Pad Kapow with Fried Egg – Thailand’s Spiciest Comfort Food (and Best “I-Don’t-Know-What-to-Eat” Meal) 🍳🌶️

Sunak
May 1
2 min read

Ever had one of those days when your brain’s totally blank and you have no idea what to eat?

Welcome to Thailand’s favorite solution:

“ข้าวกะเพราไก่ไข่ดาว”

(Kao Pad Kapow Gai Kai Dao) aka Minced Chicken Stir-Fry with Basil & Fried Egg over Rice.

Ask any Thai person what they eat when they “don’t know what to eat,” and chances are, the answer is Pad Kapow.

That’s why we call it “the no-brainer meal” 😅 — spicy, satisfying, and always hits the spot.

What Makes Pad Kapow So Addictive?

It’s a sizzling stir-fry of ground meat (usually chicken or pork), chopped garlic, fresh chilies, and fragrant Thai basil—served over fluffy jasmine rice, and crowned with a golden fried egg. 🍚🍳

Crunchy edges on the egg, spicy sauce soaking into the rice…You get the picture. This is comfort food turned up to 11.

Thai minced chicken stir-fried with basil, garlic, and chilies, served over jasmine rice with a crispy fried egg on top

How We Serve It at Bangkok Cafe 🇹🇭✨

Here’s how you can enjoy Pad Kapow your way:

🍛 Minced Chicken Kapow Over Rice

Just like how it’s served in Thailand! Stir-fried minced chicken + garlic + chili + basil, poured over jasmine rice. Add a fried egg on top? Yes, please. 🍳

Sliced meat stir-fried with sweet basil, bell peppers, and chili-garlic sauce, served with jasmine rice on the side

🍱 Sliced Meat Kapow (Rice on the Side)Pick your favorite protein—chicken, pork, beef, or tofu—and we’ll stir-fry it fresh. Rice served on the side so you can mix, dip, and enjoy every bite your way.

🔥 Spice things up with your choice of 6 levels of heat, from mild to mouth-on-fire. You’ve been warned. 😅

A Little Twist: Sweet Basil & Bell Peppers 🌿🫑

Here’s the deal:

Traditional Thai Pad Kapow uses holy basil (bai kapow), known for its spicy, peppery flavor.

But fresh holy basil is super hard to source consistently in the U.S.—and when it’s not fresh, the flavor suffers. 😢

So at Bangkok Cafe, we use fresh sweet basil instead. It’s more available, holds up better in stir-fries, and still brings that signature herbal kick.

We also add red and green bell peppers for a colorful crunch and extra nutrients.

They blend beautifully with the heat of the chilies and bring a natural sweetness that balances the dish—plus, they make the plate look amazing! (Because we eat with our eyes too 😋)