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Home Cuisines Thai Recipes

Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

By:Nagi
Published:12 Jun '19Updated:8 Apr '21
500 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Drunken Noodles is the literal translation of Pad Kee Mao because the theory is that these spicy Thai noodles should be eaten with an ice cold beer and that they are a great cure for hangover. I can confirm both cases to be true!

This Thai noodle dish is a very popular both in Thailand and in Thai restaurants outside of Thailand. You will be surprised how fast and easy this recipe is to make!

Overhead photo of Thai Drunken Noodles on a plate, ready to be eaten

Drunken Noodles!

Get Drunken Noodles from the streets of Thailand, and unless you have an exceptional spice-o-meter, you’ll be chugging down the beer in an attempt to cool the burn in your mouth.

Make this at home and you can control the heat!

The amount of chilli I’ve included in the recipe is mild enough for most people (I think), but enough so you can taste the heat. By all means, feel free to turn up the spice dial!

Thai Drunken Noodles in a wok, fresh off the stove

What you need

There are all sorts of variations of Drunken Noodles in Thailand and even more in the western world. In Thailand the two constants are chicken and Thai Basil, and quite often it came with baby corn as well, though from my research I couldn’t confirm that this was a “must have” in this dish.

Ingredients in Thai Drunken Noodles

Rice Noodles

Get the widest dried rice noodles you can find at your grocery store. Here in Australian supermarkets, the widest I can find is labelled “Pad Thai”, though ironically, it’s actually too wide for Pad Thai!

Dried rice noodles for Thai Drunken Noodles

Difference between Thai Basil and Thai Holy Basil - Thai Basil tastes like normal basil with a slight aniseed flavour. Holy basil has jagged edges and it does not have an aniseed flavour, it tastes more like Italian basil.

Thai Basil

There are actually two types of Thai Basil – regular Thai Basil and Thai Holy Basil. Drunken Noodles can be made with either.

Outside of Thailand, restaurants typically use regular Thai Basil because it is easier to find than Holy Basil. I even have difficulty finding Holy Basil in Thai grocery stores!

Is Thai Basil the same as regular basil?

Thai Basil is not the same as regular basil. It tastes like regular basil with a slight aniseed flavour. A very distinct flavour that you know and love about your favourite dishes at your local Thai restaurant like Drunken Noodles and Thai Chilli Basil Chicken!

Best substitute for Thai Basil

Regular basil! In fact, Drunken Noodles is traditionally made with Holy Basil which tastes more similar to regular basil than Thai Basil!

How to make it

As with all stir fries and stir fried noodles, this moves fast once you start cooking – around 6 minutes start to finish – so have everything ready to go before you start cooking!

How to make Thai Drunken Noodles

Comparison to other popular Thai noodles

Whereas Pad Thai is nutty and sweet, Pad Kee Mao is spicy and savoury. Compared to Pad See Ew, the sauce of Drunken Noodles is lighter in colour and not as sweet.

Also, neither Pad Thai nor Pad See Ew does not have Thai Basil in it, and it is not as spicy.

Actually, Pad Kee Mao is essentially like Thai Chilli Basil Chicken stir fry with noodles added!

Better made at home

In Western Thai restaurants, Drunken Noodles are usually very saucy, oily and salty – too much so in my opinion, and very different from the streets of Thailand. So it’s really nice to be able to make a healthier yet just as tasty version at home!

And remember to crack open an ice cold beer to enjoy these Drunken Noodles with! – Nagi x

Overhead photo of Thai Drunken Noodles on a plate, ready to be eaten


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(Yes, I ❤️ Thai Food, in case you hadn’t figured it out!)

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Close up of Thai Drunken Noodles with chopsticks

Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 6 minutes mins
Total: 16 minutes mins
Noodles, Stir Fries
Thai
4.93 from 171 votes
Servings2 -3
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 2097
Recipe video above. Spicy Thai Noodles, a popular Thai take-out dish from the streets of Thailand! Make sure you have all ingredients ready to toss into the wok as once you start cooking, things happen quickly! Spice level: moderate to high (it's SUPPOSED to be spicy!)

