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An overhead view of a bowl of Thai Drunken Noodles. The wide, flat rice noodles are coated in a shiny, dark brown sauce and mixed with seared chicken, julienned carrots, and green peppers.

Authentic Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) That Look Just Like The Picture

Master this authentic Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) recipe, featuring slippery wide rice noodles, tender chicken, and a dark, glossy sauce. Get that perfect street-food char at home.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Calories: 675

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp Oyster Sauce (45ml)
  • 2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce (30ml)
  • 2 tbsp Light Soy Sauce (30ml)
  • 1 tbsp Fish Sauce (15ml)
  • 1 tbsp Brown Sugar (15g)
  • 8 oz Wide Flat Rice Noodles (225g), fresh or dried
  • 1 lb Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless (450g), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp High-Smoke-Point Oil (30ml), like canola or avocado
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 Red Bird's Eye Chilies thinly sliced (or to taste)
  • 1 medium Green Bell Pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 medium Carrot julienned
  • 1 cup Thai Basil Leaves packed

Equipment

  • 1 Large Wok or Skillet
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 1 Cutting Board

Instructions
 

  1. Prepare noodles according to package directions (soak if dried, separate if fresh). Drain and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients: oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, and brown sugar.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until smoking lightly. Add chicken in a single layer and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until a golden-brown crust forms and it's cooked through. Remove from wok and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-high, add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil. Add minced garlic and sliced chilies and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add green bell pepper strips and julienned carrots and toss for 1-2 minutes until crisp-tender.
  4. Add the noodles to the wok, followed by the sauce. Toss everything to coat the noodles. Add the cooked chicken back to the wok and toss to combine.
  5. Turn off the heat and immediately add the fresh Thai basil leaves. Toss one last time to allow the basil to wilt from the residual heat. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don't Overcrowd the Pan: If doubling, cook in two batches to ensure a good sear.
High Heat is Your Friend: Don't be afraid to get your wok or skillet very hot before starting.
Mise en Place is Non-Negotiable: Have all ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking.
Prevent Sticky Noodles: Toss soaked and drained noodles with a tiny bit of oil to keep them from clumping.
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