Thailand's lunchtime legend — the dish Thais order when they can't decide what to order.
Spicy
$11
Where it comes from
Pad kaphrao emerged in the 1920s and 30s as Chinese wok technique met bai kaphrao — the peppery, clove-scented holy basil Thais have grown for centuries — and after the 1950s it swept the nation. Today it is the unofficial national lunch, so universal that krapow is the standing answer to the question 'what should I eat?' Screaming wok, chili, garlic, holy basil, rice. Add the crispy fried egg; everyone does.
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.
