Nyla Anderson
Feature Editor
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The Pad See Ew, topped with an orange slice at Pad Thai.
Pad Thai is a restaurant at 6416 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg featuring traditional Thai cuisine. I went with my sister and ate appetizers, a meal, and then a dessert. The menu has a variety of foods and flavors many people would be able to enjoy. There are vegetarian options as well, cooked and made with similar sauces.There are dumplings and fried foods, Thai soups and salads, rice dishes, and noodle dishes.
First we had the Tom Kha with chicken toast and the shrimp tempura. Tom Kha is a coconut-based soup with both savory and sweet elements, very different from any food I’ve had before. I am not a coconut fan, but I did enjoy the texture of the soup. I recommend this for coconut lovers.
The chicken toast looks like a french toast stick sold at schools, but it is savory and more greasy. The entire thing is not made of chicken, so don’t expect the texture of chicken. It is mixed with garlic, scallions, and actual bread. It is very crunchy. I liked the combination of flavors and the crunch. I get it every time I go, and definitely recommend.
Shrimp tempura is a more common food Americans know of, and the ones at Pad Thai are no different; classic shrimp tempura, fried to a golden brown, very delicious.
For my main dish, I ordered Pad See Ew; flat rice noodles with chicken, egg, and broccoli tossed in a sweet soy-based dark brown sauce. This meal was perfect. It was sweet yet still savory. The chicken was well marinated and tender, and the vegetables were soft and tasted good with the sauce. For people who like a lot of sauce on their food, I recommend the drunken noodles.
For dessert, we had the Thai Ice Tea, also offered with Boba. It is like regular sweet tea, but they add a spot of cream. I’m not a boba fan, but without it the tea is really good.
Overall, the service was amazing. I had an appointment afterwards and they were quick and efficient. My server was very nice and was considerate of me having to leave soon. This restaurant is good for families, dates, and friends.