. So grateful

[@craigbryant3191]

Under your instruction, I've been working this past year on my Pad Thai, Massaman Curry, Tom Kha Gai, and Green Curry, so that I can be free to order other things when we go to Thai restaurants!

[@coolnewpants]

That's a good plan!

[@caviersim3806]

I know exactly what you mean😂 every time I go I HAVE to order both the green curry and Tom yum soup, because I love them both so much and can’t settle for just one

[@Ajhmee]

I'm Thai and I want to confirm about Som Tum (Papaya salad). Thai people want to eat Som Tum when they want something spicy, really spicy. For me it should done with 20+ bird eye chilis or dry red chilis. If Thai people order Som tum and it turn out it is not spicy enough, we have to do it again another day to fix it, to make ourself sweaty so we satisfy. กินส้มตำไม่เผ็ดแล้วมันคาใจ 😆

[@baoTAEfuL]

As a Hmong person, I also agree. When I want papaya salad, I want to hurt a little and satisfy my umami funky spicy cravings. When I make it, I don’t count how many peppers I use, I just grab handfuls. 😁

[@OoMASEoO]

Yes most places make it only taste of fish sauce and sugar 🤢

[@bobbysmith8095]

They would be out of business in North America then lol

[@hailhummus]

Yeah I wish I knew that before eating it in Bangkok, thinking it would be something 'fresh' to deal with the humidity 😂

[@Aibahm]

I'm surely a strange Thai as I can't stand eating spicy food and enjoy eating Papaya Salad with just a half or 1 chilli. haha

[@Anonanimous]

I really like Pailin’s attitude and approach to this tier list because she made it in a way that optimizes the best Thai experience one could get, in her opinion. This is reflective on the entire channel, which is why I love watching it so much, because it feels like a celebration to Thai culture and how Pailin guides the audience through Thai cuisine with her own experience and highlights the best aspects of it. 🎉

[@lofiben]

It's interesting to see this list play out because I'm looking at it from a restaurateur perspective. When my parents had their restaurants, Pad Thai was easily the most popular dish ever. There wasn't a single day out of the 13 years my parents opened that restaurant that we didn't sell Pad Thai. Interestingly enough, Lad Na was a dish we featured in the second restaurant in an Asian majority area and by far the people who ordered that the most were Thai people themselves. We served boat noodles in both the white majority and Asian majority area restaurants and that proved to be very popular among everyone.

[@musicloveranthony]

What an awesome video. This was so fun to watch!! I’m so grateful to live in Minneapolis/St Paul Minnesota. We have Thai restaurants run by people from various ethnicities (Thai, Karen, Isan, Hmong) and have large southeast Asian populations (Thai, Hmong, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Lao) that help drive demand for quality food and quality restaurants. I’ve tried dozens of Thai restaurants over my lifetime here and of course some haven’t been great, but some are really great and I find they seem to really excel at a few dishes. Some of my favorite dishes are nam thok kor moo yang (only one restaurant here serves it), nam khao, papaya salad (HOT and sour as it should be), laab of course, sour sausage, and I love pad kana moo grop!!

[@Krossfyre]

The thing I kind of disagree on is any dish that's stir fried, if they're using a wok and a big burner they can achieve wok hei much more easily than you can. That's an element that's hard to capture at home, unless you're cooking in batches like Kenji recommends, but then you're cooking in batches, which is a bit of a pain. I don't think it really changes the rankings, but it does mean that if their ingredients are decent then they're often a step above what you can achieve at home without more effort.😊

[@loparoychoudhuri2716]

Pailin, among others, your Pad Thai recipe IS the bomb! I tried and tried to make it right before I came across your video. I was simply amazed with the results when I followed your recipe. And now it is a staple at our home. - A huge fan.

[@wendyellis6402]

I did this, too. I’m always disappointed if I order pad Thai at a restaurant.