Ingredients

Noodles

  • 7 oz /200g dried rice noodles , wide (Note 1)

Stir Fry

  • 2 tbsp oil (peanut, vegetable or canola)
  • 3 large cloves of garlic , minced
  • 2 birds eye chilli or Thai chillies , deseeded, very finely chopped (Note 2)
  • 1/2 onion , sliced
  • 200 g /7oz chicken thighs , cut into bite size pieces (breast ok too)
  • 2 tsp fish sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 2 green onions , cut into 3cm/2" pieces
  • 1 cup Thai or Thai Holy Basil leaves (sub regular basil, Note 3)

Sauce

  • 3 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce (Note 4)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce (Note 4)
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Prepare noodles per packet directions.
  • Mix Sauce in a small bowl.
  • Heat oil in wok or large heavy based skillet over high heat.
  • Add garlic and chilli and cook for 10 seconds. Don't inhale - the chilli will make you cough!
  • Add onion, cook for 1 minute. 
  • Add chicken and fish sauce, and fry until cooked, around 2 minutes.
  • Add green onion, noodles and sauce and cook for 1 minute until the sauce reduces and coats the noodles.
  • Remove from heat and immediately add basil, toss until just wilted, then serve immediately.

Recipe Notes:

1. Wide rice noodles - use wide ones and prepare per packet. I use ones labelled as "Pad Thai" rice noodles (see in post, here it is at Woolworths). Fine to use thinner ones if you can't find wide ones.
2. Chilli - 2 birds eye or Thai chillies gives this a nice buzz of spice but won't blow your head off! Feel free to adjust to your taste. Can also use a dollop of chilli paste instead - add it with the chicken.
3. Thai Basil - tastes like regular basil with slight aniseed flavour. Traditionally made with Thai Holy Basil which tastes like regular basil but most restaurants outside Thailand use regular Thai Basil (easier to find, sold at Harris Farms and some Woolies, Coles in Australia).
Substitute with regular basil (it tastes like Drunken Noodles in Thailand!)
4. Soy Sauce - both light and dark soy sauce can be substituted with all purpose soy sauce (ie soy sauce that is just labelled "soy sauce" without "dark" or "light" or "sweet" in front of it). 
Can also sub the dark soy with more light soy.
DO NOT use all dark soy sauce - will be far too strong.
5. Nutrition per serving, assuming 3 servings.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 197gCalories: 454cal (23%)Carbohydrates: 58.6g (20%)Protein: 22.9g (46%)Fat: 14.8g (23%)Saturated Fat: 2.4g (15%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 12.4gCholesterol: 79mg (26%)Sodium: 223mg (10%)Fiber: 1.5g (6%)Sugar: 2.7g (3%)
Keywords: drunken noodles, pad kee mao
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Drunken Noodles recipe originally published July 2014. Updated June 2019 with new photos, new writing, new video and most importantly, Life of Dozer section added!

Life of Dozer

Like my video shooting area isn’t a tripping hazard as it is, let’s add a giant fur ball into the mix. 🙄

(PS the wine is a PROP! I wasn’t having a cheeky glass at lunch!! 😂)

Dozer in video shooting area

Previous Post
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Next Post
Outrageous Triple Chocolate Cookies

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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500 Comments

  1. Docmike says

    October 20, 2023 at 11:11 am

    Great recipe! Very good.

    Reply
  2. RZ says

    September 16, 2023 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing dish! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Y Mockabee says

    August 27, 2023 at 9:34 am

    Can I use shrimp in place of chicken in this and/or other Thai recipes?

    Reply
  4. Gayle says

    August 10, 2023 at 8:59 am

    Can you make this without chicken? If so when do I add the fish sauce?

    Reply
  5. Mini says

    August 9, 2023 at 5:48 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, if you follow the recipe as per the exact instructions it’s mind blowing! I added some green beans for some extra veg.!!

    Reply
  6. paul says

    July 31, 2023 at 12:20 am

    5 stars
    First time making Thai Noodles, was worried it would be complicated, not with this recipe..so easy and delicious. I didn’t have any Oyster Sauce so substituted Hoisin instead. worked really well. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  7. Sue says

    July 8, 2023 at 9:00 am

    5 stars
    This recipe was delicious and so easy. I used ground beef instead of chicken but kept everything else the same. It was a great way to turn hum drum hamburger into something special.

