What’s hot, delicious, and very popular? If you guessed, my sexy booty ( a good guess ) but you’re wrong. The answer is actually pad kaprao. Shakespeare didn’t write, “Should I compare thee to a pad karpao” but he should have and were he Thai it’s possible he may have! This dish is so popular and well loved. So is my booty but that’s not what we are here to talk about today.
Pad kaprao is one of my favourite meals. I eat this almost every week. I’ll often order it when I am in Thailand. So knowing that the famous Youtuber, blogger, and professional fire eater ( his butt is probably hotter than mine ) has a pad kaprao restaurant called Phed Mark in Bangkok! Of COURSE I had to try the pad kaprao at phed mark
What is pad kaprao
Pad kaprao is a very popular and common dish you’ll find in Thailand. It’s cooked by street vendors, restaurants, and in homes too. They have a saying in Thailand, if you don’t know what to cook or order then have pad kaprao.
Yes, but what is it?! I’m glad you asked me what, dear reader. Pad means to stir fry and kaprao is basil. So this is literally basil stir fry. The meat ( most commonly pork or chicken ) is stir fried together with a vampire slaying amounts of garlics and butt slaying amounts of chilli in a savoury sauce. It’s absolutely addictive and delicious!
It’s difficult to underestimate the popularity of pad kaprao. In 2018 a group of Thai boys and their football coach became trapped in a cave. After 17 long days of terror and hardship deep underground they were finally recused. Finally free the boys wanted a plate of pad kaprao! Sure everybody knows the famous coloured curries and pad thai but I would argue this is a far more popular every day dish.
Please click this link to learn more about the history of pad krapao
Who is Mark Wiens
Mark Wiens is a huge star on YouTube. Born in the U.S he travelled around before settling in Thailand. While working as a teacher he started a Thai food blog and later YouTube Channel to share his love and passion of Thai food. Hugely successful and influential, his YouTube channel has 9.2 million subscribers as of writing.
Mark Wiens is famous for his love of spicy food. Often wearing a t-shirt with a chilli. He’s a passionate foodie but especially loves Thai food. He currently lives in Thailand. Have a curious gander at his about me page if you want more a bit more depth.
Check out Mark Wien’s YouTube Channel Migrationlology his Instagram and his Phed Mark instagram and enter into a world of deliciousness and spice and all things nice.
What does phed mean in Thai?
In 2019 Mark Wiens opened the Phed Mark Restaurant. Phed Mark is a play on words referencing his love of spicy food. Phed is Thai for spicy. Mak which is pronounced something like mark means very. So basically very spicy! While it’s certainly possible to nuke your face, you can actually choose the level of spice
How to get to Phed Mark & Opening Times
The easiest way to get to Phed Mark is taking the Skytrain ( BTS ) to Ekkamai Station. Leave via Exit 3. The restaurant is just a short walk from here.
Phed Mark address:
Phed mark, 300 sukhumvit rd, phra khanong, khlong toei, bangkok 10110
Phed Mark phone number:
Phed Mark opening times
- Monday 11am – 8pm
- Tuesday 11am – 8pm
- Wednesday 11am – 8pm
- Thursday 11am – 8pm
- Friday 11am – 8pm
- Saturday 11am – 8pm
- Sunday – CLOSED.
Phed Mark Googlemaps directions:
Just in case you can’t make it to the restaurant and are in the area, you can get a Phed Mark delivery from the popular food delivery apps you find in Bangkok: Lineman, Food Panda, and Grab.
Restaurant phed mark
The restaurant is kind of cute dressed in its egg yolk yellow paint job along with the fire emoji like logo – just a reminder that you are entering a place of spiciness worship! Phet Mark can seriously crank out the heat.
The interior is air conditioned! Always a bonus in boiling Bangkok. The cute colour scheme continues inside. There are 2 long wooden benches, a counter, and a menu list on the wall of various types of pad kaprao on offer at Phed Mark! They all come with a crispy fried duck egg.
So What pad kaprao can I order at Phed Mark?
- Vegetarian
- Pork ( the standard OG Pad Krapow )
- Sour Pork Sausage
- Beef
- Wagu
- Wagu Shank
- Squid
You can choose how spicy the pad kaprao is at Phed Mark.
- 1 – Non spicy
- 2 – Very less spicy
- 3 – less spicy
- 4 – Spicy ( signature )
- 5 – VERY SPICY ( face nuke )
I’m warning you now, Only pick very spicy if you think gargling with red hot lava appeals to you. This is for serious hardcore spice monsters only. You. Have, Been. Warned. You know that scene in Indiana Jones where he opens the Arc and the baddies get their faces melted? It’s this. Face melting time.
kaprao at phed mark เผดมารค – Review & Rating
I was torn between the wagu shank and Thai Sour Sausage. I got level 3 ( which turned out to be a wise choice ) being well aware of Mr Wiens and his asbestos mouth.
First impressions were good. We should pause for a moment and appreciate the golden yolked crispy duck egg. Perfection!! However, unfortunately, this is my only positive for the pad kaprao at phed mark!
