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Pad Thai, a beloved Thai delicacy worldwide, has clinched the fifth spot in TasteAtlas's ranking of the best stir-fry dishes. TasteAtlas, an online global atlas of traditional cuisine, praised Pad Thai for its "intricate combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavours," coupled with a "well-balanced contrast of textures."

 

Joining Pad Thai on the list are two other popular Thai stir-frys: Phat Kaphrao, which secured eighth place, and Phat Si-io, landing at the 28th position. Phat Kaphrao, featuring minced meat or seafood with holy basil, shallots, garlic, and chili peppers, is also the fourth most ordered dish among Thailand visitors. Phat Si-io charms diners with its aromatic blend of stir-fried soy sauce, garlic, eggs, and Chinese broccoli.

 

Topping the list is Indonesia's Sambal Goreng, followed by China's Beef Chow Fun and You Bao Xia, with Ethiopia's Beef Tibs taking the fourth spot. These rankings highlight the global appreciation for diverse, flavour-rich stir-fry dishes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-05-15

 

 

Had never heard of You Bao Xia before so looked it up to find it is rarely found outside a specific district in Shanghai. How the heck did that dish rate so high?!? Something is very fishy.

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Had never heard of You Bao Xia before so looked it up to find it is rarely found outside a specific district in Shanghai. How the heck did that dish rate so high?!? Something is very fishy.

That'll be the nam-plaa

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pad Thai, a beloved Thai delicacy worldwide, has clinched the fifth spot in TasteAtlas's ranking of the best stir-fry dishes.

Garbage. A dish that is never the same cannot be judged.

Phat khaprao is so much better than pad Thai.  

"Sambal Goreng"? I think you mean Nasi Goreng dear.

 

Indonesia clinching first place yet again demonstrates that Indonesian cuisine is slightly better than Thai cuisine.

Pad Thai is too sweet, give me Pad Krapow

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Garbage. A dish that is never the same cannot be judged.

Agree. That served in Makro is far superior to that in Lotus, Phitsanulok.

Pad Thai is sweet tourist noodles. Pad kapao kai dao is lunch. or maybe laab moo.

How Shanghai's You Bao Xia got on that list I'll never know. Very basic fried shrimp. Thai Tamarind shrimp is much better.

Tried it. So sweet my insulin went through the roof!! No wonder half of Thais over 40 are diabetics!! Cut the damn sugar!!!

28 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

"Sambal Goreng"? I think you mean Nasi Goreng dear.

 

Indonesia clinching first place yet again demonstrates that Indonesian cuisine is slightly better than Thai cuisine.

Sambal Goreng is a thing.  As is Nasi Goreng, but not the same thing.

5 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Sambal Goreng is a thing.  As is Nasi Goreng, but not the same thing.

 

Oh my God, Tempeh stiry fry? Who eats that???

1 hour ago, garygooner said:

Phat khaprao is so much better than pad Thai.  

They are completely different dishes. The first is spicy with garlic and basil leaves, usually served on rice, Pad Thai is stir fried noodles with tofu, bean sprouts and sauce. 

50 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

"Sambal Goreng"? I think you mean Nasi Goreng dear.

 

Indonesia clinching first place yet again demonstrates that Indonesian cuisine is slightly better than Thai cuisine.

No Sambal Goreng is correct, as is Nasi Goreng but they're not the same thing. Sambal Goreng is usually made with tofu, green beans and chillies all fried in a sambal chilli sauce.

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

They are completely different dishes

Yeah, I know that. I have pad Thai occasionally, but I much prefer the taste of phat khaprao. 

23 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Oh my God, Tempeh stiry fry? Who eats that???

With tempeh is better, has the texture that tofu lacks

1 minute ago, garygooner said:

Yeah, I know that. I have pad Thai occasionally, but I much prefer the taste of phat khaprao. 

And I prefer the taste of meat & tater pie over battered Cod.

1 minute ago, Stocky said:

With tempeh is better, has the texture that tofu lacks

 

But tofu stir fry? How did that make the top spot? It has to be a mix up with Nasi Goreng surely.

Big clump of grease and oil so much it sticks together in a ball. 

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And I prefer the taste of meat & tater pie over battered Cod.

Meat and tater pie is for peasants. Medium Rare Wagyu Tomahawk, 2 kilos, on bone, madiera sauce, mushrooms, garlic mash.

7 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

But tofu stir fry? How did that make the top spot? It has to be a mix up with Nasi Goreng surely.

Fried rice! not exotic enough, all these top 20 things are garbage and purely click bait

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Big clump of grease and oil so much it sticks together in a ball. 

Polish cannonball: a deep-fried ball filled with egg noodles, kielbasa, cabbage, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

 

Thats all one needs to survive.

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Meat and tater pie is for peasants. Medium Rare Wagyu Tomahawk, 2 kilos, on bone, madiera sauce, mushrooms, garlic mash.

Forgot to tell you that I AM a peasant.

2kg of beef will make you a FATTY.   555

8 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Polish cannonball: a deep-fried ball filled with egg noodles, kielbasa, cabbage, bacon, and cheddar cheese.

 

Thats all one needs to survive.

 

Sounds delicious. Like Italian Arancini, also irresistible.

25 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

But tofu stir fry? How did that make the top spot? It has to be a mix up with Nasi Goreng surely.

Nasi Goreng is on the list, number 11 i think 

6 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Nasi Goreng is on the list, number 11 i think 

 

I don't get how they put stir fried tofu in top spot, though I'm sure the Indonesian spicing is exquisite. Chinese Hor fun is spot on, clearly one of the best.

 

Tibs clearly the South Park "Token" of the list. Which begs the question why Kway Teow is much lower when it's almost the same as Hor Fun.

 

Filipino Pancit in top 20 is just ludicrous.

 

Pancit is better than Yakisoba and Kung Pao? Seriously?

 

 

Never liked it, probably one of my least liked Thai dishes, my favorite dish here in Thailand is Larb Gai (though technically I believe its a Laos dish).

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Had never heard of You Bao Xia before

In Mexico City, millions chant, "You Bao Xia" every Tuesday morning at 11:34.   Oh, it's very popular outside of China and Thailand.  I told them, tell Jingthing!!!!!  guess you didn't get the message....

 

Pad Thai is hit or miss, usually miss. Most of my Thai friends don't eat it, which speaks volumes. But in a small village in the Congo, Pad Thai rules the land!!!!!

 

Stir fried.....yea, not all oils are the same.  or sugar, msg, who knows........I own a 5-star restaurant in Argentina and my Polish chef makes Pad Thai with lemons procured from the shores of Chile.   $393 USD per ounce.   We've never had a Thai customer.  

 

Almost any food article is worthless.....

15 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Forgot to tell you that I AM a peasant.

2kg of beef will make you a FATTY.   555

Im 70. Id rather die stuffed with Wagyu stuffed into a 24 year old hardbody than die eating kale and running marathons.

 

Shove some Butter Brickle ce cream down my slavering gob as I expire.