If you love bold flavors and quick, satisfying meals, these Quick Korean Pad Thai Noodles are a must-try! This dish brings together the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors of traditional Pad Thai with a Korean twist — think gochujang (Korean chili paste), soy sauce, and sesame oil mingling with rice noodles, crunchy vegetables, and a squeeze of fresh lime. It’s a fusion dish that’s easy to whip up in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you’re craving something different. Whether you’re a fan of Asian fusion or just looking to spice up your noodle game, this recipe delivers big on taste with minimal effort.
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✅ Quick Tips: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
Take your tastebuds on a whirlwind adventure with these Quick Korean Pad Thai Noodles — a bold fusion of Thai street food charm and Korean spice! This easy-to-make dish combines tender rice noodles tossed in a rich, sweet, and spicy sauce made with gochujang, soy sauce, garlic, and a hint of lime. Crunchy veggies, silky noodles, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds come together in just 20 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight meal or satisfying weekend treat. Whether you’re a fan of Asian fusion or just looking to spice up your noodle game, this dish delivers bold flavors, vibrant colors, and total comfort in every bite.
Place noodles in a large bowl, pour over plenty of boiling water. Soak for 5 minutes, then drain in a colander and quickly rinse under cold water. Don’t leave them sitting around for more than 5 – 10 minutes.
Servings 1
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
1. Rice noodles – I’ve tried every rice stick sold at supermarkets in Australia. Chang’s is the best – it’s less prone to breaking when it’s tossed in the pan. See photo in post. If you can’t find Chang’s, use another that is 2 – 3 mm / 0.1 ” thick. Avoid wider rice noodles, they are more prone to breaking.If using the the Erawan brand rice noodles (see photo in post), soak in room temp tap water for 40 – 45 minutes until noodles are silky but still a touch firm. DO NOT follow the packet directions to boil – they disintegrate in the pan!125g doesn’t sound like much noodles but they expand when soaked.
2. Tamarind is the heart and soul of Pad Thai. The authentic version starts with tamarind pulp which needs to be soaked then strained. Puree is sold in a jar at supermarkets (Asian section), far easier! It’s a scoopable soft paste (see video).It can be labelled as Tamarind Puree or Paste (not to be confused with Tamarind concentrate which is stronger – use about 1/3 of the amount if you have this). In Australia it’s sold at Woolies, Coles, Harris Farms (Asian section) as well as Asian stores. There’s a few different ones on Amazon US – here is the cheapest one. Use leftovers for Beef Rendang !
KETCHUP SUBSTITUTE if you can’t find tamarind. Use this for the Pad Thai Sauce instead of ingredients listed above:1 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp dark soy sauce*, 2 tbsp rice vinegar (or 1 tbsp white vinegar).
See in post for explanation, and cynics, don’t judge until you’ve tried this! It’s remarkably good and quite close to the base Pad Thai recipe!:
* This is mainly for colour, so can be substituted with light or normal soy sauce and flavour will still be the same.
3. Can be substituted with light soy sauce though you will lose a bit of the flavour edge that fish sauce gives it.
4. Not in authentic Pad Thai but is essential for this everyday version.
5. Garlic chives look like blades of grass and taste like garlicky chives. If you can’t find them, it’s not a deal killer. Best to substitute with chopped shallots (aka green onion / scallions)/..
6. General note: I use a skillet here, I find it easier. But if you have a well seasoned wok, make it in that if you want!
7. Nutrition per serving, assuming 2 servings. The weight doesn’t take into account the water absorbed by the noodles. I think it’s closer to 350g / 12oz per serving. It’s a generous serving!