Pad Thai, pad see ew and pad kee mao compared
Kua gai vs pad see ew, plus where pad Thai and pad kee mao (drunken noodles) fit: noodles, sauce, flavor and which one to order.
Contents
Kua gai and pad see ew are both made with wide, flat rice noodles stir-fried in a very hot wok, but they taste different. Pad see ew is defined by sweet dark soy sauce, egg and Chinese broccoli. These give it a glossy brown color and a sweet-savory flavor. Kua gai is usually drier and more lightly seasoned. It is built around chicken and egg, and the noodles are allowed to char and crisp in spots. It is commonly served over lettuce. Order pad see ew if you want something sweet and saucy. Order kua gai if you want something smoky and savory that is less sweet.
What the names mean
- Pad (phat): stir-fried.
- See ew (si-io): soy sauce, so pad see ew is noodles stir-fried with soy sauce.
- Kee mao (khi mao): a drunkard, which is why pad kee mao is sold as drunken noodles.
- Kua gai: noodles tossed in a hot wok with chicken (gai). On menus it may appear as kuay teow kua gai or guay tiew kua gai, where kuay teow means rice noodles.
- Pad Thai: Thai-style stir-fried noodles.
The four dishes at a glance
| Dish | Noodles | Main seasoning | Typical additions | Flavor |
| Kua gai | Wide rice noodles | Light seasoning, often fish or oyster sauce | Chicken, egg, served on lettuce | Savory and smoky, with crisp charred edges |
| Pad see ew | Wide rice noodles | Sweet dark soy and light soy | Egg, Chinese broccoli, choice of protein | Sweet, savory and mild |
| Pad kee mao (drunken noodles) | Usually wide rice noodles | Soy and oyster sauces with fresh chilies and garlic | Holy basil, vegetables, choice of protein | Spicy, herbal and savory |
| Pad Thai | Thinner flat rice noodles | Tamarind-based sweet-sour sauce with fish sauce and palm sugar | Egg, tofu, bean sprouts, garlic chives, peanuts, lime | Sweet, tangy and nutty |
Recipes and restaurant versions vary, so treat the table as a description of the typical dishes, not fixed rules. US Thai restaurants often let you choose the protein, and some adjust the sweetness or heat for their customers.
Is pad see ew the same as drunken noodles?
No. Drunken noodles is the English name for pad kee mao. It often uses the same wide rice noodles as pad see ew, which causes the confusion. The flavor is different. Pad kee mao gets its heat from chilies and its aroma from holy basil, while pad see ew relies on sweet soy and has little or no spice. Accounts of the drunken name differ. A common explanation is that the spicy dish goes well with drinks or is a cure the morning after. The name is not usually a sign that alcohol is in the dish.
Pad kee mao vs pad Thai
These two dishes differ the most of the group. Pad Thai uses thinner noodles and a tamarind sauce that is both sweet and sour, and it is finished with peanuts, bean sprouts and lime. Pad kee mao uses wide noodles and leans on chilies, garlic and basil, so it is hotter and more herbal, with no tangy tamarind note. Pad Thai is also tied to Thai national identity. Food writers commonly link its spread to a mid-20th-century government campaign. Pad see ew, by contrast, is generally described as a Thai adaptation of Chinese-style noodle cooking.
Which one should you order?
- For kids or anyone avoiding spicy food: pad see ew, which is sweet, savory and mild.
- For wok char and smokiness without much sweetness: kua gai.
- For heat and fresh herbs: pad kee mao.
- For sweet, sour and nutty together: pad Thai.
- If pad Thai is your usual order, pad see ew is a gentle next step. Move on to pad kee mao if you are comfortable with spice.
Which dish is better comes down to taste. None of the four is objectively better than the others.
What this comparison doesn't cover
This guide does not rank the dishes by calories or health. Nutrition depends on portion size, oil, sugar and protein, so a fair comparison needs verified data for the specific recipe or restaurant. Regional versions within Thailand and individual restaurant styles are also outside its scope.
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