The old guard of Thai stir-fries — garlic and white pepper, holding the line since before chilies reached Siam.
$14
Where it comes from
Pad kratiem prik thai is built on the Thai kitchen's founding trio: garlic, white peppercorn and coriander root, pounded together since long before Portuguese traders brought the chili in the 1600s. That ancient paste still underpins half of Thai cooking; here it steps forward as the whole show, seared golden and savory. Simple, ancient, exactly right.
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.
