pad thai is a global ambassador for the glories of Thai food; these simple stir-fried rice noodles are almost certainly one of the best-known examples of Thai cuisine worldwide.
According to an article in the journal Gastromica, Thais were supposed to unite behind this noodle dish – and unite they did, for good reason. It's quick street food, a little spicy, a little sweet, and utterly delicious.
Like many apparently simple dishes, pad thai is quick, but not necessarily easy. Indeed, Leela Punyaratabandhu has a whole series on the basics of pad thai on her excellent blog, She Simmers, starting with picking the appropriate pan.
Punyaratabandhu recommends a large, flat pan for optimal results: the larger surface area encourages evaporation, which is "key to creating noodle strands that are well-seasoned and entirely cooked through while retaining a bit of chewiness