[@bullymama369]

What a fun and informative video. It was nice to confirm what I've always thought, my Thai curries are far better than any restaurant I have eaten it in. Now I know why. Good authentic recipe, good ingredients. And a good fire in every bite 🤤

[@Suedetussy]

So true, i‘ve always wondered how this could be possible and whether i was crazy to call my food better than in a restaurant. 😅

[@loati94]

Cheaper as well. A thai curry can be 12-15€ where I lieve but for that price, you can eat curry for a week if you make it at home! I would try a restaurant curry if it has duck since that's more expensive to purchase.

[@edwarddeatley1117]

This was one of the funnest cooking videos I have seen in a very long time. Such a clever topic and so well produced. I lived and worked in Thailand for five years, and the only thing I really miss is the food. I also would consider papaya salad to be the national dish of Thailand, hands down.

[@randolphpinkle4482]

While working at a Thai-Muslim high school in Narathiwat, Thailand, my colleagues took me to a tiny restaurant that served a mind-blowing tom yang kung. It was so spicy but balanced that it felt like a laughing narcotic. We ate, joked, and laughed. What a time. Sanuk.

[@Wormsie]

Looking at what ended up on the S-tier, the lesson seems to be "don't go to bad Thai restaurants". 😄 Where I live, stir fried noodle dishes are something you should never order, because none of the restaurants bother frying the noodles. Curries, salads and stir fries tend to be good.

[@writingraven3314]

What an enjoyable video. I love that you included your recipes in the comments. I would love to see more videos like this.

[@awilli20tony]

Great video and solid choices. You also made it fun to watch. I will definitely check out your recipes and stay tuned in. Thank you!!!!❤❤❤❤

[@elsazamparelli1947]

OMG what a great one. All programs are great but this one was unique and very informative. Thanks as always!

[@kulfi4208]

your videos are so helpful and also a joy to watch! please keep making these 💖💐

[@pjab1133]

This was very fun to watch and I love your crisp comments and your sense of humor ! 😘😍😂

[@mon6745]

I love this video concept - also because its a cool list of recipies all linked in the description 😊

[@VicBattlefield]

My one month stay in Thailand was hardly long enough to go through all of the culinary delights this country has to offer. I hope to come back again soon and continue my expedition in this delightful cuisine. In the meantime, I’ll be back home, trying out the different recipes I get from Hot Thai Kitchen. Thank you very much for your great videos in 2023, Khun Palin! Happy New Year 2024🥳

[@susanhosmer6341]

I enjoyed this one. Great information. Love your recipes!

[@brentminick1]

The tier concept of this video is top tier. Really enjoyed the format and feedback from this one!! Great info!

[@stevenrldenault7451]

Super topic and video. Always great to hear your honest reviews. In Winnipeg we have only a handful of Thai places, so I’ll be seeing how many of the S & A dishes are available. Thank you, Steve

[@jonfranklin4583]

Love this ranking, love your video's! Have used some of your recipe's and they have all been very good, thank you!

[@arguello6789]

Pailin is not only a extraordinary chef it is a wonderful and charismatic person. I love her´s recipies and followed her for may years. Greetings from Quito Ecuador

[@ZTTINGS]

Such a delight to watch every time. Thank you x

[@jackyboygee777]

Hi Pai, great to see you back, loved this video as it explains in simple terms what to look out for, thanks for the tips gorgeous.......Happy New Year. 😍😘

[@mordanlike]

Happy New Year! I hope that it'll make you happy that I have made many a meal following your recipes, and it has always turned out impressive to the people I've cooked for. I couldn't have done it without you! Kob khun krap!

[@lindas.8036]

Thank you for the videos. I always enjoy them and usually learn something new!

[@Bmonkeygurl]

The BEST Thai thing I ever ate was a soft shell crab stur fry type thing I had in Bangkok. I fell in love with green peppercorns. My inlaws ruined most Thai restaurant food for me...hahaha With exception: the Pad Woon Sen at our local place is so yumny.

[@Zebeeze]

Love this! Helpful and clever

[@alexwansss]

I often order the drunken noodles at restaurants just to see where they're at with their flavor balances, and if they get it right, most of the time the rest of the menu is great.

[@friendosal6017]

I’ve been making your Pad Thai recipe with 🦐 and I can’t even order Pad Thai in a restaurant anymore. Yours is so good and fresh!

