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Bangkok’s Most Famous Pad Thai

18 viewsBy Willy Thuan · Living in Phuket since 1994

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Thipsamai ICONSIAM brings Bangkok‘s legendary Pad Thai to the riverside. This is the modern branch of a name that has been cooking the same recipe for decades, with the original still running on Maha Chai Road in the old town. The ICONSIAM outlet opened in 2018, and it sits on the 6th floor of ICONSIAM in Thonburi, the riverside mall on the Chao Phraya.

If you have ever queued outside the Maha Chai shop at night, this is the easy version. Air conditioning, comfortable seating, and no scooters going past your table. The Pad Thai is the same one that made the name, so it is a good first taste if you do not want to make the trip across town.

Finding Thipsamai at ICONSIAM

The restaurant is on the 6th floor of ICONSIAM, on the dining level with the other sit-down restaurants. The easiest way to reach the mall is the free shuttle boat from Sathorn pier, near Saphan Taksin BTS.

The design here follows a riverside theme, a nod to the brand’s street stall roots, and some of the tables sit right over the water. Those water-edge seats are usually held for larger groups, so a smaller table is the realistic option for two.

The Pad Thai

This is what you come for. The kitchen uses sun-dried sen chan noodles from Chantaburi and homemade prawn oil, which is what gives the dish its colour and depth. The one to order is the Superb Pad Thai, with prawns and the noodles wrapped inside a thin egg parcel.

Taste it plain first before reaching for the chilli, lime, or peanuts on the table, because the flavour leans sweet by design and has done for years. Prices start around the 129 to 249 baht mark, higher than a street stall but in line with the location.

Orange Juice and Sides

The other thing Thipsamai is known for is its fresh orange juice, which is very sweet and full of pulp. It is worth ordering even if you do not normally bother with juice.

The menu also runs through several Pad Thai variations beyond the signature, plus spring rolls and a few Thai sides. Each plate comes with a banana blossom on the side, which is edible and slightly astringent if you want to try it.

The Setting

The space is large, clean, and comfortable, with the riverside styling running through it. Some regulars feel the mall branch loses a little of the original’s street energy, and at busy times it can get loud.

It also fills up fast on weekends and in the early evening. If you want a quiet table and a short wait, come early rather than at the dinner rush.