A crackling parcel with a passport — born in China's Fujian province, perfected in Thai kitchens.
$12
Where it comes from
Spring rolls reached Siam with Hokkien and Teochew immigrants, whose soft popiah crepes once marked the arrival of spring. Thai cooks did what Thai cooks do: they turned up the heat. Fried hard, the wrapper shatters over a savory heart of ground pork, glass noodles and vegetables. Po pia tod is now as Thai as anything on this menu — the sound of the first bite is the same in Bangkok as it is here.
Not sure how to judge a plate like this? Read our field guide to the best Thai food in Orange County — five signs of a real Thai kitchen, and what to order once you’re in one.