[@mshappyfeet2009]

That was a fun and interesting video! I presume it was the pad thai that you picked out earlier on but opted to go through it in the end? Incidentally, I discovered your channel as I was searching for a pad thai recipe. ☺️

[@parinceo]

Good padthai is difficult to find even in Thailand 😅 agree with most of the list except the mango sticky rice. I find the rice is rarely done right abroad. It’s almost always too mushy.

[@thicclord848]

Even in Thailand, there's a good chance that sticky rice is not that good too. Whenever I wanted to eat mango sticky rice I had a place specialized for sticky rice and another for mango.

[@lemonysnickette]

I worked in a thai restaurant and was always disappointed in our rice. Seems difficult to mess up but we always did..

[@TheTickyTickyTicky]

There's a pad thai place in my hometown hidden in a narrow alley that only opens on a whim. The dish had nothing but noodle and egg, but the taste and the chewiness of the noodle were divine.

[@dalem6597]

You should try Kamkwas pad Thai from New Zealand, best in the world 🌎!!!

[@dalem6597]

@theclevedonfarmersmarket

[@olyman63]

Happy New Year to you. Your shows are so amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us. Have a wonderful day.

[@Jodabomb24]

I stopped ordering pad thai out once I started making Pai's recipe! It takes a little longer to put together than other dishes but it tastes so good and it always makes me happy to eat a big pile of noodles and vegetables and peanuts.

[@carriegrier4032]

I love this video. I am definitely saving this video because I often choose the wrong foods while ordering Thai and end up disappointed. The Pad Thai review is spot on. It is always too sweet when I've ordered it. I made your Mango Sticky Rice and it is absolutely delicious! Your recipe is the only recipe that I used for this dish. I look forward to making more of your recipes.

[@colinmills3175]

🙏🏽 Pai So pleased to have discovered you and your channel 👍I l adore Thai cuisine and would love to learn from you and Kaan ❤❤ Colin 🇬🇧

[@emi-sings]

Thank you Pailin for this very helpful video!!! When going to a restaurant I have a hard time making a decision on what to order! This is great!👍👍👍😁

[@rebeccawhitney3539]

Thanks so much! I love your channel, and have learned so much! One of the most useful recipes is your make ahead pad thai sauce.... now, no one in my family has since ordered Pad Thai in a restaurant.😘

[@karendegraaf3572]

Great video and very useful, thank you! I am making more and more of my own Thai food so do want to stretch it if I'm at a restaurant, but this has some really good warnings for N American places!

[@HenryFromWob]

Thank you Pai for the great video! 😊 For those who are looking for a particular dish: 0:00 Intro 1:22 Tier categories 3:16 Curries 4:50 Tom Yum 5:33 Meats & Veggies Stir-Fries 6:24 Rad Na 7:42 Pad See Ew 8:54 Green Papaya Salad 9:56 Hat Yai Fried Chicken 10:58 Tom Kha Gai 11:37 Pad Kee Mao 12:18 Boat Noodles 13:18 Chicken Satay 14:44 Yum Pladook Foo 16:09 Mango Sticky Rice 17:04 Pad Gaprao 18:05 Laab 18:40 Pad Thai 20:36 Conclusion

[@ricklee5845]

Thank you Henry for the breakdown!

[@jesspoole1105]

Love this video. I grew up in Australia where the Thai food is so good and then moved to the USA and this totally tracks with my experience in Thai restaurants across North America. Basically use your recipes exclusively now to replicate the food we miss so much from home.

[@bennypaulino9506]

Great presentation. Now I know what to order in a Thai Restaurant. Thank you

[@stevehanks4339]

Happy New Year and thanks for another great vid

[@johnr1348]

Thanks for another great video Pai! Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

[@CyraNoavek]

Thank you for this helpful list.

[@SamDobrow]

I love your insights (and recipes). My family prefers me to cook Thai rather than going to a restaurant. One of their favorites is Pad Prik Khing with homemade with chili sauce from scratch. I'm surprised this didn't at least make it to your A or C list.

