The One Thai Dish You Must Try Before You Leave

If there is one quintessential Thai dish that you should try before you go, it’s the hot, the flavourful and the bold Pad Krapao, otherwise known as Thai basil chicken. Pad Krapao is the cherry on top of any Thai culinary exploration, read on to find out why.

Let us enlighten you about Pad Krapao. It might sound like a comedy action hero, and it’s not too far off as this unsung hero definitely packs a mouthwatering punch. Pad Krapao is an authentic Thai dish that literally translates to “basil stir-fry.” It is served with jasmine rice and is topped with a crispy oozing egg (kai dao) and lashing of condiments like fish sauce, vinegar and chilli.

Pad Krapao is a humble street food and a popular go-to lunch dish in Thailand. If you are unsure what to order the running joke is that you’ll likely go with a tasty plate of Pad Krapao. This dish is not for the faint-hearted as you’ll probably need to work up your spice tolerance before giving it a try.

Pad Krapao’s ratio of effort versus oodles of flavour is a winning factor for most, with a mere 10 minute preparation time. Pad Krapao is usually made using chicken but is also made with pork, beef or seafood. For a vegetarian option, tofu is a great meat substitute. The other ingredients used to make Pad Krapao are; holy basil (krapao), oyster sauce, Thai dark soy sauce, coconut sugar, vegetable oil, garlic, birds eye chilli peppers (Thai chilli) and the all-important egg.

Take note

As the name implies the key ingredient of Pad Krapao is holy basil. Holy basil is different to its relatives, Italian sweet basil and Thai basil in that it’s aroma is comprised of camphor, cloves and menthol which give the Pad Krapao its distinctive taste. Holy basil can be difficult to find outside of Thailand unless you are in the grocery section of an Asian supermarket.

Another point worth mentioning is that Thai dark soy sauce is different to the more popular Japanese or Korean dark soy sauce options. Its consistency is thicker and it is infused with molasses and caramel notes whilst remaining savoury in flavour.

Pad Krapao is easy to make and there are plenty of recipes online so you can recreate this delicious dish for your loved ones once you arrive back home.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.