More than 1,300 Pad Thai dishes were sold within an hour during the Songkran Festival on April 26 in Los Angeles, setting a new Guinness World Record. The "2026 Thai New Year: Songkran Festival," hosted along a three-kilometer stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, attracted over 200,000 attendees and is regarded as the largest Thai festival outside of Thailand. The event featured a colorful cultural parade, live performances, and a cooking spectacle, alongside the record-setting Pad Thai sales.
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The festival commenced with a parade showcasing Thai cultural elements, drawing large crowds to Hollywood Boulevard. Participants included Thai youth in traditional attire and contestants from the Miss Thai Town 2026 pageant. The highlight of the day was the Pad Thai sales challenge, where chefs from 48 restaurants collaborated to surpass the 1,200 dish target. By the end of the hour, 1,338 dishes were sold, securing the Guinness World Record.
Guinness representatives confirmed the achievement, awarded official recognition, and presented certificates to the participants. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles, Tor Sornlump, mentioned that the record attempt was spurred by a surge in pre-orders, encouraging organizers to aim for the official recognition. Alongside this accomplishment, the chefs engaged in a cooking competition, diversifying the Pad Thai offerings.
The festival was supported by multiple Thai authorities, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand Los Angeles Office, further enhancing the event with cooking demonstrations and cultural displays. Large pans were used for live cooking shows featuring public figures like Sudarat Keyuraphan and Pita Limjaroenrat. Food stalls were a major attraction, with festival-goers enjoying classic Thai treats like mango sticky rice and fresh durian, adding to the vibrant festival environment.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 28 Apr 2026