Khao Soi
(Egg Noodle Curry)

Khao soi or khao soy is a Burmese-influenced dish served widely in northern Laos and northern Thailand. The name means “cut rice” in Thai, although it is possible that it is simply a corruption of the Burmese word for noodles which is just “khao swè” which may account for the variations. Traditionally, the dough for the rice noodles is spread out on a cloth stretched over boiling water. After steaming the large sheet noodle is then rolled and cut with scissors. These traditional cut noodles can also be found in several places in northern Thailand.

Northern Thai khao soi is closer to the present day Burmese ohn no khao swè, being a soup-like dish made with a mix of deep-fried crispy egg noodles and boiled egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime, ground chillies fried in oil, and meat in a curry-like sauce containing coconut milk. The curry is somewhat similar to that of yellow or massaman curry but of a thinner consistency. It is popular as a street dish eaten by Thai people in northern Thailand, though not frequently served in Thai restaurants abroad.

There is some reason to believe that the Thai version of khao soi was influenced by Chinese Muslim cuisine and was therefore likely served with chicken or beef.