• 37 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

What to Eat with Pad Thai

Lime, peanuts and bean sprouts on the plate, then satay, som tam and a soup for the table.

What to Eat with Pad Thai

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  1. Chicken satay with peanut sauceSkewers to share while the noodles are in the wok.
  2. Lime wedgesSqueeze one over the noodles at the table, just before the first forkful.
  3. Green papaya salad (som tam)Sour, hot and crunchy. Share one plate across the table.
  4. Fresh spring rollsCold and soft, so they suit a plate of hot fried noodles.
  5. Crushed roasted peanutsA spoonful on the rim of the plate, stirred in as you eat.

Next step Pick another Thai dish to tryDraw something sweet for after

All 37 ideas

On the side of the plate 7

  • Banana blossom A raw wedge to nibble on when the noodles taste too sweet.
  • Crushed roasted peanuts A spoonful on the rim of the plate, stirred in as you eat.
  • Garlic chives Leave them in long pieces at the side and bite one between forkfuls.
  • Lime wedges Squeeze one over the noodles at the table, just before the first forkful.
  • Raw bean sprouts A cold, crisp handful next to the hot noodles.
  • Raw cabbage wedge Tear off a leaf at a time. It is there for crunch.
  • Sliced cucumber Cool slices for when the chili catches up with you.

Seasonings for the table 4

  • A pinch of sugar For a plate that came out more sour than sweet.
  • Dried chili flakes Start with a pinch on one corner of the plate.
  • Fish sauce with sliced chilies A few drops for salt and heat, spooned over one part of the noodles.
  • Sliced chilies in vinegar The sour one of the set. A small spoonful sharpens sweet noodles.

Starters and skewers 6

  • Chicken satay with peanut sauce Skewers to share while the noodles are in the wok.
  • Curry puffs Small filled pastries to pass around before the noodles arrive.
  • Fresh spring rolls Cold and soft, so they suit a plate of hot fried noodles.
  • Grilled pork skewers Sweet, smoky meat for anyone who ordered the noodles with tofu.
  • Shrimp chips A bowl in the middle of the table, to crunch on while you wait.
  • Thai fish cakes (thot man) Serve them hot, with something sweet and sharp to dip them in.

Salads and soups 8

  • Clear soup with tofu and vegetables Plain and mild, to rest your mouth from the chili.
  • Coconut chicken soup (tom kha kai) The milder soup, for a table that does not want more chili.
  • Green mango salad Shredded and tart, a good match for sweet noodles.
  • Green papaya salad (som tam) Sour, hot and crunchy. Share one plate across the table.
  • Grilled beef salad (yam nuea) Sliced thin and dressed sharp, it adds meat without more starch.
  • Hot and sour shrimp soup (tom yam kung) A small bowl each, sipped between forkfuls.
  • Minced pork salad (larb) Scoop it up with a cabbage leaf from the side of your plate.
  • Pomelo salad Juicy citrus pieces that rinse the mouth between bites.

Thai dishes to share 6

  • Chinese broccoli with crispy pork Bitter greens and crackling pork against sweet noodles.
  • Green curry Spoon a little into a bowl beside the noodles, not over them.
  • Massaman curry Mild and rich, a good second dish when someone avoids chili.
  • Steamed fish with lime Set it in the middle and let everyone pull off pieces.
  • Stir-fried morning glory A quick green vegetable for a table with no salad on it.
  • Thai grilled chicken (kai yang) Cut it into pieces so everyone can take one.

Something sweet after 3

  • Bananas in coconut milk Serve it warm, in a small bowl.
  • Coconut ice cream Cold and plain, the easy finish after chili.
  • Mango sticky rice One plate to share is plenty after noodles.

Drinks 3

  • Chilled longan drink Light and sweet, for anyone who finds the tea too rich.
  • Thai iced coffee Order it with the meal, over plenty of ice.
  • Thai iced tea Sweet and cold, it cools a chili-hot plate.

How it works

What to eat with pad thai starts on the plate: lime wedges, crushed peanuts, raw bean sprouts and garlic chives. These 37 ideas add table seasonings, starters, salads, soups, Thai dishes to share, sweets and three drinks.

Read the full guide

How it is served in Thailand

In Thailand pad thai is street food, and noodles there are mostly eaten as a meal on one plate. People eat pad thai using a spoon and a fork. Lime, peanuts, chili and the raw vegetables often come on the side as condiments. Thai restaurants also set out seasonings such as dried chili flakes, chilies in vinegar, fish sauce with chilies, and sugar.

Turning one plate into dinner

The noodles are soft, sweet and sour. For a bigger dinner, add one crisp thing and one hot thing: a salad or raw vegetables, then a soup or a curry. A second plate of noodles or fried rice adds nothing.

  • Bring the noodles to the table last. Starters and salads can wait; hot noodles cannot.
  • Put the table seasonings in small dishes with their own spoons, so nobody tips chili over a shared plate.

Questions and answers

What sides go with pad thai?

Chicken satay with peanut sauce, fresh spring rolls, Thai fish cakes and green papaya salad are good first choices. A bowl of hot and sour shrimp soup or coconut chicken soup makes it a full dinner.

What vegetables go with pad thai?

Raw ones first: bean sprouts, garlic chives, sliced cucumber, or a wedge of cabbage or banana blossom, eaten in bites between forkfuls. For a cooked vegetable, choose stir-fried morning glory or Chinese broccoli with crispy pork.

What do you put on pad thai?

Lime juice first, then crushed peanuts. After that, taste and season: chili flakes for heat, fish sauce with chilies for salt, chilies in vinegar for sourness, a pinch of sugar for sweetness. Add a little at a time.

What do you drink with pad thai?

Without alcohol: Thai iced tea, Thai iced coffee or a chilled longan drink. All three are sweet and cold, which suits a plate with chili on it.

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