Thai restaurants · UKnearme

Thai Fried Rice in the UK: what it is, how to order it, where to find it

Quick answer

Thai fried rice (khao pad) is jasmine rice stir-fried with egg, onion, tomato and prawn, chicken or crab, seasoned with fish sauce and served with lime, cucumber and chilli fish sauce. Lighter and less sweet than its Chinese cousin, and a reliable UK Thai order.

Calories and nutrition

Calories
480

380–600 kcal

Protein
24 g
Carbs
62 g
Fat
14 g
Salt
2.6 g

Portion: One portion, about 350 g.

Lighter and less sweet than Chinese fried rice; crab or prawn is lean.

Estimates for a typical portion, based on standard UK and USDA food composition data. Actual values depend on the recipe and the restaurant.

What khao pad is

Day-old jasmine rice is stir-fried with garlic, egg, onion, tomato and spring onion, plus prawns, chicken, pork or crab, seasoned with fish sauce, a little soy, sugar and white pepper. Served with lime, cucumber and prik nam pla, sliced chillies in fish sauce, added to taste. Savoury and clean, lighter and less sweet than Chinese fried rice.

How to judge it

Separate, fragrant grains with a little wok char, savoury not sweet, served with lime and prik nam pla. Squeeze the lime and add the chilli fish sauce; that is how Thais eat it.

Khao pad versus Chinese fried rice

Thai uses jasmine rice and fish sauce with lime and chilli fish sauce; Chinese uses long-grain and soy. The condiments are part of the Thai dish, not optional.

Where it is done well in the UK

Thai restaurants with a hot wok. The list below shows areas with the most Thai restaurants.

How to order it

Squeeze the lime and add the chilli fish sauce that comes with it; that is how it is eaten. Grains should be separate and savoury, not sweet. Prawn or crab is classic; pineapple fried rice is the sweeter variant.

Where it's done well

UK councils with the most thai fried rice specialists, by restaurant name, in our directory.

Restaurants near you

Search by postcode or use your location to find restaurants likely to serve thai fried rice near you.

Make it at home

Serves 2 · 20 min

Ingredients

  • 300 g cold cooked jasmine rice
  • 150 g prawns or chicken
  • 1 egg
  • 1 onion, 1 tomato, 2 spring onions, 2 garlic cloves
  • 1.5 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp soy, pinch sugar, white pepper
  • lime, cucumber, sliced chilli in fish sauce, oil

Method

  1. Break up the cold rice. Fry the garlic then the prawns or chicken in a hot wok.
  2. Push aside, scramble the egg, add the rice and toss to coat.
  3. Add onion, tomato, fish sauce, soy, sugar and pepper; stir-fry hard until hot, dry and lightly charred.
  4. Add spring onions; serve with lime, cucumber and prik nam pla.

Cold jasmine rice and a hot wok give separate grains. The prik nam pla and lime are essential.