deoxxys posted... I wouldnt know about supermarket Pad Thai...never seen any.
From my experience, most Thai places I have been make authentic Pad Thai. Its places like Noodles and Company that sell a more American Pad Thai without the tamarind paste, like this:
* 10 oz Thai rice noodles
* 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into small strips, or 1 lb extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
* 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
* 1 Tbsp lime juice
* 1 Tbsp fish sauce
* 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips and strips halved
* 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots
* 2 cloves garlic
* 5 green onions, whites minced, greens sliced into 1-inch pieces
* 2 cups bean sprouts
* 3 large eggs
* 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
* 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
* Red pepper flakes and sesame seeds (optional)
^The perfect PT imo. Fish Sauce and the lime are amazing flavor bombs without tamarind!
i think i had the american kind, from a supermarket frozen dinner. Prob without the paste, not even sure how that looks