Spice Up Your Pantry with Versatile Thai Rice Noodles

by Krystina Quintana

Simple, tasty, and delicious – Thai rice noodles are everything you want in a noodle dish! These delightful noodles offer a chewy, springy consistency that perfectly soaks up any sauces or seasonings you add to recipes.

These versatile noodles are used for many rice noodle dishes, like pad Thai (Thailand’s national dish). Thai rice noodles come in many varieties, like wide rice noodles (sen yai), thin rice noodles (sen lek), and extra-thin noodles (sen me). If you've ever eaten Thai food, you've likely tasted these yummy noodles.

Here’s a quick guide on these Thai noodles so you can craft your own dishes at home!

What Are Thai Rice Noodles?

Thai rice noodles are a popular ingredient in Thai food. Since they have a simple flavor (like a bowl of plain rice), they make the perfect base for various dishes.

The history of rice noodles is a bit fuzzy, though it's easy to trace when noodles first came to Thailand. They were brought to the country from China centuries ago. From there, dishes like pad Thai and pad se ew were developed.

What Are Thai Noodles Made Of?

Rice noodles are made with rice flour or rice and water, making them vegan and typically gluten-free. Their simple ingredients offer a simple flavor, allowing you to add your favorite seasoning to the mix.

What Do Rice Noodles Taste And Look Like?

Depending on the variety you purchase, you'll see a different thickness for each type of noodle. They're typically white and somewhat translucent before you cool them. As they cook, rice noodles become a brighter white color. They have a very simple taste, as they're meant to soak up any flavor you add to them.

Ways To Use Rice Noodles

The great thing about rice noodles is how many ways you can use them! You can use rice noodles for pad Thai, drunken noodles, or pad se ew noodles. The list of rice noodle recipes is endless!

They also go well with various sauces like peanut sauce, soy sauce, and stir-fry sauce.

What's The Difference Between Vermicelli And Rice Noodles?

There’s one main difference between vermicelli and rice noodles – their ingredients. Vermicelli is made from maida flour, whereas rice noodles use rice or rice flour as the main ingredients. They're also typically used for different dishes.

Are Rice Noodles The Same As Thai Noodles?

No, they're not the same. There are many types of Thai noodles, like egg noodles and bean thread noodles. Rice noodles are one of the varieties that are available for Thai food.

Are Rice Stick Noodles The Same As Pad Thai Noodles?

No, rice stick noodles are much thinner than pad Thai noodles. Pad Thai noodles are medium-width noodles, while rice stick noodles are typically shorter and thinner.

Thai Rice Noodle Recipes

Since these noodles are so versatile, there’s a long list of Thai rice noodle recipe options. Below, you'll find some dishes you can make with these yummy noodles.

  • Thai rice noodles with chicken (pad Thai gai)
  • Pad Thai noodles
  • Thai rice noodles stir fry
  • Drunken noodles
  • Pad se ew
  • Pad woon sen

How To Cook Thai Rice Noodles?

Thai rice noodles are super easy to prepare, making them great! There are two options: boil them for a few minutes (according to the instructions on the package) or add them to a bowl and pour boiling hot water onto the noodles.

If you choose to pour hot water over Thai rice noodles, they must be fully submerged. Make sure to swish or stir the noodles, so they don't stick together, then soak for about 10 minutes. Voila, your noodles are ready to go!

Where To Buy Thai Rice Noodles

If you can't find Thai rice noodles at your local Asian market or grocery store, you can head to Bokksu Grocery for delicious noodle options. Try adding Tiger Rice Noodles into your Thai rice noodle recipes. These flat rice noodles are perfect for pad Thai and other flat rice noodles recipe options.

Tiger Rice Noodles

Check out Bokksu Market for any of your Asian grocery store needs. We offer easy delivery straight to your door with options for Korean, Japanese, Thai, and other Asian snacks, pantry staples, and more.


Author Bio

Krystina Quintana is a 29-year-old copywriter living outside of Chicago, IL. Her passion for Asian culture began at a young age as she learned to create Asian-inspired recipes like homemade sushi with her family. This interest in Asian culture continues today with time spent in the kitchen and copywriting pursuits. Krystina has worked with customers ranging from small businesses to food Youtubers with 70,000+ subscribers. With a passion for food and travel, she seeks to help businesses bring traffic to their page by writing blog posts that are engaging, informative, and fun to read.