[@divinegracetio]

I live in Dallas, Tx and everything that Pai said was on point. Lol! Thanks Pai!❤

[@jessepratt1541]

Such a fun video, I loved it! In my personal experience, Laab has been a B or C tier. It's so easy to make and many places I've been to completely mess it up. As an aside, I can't thank you enough for your videos and books. Because of you, I've learned how to make my absolute favorite dishes on the planet.

[@yoni905]

Super video!! Never knew about many of these dishes!

[@habib-vq9fl]

What a creative episode !! It's like Thai food card game trivia☺️ I agree especially about pad sieu👍👍

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the tier list 👍🏻

[@Cega1985]

I am shook... Pad Thai is my go too, and a lot of them are sticky sweet. But now I'm wondering if the good ones I've had are actually trash and now I am having an existential crisis

[@AndyL940]

They will have been nothing like good and proper Pad Thai ( I live in Nakhon Phanom ) so come to Thailand and experience it for yourself 🙏

[@ecor150]

Lol I never had good pad thai in America

[@Cega1985]

@@AndyL940 It's on my list when I can afford a passport and international travel

[@Kwippy]

A lot of Thai people like their pad thai sweet. I don't myself but if you like it sweet,, then you are like the majority of Thais.

[@gerardacronin334]

Maybe you could try making it at home using Pai’s recipe!

[@ardemisaguirre8088]

Thank you for those useful information 🥰🌲

[@karenrobbins6656]

Yes I make your pad see ew! The recipe is great. Thanks for this list! I’ll be thinking of it next time I am at a Thai restaurant

[@padders1068]

Pai, thanks for sharing! ❤

[@sandhill9313]

Well done, Happy New Year 😄

[@johnguinto1748]

This video just made me love you 10x more by combining my 2 favorite things 😍

[@raquelnewby6580]

I am so blessed to live by a Thai restaurant that has great pad Thai! It is the dish I order almost every time and it is the only place I can order good pad Thai. Thank you for making this video though because I may need to open up and try more new things on the menu.

[@pacset2]

Great info, have a happy new year 2024

[@disteve]

Hi Pailin. Love your channel! Thai food is our favourite hands down. We have eaten in the top Thai restaurants in Paris, London, NYC, Las Vegas (unfortunately never been to Thailand) but our favourite restaurant is a small place out in Pitt Meadows called Pad Thai. Have you heard of it? I believe two sisters from southern Thailand run it and they are fantastic. The food is delicious and I would love to hear a comparison to the real Thai cuisine. Their Thai fried rice is so good I dream about it. We also love the Pad Thai and the Green Curry Chicken is a must. Love to hear your opinion. Thanks and Happy New Year

[@FredricPrager]

I've been following your videos since forever and you have turned me into a pretty decent Thai cook. Of course living in Bangkok for 14 years makes sourcing ingredients fairly easy. I happen to be Pad Siew addict and your recipe, broken down into individual portions, is some of the best I've had here. I'm a street food person, rarely going to "farang' restaurants as they try to tone things down way to much, that is except the prices. Keep up the good work and show some more pictures of Tiger! With Metta!

[@margoleblanc]

Lol shoutout to Saskatchewan! That's where I live, I fell in love with Thai food and culture after studying in Thailand for a semester 💕 keep up the good work - love watching your videos!!!

[@knbKaren]

Thanks for this! I'm going to carry that in my wallet or phone as a go-to when I next go out or order in. Really helpful.

[@HKVC]

loool i dont know why i love it whenever you say "Pad Thai"

[@erikd6487]

Yeah, finally I difficult recipe 😊 I have all the spices except the long pepper, which I go look for this week, thank you Pai

[@winnieleung6630]

Thank you for sharing this viedo❤

[@samuri2011]

This video was sooooo fun loved it

[@tbirdparis]

There used to be a place here in Paris that did the most legit Pad Thai I've ever had outside of Thailand. The irony was that this was at least 15 years ago when Thai restaurants were almost non existent in this city and most people's idea here of Thai food was a completely fake version served in Chinese restaurants that had "Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese" written on their signage (those terrible faux Asian restaurants still exist here btw). Anyway, we only discovered this good place because a friend who worked at L'Oréal head office had a colleague from Thailand who told her about this restaurant and vouched for the Thai chef there. Everything on the menu was at least very good, and the dishes that weren't just good were excellent. The Pad Thai was phenomenal right down to the presentation, with different elements arranged around the noodles like a little pinch of salt, a little pile of tiny dried shrimp and all the other trimmings. Sad this restaurant's no longer around, we have a lot more Thai in Paris now but some (not all) of it is more on the trendy side than the good side.

