Pad Woon Sen: Authentic Thai Glass Noodle Stir-Fry Recipe at Home
Mix up your stir-fry game with Pad Woon Sen, an umami-rich and slightly sweet Thai glass noodle dish that's quick, healthy, and totally delicious. This authentic recipe features tender chicken, silky bean thread noodles, and crisp vegetables—all ready in under 30 minutes. It's one of those rare healthy dishes you can eat guilt-free while being insanely good, and as a one-pan meal, it's perfect for busy weeknights.
What Makes Pad Woon Sen Special?
Pad Woon Sen (ผัดวุ้นเส้น) is a beloved Thai stir-fry that stands out from other noodle dishes like Pad Thai or Pad See Ew. The star ingredient is glass noodles, also called bean threads, made from mung bean starch. These translucent noodles have a wonderfully delicate texture that absorbs the savory sauce beautifully.
Unlike heavier rice noodles, glass noodles create a lighter dish that's satisfying without feeling heavy. Combined with fresh vegetables, protein, and a perfectly balanced sauce featuring oyster sauce, soy sauce, and fish sauce, this Thai glass noodle stir-fry delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home.
Essential Ingredients for Authentic Pad Woon Sen
Noodles: 75g dried glass noodles (bean threads)—about 2 bundles
Protein: 250g chicken breast, thinly sliced (or tofu for vegetarian)
Vegetables: Yellow onion, julienned carrots, thinly sliced cabbage, roma tomatoes, and green onions
Aromatics: Minced garlic and ground white pepper
Sauce: Oyster sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, Golden Mountain sauce, and allulose or sugar
Eggs: For that classic stir-fry richness
The beauty of Pad Woon Sen is its flexibility. You can swap proteins or adjust vegetables based on what's in your kitchen while maintaining that authentic Thai flavor.
How to Make Pad Woon Sen: Step-by-Step
Preparing Your Glass Noodles
Soak glass noodles in room temperature water for about 12 minutes until soft and pliable. Cut them in half with kitchen scissors to prevent bunching during cooking. Keep them in the water until ready to use.
Creating the Perfect Sauce
Whisk together oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, Golden Mountain sauce, your sweetener, and white pepper. This combination gives Pad Woon Sen its signature umami-rich, slightly sweet flavor. Set aside.
Heat your wok over high heat—maintaining high heat is crucial for authentic texture.
Cook the protein: Season chicken lightly with salt, then sear in hot oil until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Set aside.
Sauté aromatics: Add sliced onions and cook until softened, 2-3 minutes.
Scramble eggs: Create a well, add oil, crack in eggs and scramble until cooked.
Add vegetables: Toss in cabbage and carrots, cooking 2-3 minutes until cabbage wilts. Add tomatoes.
Finish with garlic: Make another well, add garlic and white parts of green onions, cooking just 20-30 seconds.
Combine with noodles: Drain soaked glass noodles and add to the wok, stir-frying for 1-2 minutes.
Add sauce: Pour prepared sauce over everything and stir-fry 2-3 minutes until noodles absorb the sauce and appear slightly dry.
Pro Tips for Best Results
Use a wok if possible for that authentic wok hei flavor. No gas stove? Consider a portable gas burner.
Prep everything before cooking—Thai stir-fries move fast.
Don't oversoak the noodles—they'll continue softening during cooking.
Work quickly at high heat to prevent vegetables from steaming.
Make it vegetarian: Omit fish sauce and chicken, use firm tofu or mushrooms, add extra soy sauce for umami.
No Golden Mountain sauce? Use liquid Maggi seasoning or additional soy sauce.
Sugar-free option: Use allulose instead of sugar—use about 1/3 less if substituting with regular sugar.
Protein options: Try shrimp, pork, or keep it fully vegetarian with extra vegetables.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat in a hot skillet with a splash of water to revive the noodles and prevent drying. Microwave works too, but stovetop gives better texture.
This Pad Woon Sen balances authentic Thai flavors with practical home cooking. The glass noodles provide a light, satisfying texture while keeping the dish nutritious at approximately 420 calories per serving with 30g of protein.
Ready in under 30 minutes as a complete one-pan meal, this stir-fried glass noodle dish proves authentic Thai cuisine doesn't require complicated techniques. Master this recipe, and you'll have a versatile weeknight dinner that rivals your favorite Thai restaurant.
