Why do some noodle shops have shrimp paste and some don’t?

[Everyman]

I love shrimp paste but I can’t work out which types of noodle shops have it and which ones don’t. I can read Thai but that hasn’t helped. It’s not random or “up to the owner” or the shop or something, there are specific kinds of noodle soup that are supposed to have it as a condiment and some which are not. I just can’t work out which is which.

 

When I do ask for it and they don’t have it they look at me like I’m insane and say they don’t have it in an “of course” kind of way. But if they do have it, they say it in the same “of course” we do kind of way. 

 

So does anyone know which kinds of noodle shops have shrimp paste as a condiment? I thought it was boat noodles but I was just at a shop that doesn’t have it. 

[digbeth]

it's a regional thing

typical Bangkok noodles shop do not have shrimp paste

 

I suspect you are in Issan - near laos border and of vietnamese influence

 

some beef broth noodle and nam-tok soup do come with shrimp paste too