Bangkok, Thailand
45 years of experience
Third generation street cook, learned the secret recipe from his grandmother.
Their Story
Khun Somchai has been waking up at 4am every day for the past 45 years to prepare his legendary Pad Thai. His grandmother taught him the secret recipe when he was just 12 years old, and he has been perfecting it ever since.
His stall in the heart of Bangkok's Chinatown has become a pilgrimage site for food lovers from around the world. What makes his Pad Thai special? He still uses a charcoal wok, refusing to switch to gas despite the extra work. "The flavor is in the fire," he says with a knowing smile.
Every ingredient is sourced from the same families his grandmother trusted decades ago. The dried shrimp comes from a fishing village in Samut Sakhon, the tamarind from an orchard in Phetchabun, and the palm sugar from artisanal producers in Chumphon.
Signature Dishes
Pad Thai with Giant River PrawnsPad Thai Wrapped in EggVegetarian Pad Thai
Fun Facts
- Uses the same wok his grandmother gave him 45 years ago
- Has served over 2 million plates of Pad Thai
- Refuses to write down his recipe - it lives only in his memory