[@sts0868]

Haha - I had to laugh because I knew when you picked Pad Thai the first time, that this will land in the Tier "D". Thanks for that video, I liked it very much. Have a good start into the New Year - I am looking forward to 2024 to find out what new topics you will find for your chanel

[@colinmills3175]

Hi Pai Thank you for letting me be patreon ❤ Quite a eventful 2923 Happy New Year Colin 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@colinmills3175]

2023

[@octobersix]

One tell that always made me suspect of a Stateside Thai eatery was seeing chopsticks as part of the place setting. You're right about catering to local tastes. There's Nong's Khao Mung Gai, in Portland OR, which offers peanut sauce as an survival option!

[@NoName-vq3zo]

These are good and accurate ratings. I am not Thai but had the pleasure of having Thai friends who would graciously invite me to their homes for amazing and authentic Thai food. Having tasted those I too get angry and disappointed by the cloyingly sweet junk that is served by so many Thai restaurants to please the American or Western palate. It is unfortunate that these restaurants choose to do that when the authentic flavors are so mind blowingly delicious!

[@istvantakacs9008]

Thank you for this quite intriguing list. These are a few more dishes I definitely want to try in the future. I was especially glad about your insights on pad thai. I had it two times before, first in a thai restaurant in Budapest, and second at home, prepared according to the recipe on your site (although I used brown sugar instead of palm sugar). And yes, the one in the restaurant was rather too sweet for me, and even the guy in the restaurant said this is how it's eaten in Thailand. Well, it's strange, I told to myself, but if you say so... I also had a Tom Yum soup before the pad thai. That was definitely better. As for my version, it was rather a bit on the sour side (not too much), probably not on par with pad thai prepared in Thailand, but it was more enjoyable for me than the sweet version.

[@tayntp]

Good ‘Pad Thai’ are only find in specialty restaurants that only cook ‘Pad Thai’ (or has Pad See Ew along with it) rather than general places that has Pad Thai on the menu, even in Thailand. Same with ‘Rad Na’, I think it requires time and patience to cook the gravy to get the right thickness texture and flavors. If it isn’t a specialty place for Rad Na and have it with other type of Thai dishes, they often rush the process to get the order in time so most of the time it comes out too watery or lack of flavors. Added: First time in Sydney, I surprised by broccoli(some places even added carrots) in Pad Kraprao, which is an unusual experience for a Thai person.

[@Zebeeze]

Broccoli and carrot in pad kraprao? I've had my share of dodgy Thai food, but I've never seen that here in Sydney...

[@tayntp]

@@Zebeeze Got that from lunch/diner style of Thai restaurant nearby the UTS, tho. Felt different from other restaurants on Campbell St or Pitt St that are more authentic.

[@Zebeeze]

​@@tayntp interesting! Maybe they were selling it cheap for the students so put the veges in to save money 😂

[@ceciliacruz7804]

Very interesting video. Thank you Pai ❤ I am going to make me a list of the dishes and leave it in my purse 🤭 just in case I am in a Thai restaurant.

[@reyaz8531]

Great list!

[@kenchung6007]

Was surprised by the figma file! Our girl Pailin is a designer? As always, love your energy and presentation. And interesting to know the differences between UK and North American Thai food

[@ejudeandrew]

WOW ! So happy to see you(Virtually) after so many years. I was just walking by Corriander last month that closed in the mall. Take Care - Jude

[@annaflores9565]

Ty for every good info!

[@isabelab6851]

Great video. This is very helpful. I moved to Northern California recently (not in the city) and have yet to see a Thai restaurant that looked interesting enough to try. I much prefer to eat at home…and trying your recipes. I even got a Kirk mortar and pestle to retry out more dishes. Generally I can find the ingredients in Asian store in San Jose better for Thai, Vietnamese ingredients.