    Reply
  8. Sydney Blackburn says

    June 6, 2023 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    was inspired to try this after being disappointed by a local food truck’s offering. This recipe gave me everything the food truck offering didn’t, loved it!

    Reply
  9. Kathy says

    May 30, 2023 at 4:05 am

    How can I make this as a salad? Can I just precook the chicken and noodles and allow to chill then add the rest of the ingredients and sauce?

    Reply
    • Bob Sackamano says

      June 17, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      You could do that however it won’t be the same… the noodles and meat/veggies/tofu whatever you’re using need to be cooked in the sauce to truly enhance everything. The padkee mao sauce won’t taste good unless it’s cooked. Maybe try searching for a Thai salad dressing recipe, and then cook off some chicken , veggies or whatever in a little peanut and sesame oil, minced shallot and garlic and feta ah sauce. Hold on to that, chill it and toss it with some greens and some sort of Thai peanut salad dressing or similar. There, I just made a recipe without even trying! Enjoy!

      Reply
  10. Maria says

    May 12, 2023 at 5:46 am

    5 stars
    Made this last night and my family wouldn’t stop raving on how good it tasted. I made the recipe as written, however I add vegetables and tripled the sauce. Another winner!

    Reply
  11. Kenton says

    April 4, 2023 at 2:44 am

    5 stars
    I planted Thai Basil so I could make this more often and not have to go all the way to the Asian market on the opposite side of town.

    Reply
  12. Ben says

    March 6, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe thanks. Cooked outdoors in my 55mj Rambo wok burner on 16″ carbon steel wok. Medium heat for the chili, onions etc then full blast for the rest of the process. Made it with pre-fried diced tofu, added some bok choy and ginger as well, and heaps of Thai chilli and Thai basil as the plants are prolific at the moment. Tasted beautiful with strong wok hei, better than local takeout. Awesome.

    Reply
  13. Carla says

    March 5, 2023 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! It was a big hit with the hubby. This is his favorite Thai dish to order when we go out. He said that it is just as good as in the restaurant! He’s right!

    Reply
  14. Joe Frush says

    February 27, 2023 at 2:09 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe. I’ve been making this version for a while. Small tweaks can change the flavour and I’ve learned to make more sauce just to add to the delicious mix.

    Reply
  15. Sally says

    February 14, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    Flavour is good but my noodles all fell apart into 3cm bits. I cooked the noodles for the minimum time on the packet anticipating this might happen. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I did wrong?

    Reply
    • Emily Silberberg says

      March 28, 2023 at 5:11 pm

      I’m sure Nagi says in a similar recipe to use two wooden spoons when cooking otherwise noddles will break apart. Works for me, no idea how or why but it does 🙂

      Reply
    • Joe Frush says

      February 27, 2023 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      Taste test the noodles as they boil. Keep them a bit al-dente so they don’t explode when mixing the final ingredients.

      Reply
  16. Matt says

    January 24, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious recipe, PKM is my go-to noodle dish at any Thai restaurant and my wife and I both agreed that this mimicked the restaurant experience perfectly. The fresh Thai basil and fish sauce really brought it home for me. Only modification I made was adding some chopped green bean with the onion as I wanted a bit more veg, and it turned out great!

    Reply
  17. Kelli says

    January 13, 2023 at 6:38 am

    5 stars
    So amazing!! I love how you offer substitutions for ingredients, there is no way I’d ever find lime leaves where I live

    Reply
  18. DL says

    October 5, 2022 at 10:41 am

    5 stars
    I substituted Chinese broccoli stalks thinly sliced and sliced red bell pepper for the green onions. Also, added some of the broccoli greens when I added the basil.

    Reply
  19. SA says

    September 26, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to make! Sauce recipe was perfect. Added some bok choy, mushrooms and a tomato. Used fresh rice noodles.

    Reply
  20. Monique says

    September 19, 2022 at 2:52 pm

    I love this so much I literally bought a basil plant to sit in my kitchen window. I crave it constantly and use my ever-producing basil plant as an excuse to make it again!

    Reply
    • Monique says

      September 19, 2022 at 2:53 pm

      Also I triple the sauce

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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