[NON-HALAL]
Fans of this comfort food might want to make a beeline for Pad Boy in Taman Paramount in Petaling Jaya, Selangor – a bright new eatery completely devoted to this dish. Pad kra pow is the sole main course on the menu, alongside a variety of Thai street snacks and drinks.
While the menu may be limited, it is by no means boring: the highly customisable nature of pad kra pow means it can be eaten in a variety of ways.
“We love all kinds of Thai food, but we love pad kra pow because of its simplicity,” said Pad Boy social media associate Mabel Khoo. “We wanted to make a place where you can just come in, sit down, and not think so much about what to order. You just go for one dish, simple and straightforward.
“Of course, there’s also an element of pressure on us,” she added with a laugh. “If you’re only serving one dish, then you better make sure it’s good!”
Pad Boy was founded by Alvin Lim, who once worked at the renowned restaurant Long Chim in Singapore under acclaimed chef David Thompson. While that restaurant is now closed, his time there left him with a deep passion for Thai food, leading him to open Pad Boy in February.
A bright orange exterior and flashy neon trappings help exude good vibes from the moment you enter. The eatery’s walls are awash with strategic splashes of colour, and illuminated by warm lights in baskets dangling from the ceiling.
Of course, no place celebrating Thai street food would be complete without a tuk-tuk displayed in the front!
The food here is simple yet satisfying, and is a good showcase of the diverse and aromatic flavours Thai cuisine is famed for. And getting your fix is easy. First, pick your protein: favourites such as beef, chicken and squid stand alongside more exotic picks such as seafood mix and premium wagyu.
There’s also a vegetarian option, which features mushroom, beans and tofu. It is prepared with vegetarian soy sauce and kombu sauce instead of the usual fish sauce.
Then confirm if you want your eggs fried sunny-side up or omelette-style, and if you’d like Thai or holy basil in your meal.
Finally, there’s the most important part: how spicy do you want it? Choose from Mai Spicy (non-spicy) to Phed Mak Mak (extra spicy). According to Khoo, most Malaysians like their spiciness at Just Nice, right in the middle.
If you’re a devil for high heat, you might also like to try their special Heat challenge, which runs until June. Eat their Flaming Pad Kra Pow special within a certain amount of time, without water, to win vouchers and a chance at a free meal here daily for three months.
Be warned, however, that the heat can feel two to three times more intense than the Phed Mak Mak level!
Cool down with a nice Thai milk tea or lemongrass drink, or perhaps try the Lod Chong, a Thai cousin to our cendol. The place also offers a nice selection of snacks, ranging from starchy kuchai kuih to crispy chicken skins, which can be rather addictive!
It’s early days yet for Pad Boy, but the team hopes to expand someday. Perhaps their future outlets might specialise in other Thai favourites, Khoo suggested.
“We really love Thai food,” she stressed. “We went to many places to try different takes on pad kha pow to create a recipe we really like. And we hope all our customers enjoy it, too.”
Pad Boy (NON-HALAL)
53, Jalan 20/7,
Taman Paramount,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business hours:
11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm (daily except Tuesdays)