[@shadofaxes]

This was really well done Pailin! I've always loved Japanese/Thai/Chinese/Korean/any Southeast Asian food but it's only in the last few years after retiring that I've actually started trying to make it myself instead going out to get it. I can do the typical dishes, sweet n sour/teriyaki anything, anything in a wonton or eggroll wrapper (even make my own wrappers :), and rice/fried rice/sushi rice (after years of trying to make good sushi I still can't do it, inari yes sushi nope :( Your channel has been an inspiration thank you!

[@stevo-dx5rr]

Great list! Pad Thai is A-Tier here in Seattle. Lots of places do it right, though you do still find some restaurants serving the gloopy and vile ketchup-based variant. I need to find a place that has some of the specialty items you mentioned to go and try! Last thing; delivery and dine in are two different experiences, and I tend to avoid ordering certain foods (e.g. fried things) for delivery that I would otherwise order when we go out. You almost need two lists!

[@zakuradragon]

I’ve also used to order Pad Thai at every Thai restaurant I visited in the U.S. as benchmark, and it’s always made like a dessert!

[@mutt1112]

so i pulled up the menus for the 3 Thai places around me and none had the S rated stuff , but they did have the A list items. and 2 of them I had, now to try the other 4 Thanks Pailin

[@danleeaphon2713]

Lol. Great fun. Love it when you get going and get passionately opinionated!

[@annebarder9554]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge in a vestern-friendly way. I would love it if you made a video on all the kinds of vegetables that are less well known for us vesterlings.. Greatings from Denmark, where we eat a lot of potatoes 🥱

[@bennypaulino9506]

Very informative. 👍

[@thominejensen4865]

Also, looking through the menu of my favourite local thai place and delighted to see that they serve rad na. However, my favourite dish from that place is ba mee heng~

[@z911empire]

GREAT video, great idea, very excited to try the fried chicken and fried fish fluff dish those look amazing! The only one I disagree with is Larb, I would go max B-tier there, I’ve had more bad ones than good ones!

[@erint7213]

This is such a great and in depth video! I will say that there was one time I went to try boat noodles at a thai place before because I wanted to get something new, and I was really disappointed. It felt like bland broth and sauteed vegetables with noodles, very nondescript and just didn't taste good. I thought since I hadn't seen it on the menu before that it would be distinctly good. Now I know I wanna try it somewhere else when I see it again!

[@leevillanueva7432]

I've made your pad see ew recipe soooo many times. It's a safe food for me now.

[@bkm2797]

Fascinating, and there were several dishes I didn't recognize but would like to try. Even here in San Francisco it's hard to find a reliable Thai food restaurant, but we are lucky to have lots of Asian markets to make it ourselves. Pailin, I want to thank you for all the tasty recipes you share so generously, along with special trips, and classes on brands helping us to learn how to make delicious Thai dishes. I want to wish you a Happy New Year!🎉🎆❤️

[@richking250]

If you make it over to Oakland sometime try Farmhouse Kitchen.

[@bkm2797]

richking250, Thank you, I'll look into it. Happy New Year!🎉🎆

[@ecor150]

Sf is not known for southeast Asian cuisine. Oakland is.

[@bkm2797]

ecor150, Learn something new everyday, and this I just never knew. Thank you, and Happy New Years!🎆🎉

[@barbarachappuis766]

Your channel is fabulous, and you're adorable and SO knowledgeable!

[@peterdoe2617]

So. Much. Fun. To watch this! I do have your mail addy from another comment I made. For turn of the year I wanna make fishcake. In a slightly different way. But it reminds me of making my goulash. Nothing in common with the original from Hungary. *My* goulash. Breaking almost every rule. Every time I visit the US: I have to cook it at least once. But I wanna try out restaurants, following your advice. (And look up some more of your recipes.) A good experience we had: asking our waiter about his favourite dishes. That one turned out fantastic! (At a mexican restaurant in Ponca City. I'm german. I had no idea about what to order. My wife lived there. Even she was over the moon. She had never ordered these.) If a waitress/waiter can't answer that question: better leave that place. Instantly. Happy new year 2024!