Why Pad Thai Is Britain's Most-Loved Dish - And Shrewsbury Agrees

Ask ten people in Britain to name a Thai dish and most will say Pad Thai before they say anything else. Ask the same question in Shrewsbury, and the answer usually comes with a follow-up: have you tried the one at Chaiya?

Pad Thai: The Dish the Whole of Britain Fell For

There's a reason Pad Thai sits near the top of almost every Thai menu in the country, and near the top of almost every order. Thai food has become one of the most popular cuisines in the UK in recent years, with several 2024 dining surveys placing it ahead of long-standing favourites like Italian and American food. Within that category, Pad Thai is consistently the dish people name first when asked what Thai food actually is. It has even climbed into the UK's most-ordered takeaway dishes overall, standing alongside curry, pizza and fried chicken on major delivery platforms' 2026 rankings.

Part of that appeal is how approachable it is. Pad Thai doesn't ask a first-timer to commit to the heat of a green curry or the sharp funk of a papaya salad. Sweet, sour, salty and savoury all show up in the same bowl, which makes it an easy entry point for newcomers and a reliable order for people who already know exactly what they want. But approachable doesn't mean simple to get right, and that's precisely where most Pad Thai in Britain falls short. We've written before about what genuinely separates an authentic Pad Thai from a bottled-sauce imitation, and it comes down to a handful of ingredients most kitchens skip to save time.

Why Shrewsbury Has Fallen for It Too

Search around for Chaiya's reviews and the same handful of words come up again and again: authentic, fresh, homemade, balanced. Diners describe a sauce that actually tastes of tamarind rather than sweetened ketchup, ingredients that taste like they were prepped that day, and portions that feel generous rather than stingy. It's a pattern that shows up consistently across Google reviews and local dining guides, not a one-off compliment.

"I've had Pad Thai all over the UK and this is genuinely one of the best. The tamarind flavour is real, not just sweet brown sauce." - Google review, Shrewsbury

"Ordered this on a recommendation and it was the highlight of the meal." - Google review, Shrewsbury

On a market town high street where curry houses and chip shops have decades of loyalty behind them, a Thai noodle dish becoming the thing people specifically travel into Shrewsbury for says something. Pad Thai is Chaiya's single most-ordered dish, and it's usually the first thing regulars tell newcomers to order.

Pad Thai is the dish most loved by customers at Chaiya

What Makes Chaiya's Pad Thai the One People Talk About

At Chaiya, the tamarind is dissolved from the block in-house, not poured from a bottle. The noodles are soaked to order rather than sitting pre-cooked, so they keep a slight chew instead of turning soft and clumped. The wok runs hot enough to pick up a faint char, the bean sprouts go in last for crunch, and the lime wedge on the side isn't decoration, it's part of the dish. Squeeze it before the first bite.

None of that is complicated. It's just the version most takeaway kitchens skip because tamarind paste is slower to prepare than a squeeze of ketchup and sugar. The difference shows up immediately: a Pad Thai that tastes sour before anything else, then savoury, then a background sweetness that never announces itself. That's the flavour order that keeps people coming back, and it's the reason Chaiya's version keeps getting singled out in reviews rather than lumped in with 'good Thai food' generally.

Pad Thai at Chaiya Thai Restaurant, Shrewsbury - flat rice noodles, tamarind sauce, egg, crushed peanuts and lime

It's Not Just the Noodles

Pad Thai gets people through the door, but it isn't carrying Chaiya's reputation alone. The chargrilled chicken satay with house-made peanut sauce, the tamarind-glazed Firecracker Chicken, and the green papaya salad all show up regularly in the same reviews that praise the noodles. What ties them together is the same principle: proper ingredients, cooked properly, without shortcuts. Once people trust the kitchen on Pad Thai, they tend to trust it on everything else too, which is exactly how a market-town Thai restaurant builds the kind of loyal following Chaiya has in Shrewsbury.

Visit Chaiya Thai Restaurant, Shrewsbury

Pad Thai might be the dish that gets people talking about Thai food in Britain, but it's also the dish that, done properly, explains why they keep ordering it. At Chaiya on Claremont Street, it's made fresh to order, with prawn, chicken or tofu, and can be adapted for gluten-friendly diets on request.

📍 4 Claremont Street, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QG

🕛 Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10:30pm

🔗 Book: chaiyarestaurant.com/booking

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pad Thai healthy or unhealthy?

It depends on how it's made. A Pad Thai built on fresh tamarind paste, lean protein, egg and vegetables, stir-fried quickly in a small amount of oil, is a reasonably balanced plate: protein, carbohydrate and veg in one dish. Where it tips unhealthy is the shortcuts, restaurants that lean on sugar, ketchup or pre-made sauce heavy in salt and refined sugar to fake the tamarind flavour, or that deep-fry rather than stir-fry. Portion size and how much oil the wok uses also matter more than any single ingredient. As with most stir-fried dishes, an authentic, fresh-cooked Pad Thai eaten as part of a varied diet is a perfectly sensible choice, this isn't medical advice, just a guide to what's actually in the dish.

Where's the best place to eat in Shrewsbury?

For Thai food specifically, Chaiya Thai Restaurant at 4 Claremont Street is the most consistently recommended option in local reviews and dining guides, known for its Pad Thai, chicken satay and Firecracker Chicken. It's open seven days a week, suitable for date nights, group bookings and family meals, and takes bookings online or by phone on 0121 516 8987.

What is the most ordered Thai food in the UK?

Pad Thai. It's the dish most UK diners name first when asked about Thai food, and it regularly ranks among Britain's most-ordered takeaway dishes overall, alongside curry, pizza and fried chicken. At Chaiya, it's also the single most-ordered dish on the menu, followed by chicken satay and green papaya salad.

Is Chaiya's Pad Thai gluten-free?

Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free, but some sauces, including soy or oyster sauce, contain gluten. At Chaiya, the team can advise on a gluten-friendly version, ask when you order.

Can I get Pad Thai as a vegetarian or vegan dish at Chaiya?

Yes. Pad Thai is available with tofu in place of prawn or chicken. Let the team know your dietary requirements when booking or ordering and they'll advise on any adjustments needed.