I was extremely disappointed! It really didn’t taste much like pad krapow or even much of anything. The sausage sat in a thick sludgy pool of bland sauce. The pad krapow is overwhelmingly spicy, bitter and salty.
911. I want to report a fire? Yes, location? MY FACE.
- NOTE 1 And later my butt
- NOTE 2: Yes, we are talking about butts. Again.
Spiciness is subjective but let me say I enjoy my spice and while I am not a professional lava gargler like Mister Mark Wiens I can take a high level of spice. Well known super spicy dishes such as Khua Kling and Gaeng som hold no terrors for my tongue!
I do wonder if the woman that took my order got it wrong? Which brings me to service. The service was cold, bordering on rude. I do value good service when I find it. Even just a thank you or a small smile.
The last negative at Phed Mark is the price. You can find Pad Krapow everywhere. You’ll normally pay in the range of 50 to 70 baht. Phed Mark is around twice the price and climbs up from there.
I have a lot of respect for Mark Wiens. His videos are amazing. He’s so passionate and informative but I was really disappointed with Phed Mark. I am afraid I have to give this 1/5 bellies.
Nearby Alternative to Phed Mark to eat pad krapow
Ironically there is a place famous for its pad kaprao not too far, just a few stops down the line is Ung Jia Huad. Ironically this place was recommended by Mark Wiens long ago! Take the BTS ( green line ) and get of at Asok station. It’s a short walk from there.
This place has been cooking pad kaprao for over 50 years! It’s rightly famous! The small open air restaurant sits on the corner next to a shady tree. Watch Bangkok life unfold as you wait while your food is being cooked. The place has such a good vibe and the service was really friendly. The price? Only 70 baht.
I ate here before I tried Mark Wiens kad krapow Restaurant… Yes… I ate two in a day!!! Don’t judge me! I regret nothing. I also might also had some famous sticky rice so if you are in the area and want something sweet after your pad krapow. then you could try Mae Varee Mango Sticky Rice. It isn’t too far and your face will be so happy!
Pad kaprao recipe
Can’t get to Bangkok?! Here’s my recipe for creating your very own Pad Kaprao in the comfort of your own home!
Pad kaprao moo kai dow
Ingredients
- 250 – 300 g Minced ( ground ) pork It's best to mince ( ground ) your own with a knife but you can buy it if that suits. See notes for more details. (1)
- 100 g Basil See my notes for more information (2)
- 6 cloves Garlic
- 6 whole Birdseye chillies See notes for more info (3)
- 1 TSP Palm sugar or just brown sugar
- 2 TBS Oyster sauce
- 1 TBS Soy sauce
- 1 TBS Fish sauce
- 1 Dash Maggi seasoning or similar such as golden mountain
- 2 egg chicken or duck
Instructions
- Pound your garlic and chilli ( yes, including the seeds ) in a mortar and pestle. It shouldn't be a paste. Just smash it up. Pok! Pok! Pok!
- Wash your basil, separate the leaves from the stems. You can talk to the basil, if you like, I hear plants like it.
- Smash the garlic and chilli together in a mortar and pestle. It doesn't need to be a paste. Just crush it up until the bits are smallish.
- Mixy mixy up your sauces together. Add the sugar and a little water. Stir until the sauces are combined and the sugar disolves. (4)
- Now you are ready! Let's go for tasty victory!!
- Fry the garlic & chilli in a medium heat oil
- Add the pork and turn up the heat to high. Stir fry for around 4 mins until it's cooked.
- Add the sauce and stir fry together. Taste. Adjust sugar/sauce at this point. It should taste balanced.
- Add the basil leaves, turn off the heat, and mix together until the basil starts to wilt.
- Serve with fluffy jasmine rice.
- Top with a crispy fried egg! – See my notes (5)
- Put it in your face hole and enjoy the hell out of it,.
- Wonder where this has been all your life. Question your life choices.
Notes
Final Thoughts
I do hope you enjoyed this journey with me. Have you tried Pad Krapao? What do you think?! I always love feedback and thoughts. I would be especially interested if you’ve actually eaten at Phed Mark!
If you enjoyed this then you might also enjoy another article I wrote on Thai food called The Real Thai Food Guide.
If you really enjoyed this please consider sharing on your fave social medias and subscribing so you won’t miss any new articles. Thank you for reading. Stay curious and hungry.
Anything with a fried egg on top is a winner for me; these dishes sound so flavourful and delicious — thanks for sharing!
These dishes sound so flavour ful and delicious — thanks for sharing!
That Pad Krapao…and double the price!?! No, not for me! I already told you so. I would feel very bad eaten this…. if someone can teach good Thai cooking for foreigners it’s Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant from Hot Thai Kitchen. She worked with Wiens…but for some dishes, he wasn’t a good student…555
These dishes sound so flavour ful and delicious — thanks for sharing!
Pad kra pao is one of the best Thai dishes! I loved reading this article about pad kaprao at Mark Weins since I can’t wait to visit the place myself!
Thanks for sharing, this looks delicious 🙂 I have tried the very simular dish over in Laos (Larb) which was equally delicious, but less spicy! I also like the smell of Thai Basil to!!