The Thai fried rice dish whose name begins with the Thai word for rice is khao pad, also spelled khao phat. In Thai, khao means “rice,” while phat means stir-fried.
Khao pad is a central Thai-style fried rice made by tossing cooked rice in a hot wok with oil, egg, garlic, onions, and seasonings. Chicken, pork, shrimp, and crab are common additions, while some versions include tomato or other vegetables. It is typically served with cucumber, lime, green onions, coriander, and nam pla phrik, a spicy fish-sauce condiment.
Thai khao pad differs from many Chinese-style fried rices because it traditionally uses Thai jasmine rice and distinctive Thai seasonings, especially fish sauce. The rice is often cooked ahead of time so the grains fry separately rather than becoming mushy.
The name can be confusing because Thai word order does not always match English. Khao pad literally places “rice” before “stir-fried,” while English usually says “fried rice.” Pad thai is a noodle dish, not a rice dish, and khao niao means sticky rice rather than fried rice.