If Pad Thai is the friendly introduction to Thai noodles, Drunken Noodles are where things get interesting. Pad Kee Mao is bold, a little fiery, and built for people who want their noodles to have some attitude. It is one of the dishes I am asked about most, and one of the best tests of whether a kitchen can actually cook. What "drunken" really means Despite the name, there is no alcohol in the dish. The stories vary, and half the fun is that nobody quite agrees. The popular telling is that Pad Kee Mao is the food you crave late at night after a few drinks, spicy and savory enough to cut through anything. Another says it is so bold you would have to be a little tipsy to handle the heat. Either way, the name is a promise about intensity, and the dish keeps it. Wide noodles, and why they matter We use wide, flat rice noodles, which are a different animal from the thin noodles in Pad Thai. They are chewier and better at catching sauce, and they stand up to the aggressive stir-frying this dish demands. Thin noodles would tear apart; the wide ones hold their shape and their bite, so every forkful has some chew to it. Wok heat is everything Drunken Noodles live or die on the wok. We stir-fry them hard and fast over a flame hot enough to give the noodles that faint smoky char cooks call wok hei, the signature of a proper stir-fry. It is not something you can fake at a low temperature. Crowd the pan or cook it too gently and the noodles turn soft and gummy; keep the heat high and the hands quick and they come out springy, a little charred, and coated but never soggy. The flavor Into that hot wok go Thai basil, fresh chili, bell pepper, and onion, along with your choice of protein. The basil is the soul of the dish, peppery and fragrant, wilting just enough to perfume everything. The chili brings the heat, the peppers and onion bring sweetness and crunch, and the whole thing lands garlicky, savory, and alive. It is comfort food with a kick. Order it as spicy as you dare Drunken Noodles are meant to bring the heat, and you can dial that up or down with us, so do not be shy about telling your server where your limit is. It is the kind of everyday thai food that keeps regulars coming back, and the dish I recommend when someone searching asian food near me wants something with real character rather than the usual takeout. Pair it with a cold Thai tea to cool the fire between bites. Find it in Buckhead Our Drunken Noodles come with your choice of protein and are on the menu daily at 3872 Roswell Road NE Unit 18B, Atlanta, GA 30342. Prefer something sweeter and milder? Our Pad Thai is the gentler noodle. When you are choosing between thai restaurants near me, drunken noodles are the plate to judge a kitchen by, because you cannot hide a lazy wok behind them. Call (404)-343-1516 or come on in and order it as bold as you dare. Do Drunken Noodles contain alcohol? No. Despite the name Pad Kee Mao (literally "drunkard's noodles"), there is no alcohol in the dish. The name refers to how bold and spicy it is, the food you crave late at night. What is the difference between Drunken Noodles and Pad Thai? Drunken Noodles use wide, flat rice noodles and are savory, garlicky, and spicy with Thai basil. Pad Thai uses thin noodles and is sweet and tangy from tamarind. One brings heat; the other brings comfort. How spicy are Drunken Noodles? They are meant to bring the heat, but you can dial the spice up or down. Tell your server your preference, and keep a cold Thai tea handy.