Are you wondering what the difference is between Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew? I’m going to talk through the ingredients, the preparation, as well as the nutritional comparison between both of this very popular Thai dishes.

Both Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew are popular noodle dishes that hail from Thailand. They are VERY similar because they use the same wide rice noodles, however the differences reside in the amount of vegetables that are included in the dish.

Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew vary from a few vegetable ingredient switches and sauce variations, which provide a large variation on how both dishes taste.

The Difference Between Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew

Main Comparison

While both dishes look very similar, Drunken Noodles  includes Thai Basil, garlic, fresh chiles and additional vegetables like baby corn, which makes it spicier, richer, and saltier than Pad See Ew.

Flavor Profile of Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew is made with soy sauce, oyster sauce with a protein (generally pork, chicken, and/or scrambled egg) that is also stir-fried with Chinese broccoli, which is known as Gai Lan. 

Flavor Profile of Drunken Noodles

Drunken Noodles (also known as Pad Kee Mao) is a spicy noodle stir-fry that has a flavor profile that includes more vegetables and a thicker, savory sauce made of oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Drunken Noodles often includes ground pork as the protein with vegetables like baby corn, snow peas, and Thai basil.

Everything You Wanted to Know About These Popular Noodle Dishes

Pad See Ew

The flavor profile of Pad See Ew is characterized by its ability to provide a mix of both comfort food with an amazing flavor that is refreshingly light even with it being made of soy sauce and oyster sauce. The crunch of the Chinese broccoli mixed with the chewy wide rice noodles and a bite of scrambled egg and pork/chicken provide an amazing combination of flavors that will make you want to have bowls and bowls of it.

Pad See Ew has many names due to it’s translation from Thai to English. It’s often referred to as Pad See Ew, but other translations include Pad Si Ew, Pad Siew, Phad Siew, and other variations of it.

Translation of Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew translates to noodles fried in soy sauce. When the translation is broken down, see ew means soy sauce.

Drunken Noodles

Drunken Noodles is a Thai rice noodle dish that is dressed with a spicy, yet savory sauce. The ground pork in this dish blends well with the wide rice noodles, which allow the baby corn to provide a crunch and the tomatoes to meld into the fold by providing a fresh tanginess to the dish.  While variations of Drunken Noodles are vastly different in the streets of Thailand, the two ingredients that are consistent are chicken, Thai Basil, and baby corn. Not to be mistaken, Drunken Noodles do not have alcohol in the recipe. 

Drunken Noodles is often referred to and spelled as as pad ki mao, pad kimao, and phat khi mao due to the variation of spelling as it’s being translated to English.

Translation of Pad Kee Mao

The literal translation of Pad Kee Mao means drunken noodles. The theory behind the name of this dish is because this spicy Thai noodle dish should be paired with an ice cold beer and often a great cure for a hangover.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles

Is Pad See Ew the same as Drunken Noodles?

Pad See Ew is a different dish than Drunken Noodles (also known as Pad Kee Mao). Pad See Ew translates to fried in soy sauce. Pad Kee Mao translates to drunken noodles. They have different ingredients, namely that Pad Kee Mao is spicier and has more vegetables.

Why is Pad Kee Mao called drunken noodles?

Contrary to popular belief, Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) is not made with alcohol. The dish’s namesake and moniker is based on the theory that this dish should be cooked with enough spicy chili in order to either sober you up or be a cure for a bad hangover.

What’s healthier – Pad See Ew or Drunken Noodles?

Overall, Pad See Ew has less calories than Drunken Noodles. Pad See Ew has 255 calories per cup whereas Drunken Noodles has 323 calories per cup.

Similarities Between Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles

Both dishes are stir-fried with rice noodles and often a protein. Both provide a flavor profile that is ultimately sweet, similar to other Thai noodle dishes. They are the most popular Thai dishes around the world, with Pad See Ew being the most popular.

Summary

Both Pad See Ew and Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) are delicious and very popular Thai dishes that are both authentic and savory.

I hope this provide you some insight on both of these very popular dishes and you’ve learned the differences between Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles, so the next time you head into your local Thai restaurant, you’ll be armed with the information to make your next meal delicious!

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