The world's greatest second act — humble rice, reborn glossy in a screaming wok.
$12
Where it comes from
Fried rice came south with Chinese immigrants and found its soulmate in Thailand's fragrant rice — drier, more perfumed, built for the wok. Khao pad became the country's universal comfort: every shophouse, every grandmother, every late-night craving. Ours wok-fries red rice with egg and green onion until every grain turns glossy, with cool cucumber on the side — the traditional Thai punctuation mark.
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.
