Pad Thai is a popular dish from Thailand that many people enjoy. But with more people keeping an eye on their gluten intake and the added convenience of delivery, it is essential to know which foods have gluten. As popular and easy to grab from a neighborhood take-out restaurant as pad thai is, is gluten-fee?
Pad Thai noodles are gluten-free as they are made from rice flour and water. However, when ordering Pad Thai from a restaurant, ask about sauces and other ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free. The best gluten-free noodles are Lotus Foods rice noodles and Annie Chun’s gluten-free rice noodles. The best healthier gluten-free alternative is Miracle Noodle Ready-to-Eat Pad Thai.
This article will discuss whether pad thai noodles are healthy, the nutritional facts for pad thai noodles, alternatives to traditional pad thai noodles, and some related questions to help answer your questions about pad thai noodles. Let’s dig in!
Contents
- Are Pad Thai Noodles Healthy?
- Pad Thai Noodle Nutritional Information
- Lotus Foods Pad Thai Rice Noodles
- Lotus Foods Brown Pad Thai Rice Noodles
- Annie Chun’s Gluten-Free Rice Noodles Pad Thai
- Annie Chun’s Gluten-Free Brown Rice Noodles Pad Thai
- Thai Kitchen Gluten-Free Stir Fry Rice Noodles
- Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Brown Rice Noodles
- Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Pad Thai Noodle Kit
- Alternatives to Pad Thai Noodles
- Packaged Pad Thai Nutrition Facts
- Final Thoughts
- Related Questions
Are Pad Thai Noodles Healthy?
Pad Thai noodles are not the worst thing you can consume, but it is not exactly a healthy dish. While the noodles contain iron and protein, the dish contains a moderate amount of calories and carbs. Pad Thai could be incorporated into a well-balanced diet and enjoyed occasionally. However, be aware that this dish is often high in sodium.
Just keep in mind the noodles themselves aren’t unhealthy, but additions to the dish can make it unhealthy and possibly no longer gluten-free. Ensure you check with the restaurant or double-check the ingredients you buy to ensure no gluten or other unhealthy additives.
Pad Thai Noodle Nutritional Information
Not all pad thai noodles are made the same. Let’s take a look at the nutrition facts of some of the more popular brands of pad thai noodles found at your local grocery store.
Lotus Foods Pad Thai Rice Noodles
Lotus Foods makes two versions of pad thai rice noodles. One made with organic white rice flour and the other with organic brown rice flour. The brown variety contains more fiber and protein.
Ingredients:
- Organic White Rice
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 45 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 3g Protein
Lotus Foods Brown Pad Thai Rice Noodles
Ingredients:
- Organic Brown Rice
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 1.5 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 43 g Total Carbohydrates
- 3 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 4g Protein
Annie Chun’s Gluten-Free Rice Noodles Pad Thai
Annie Chun’s noodles also come in white and brown rice flour varieties.
Ingredients:
- Rice flour
- Water
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 46 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 4g Protein
Annie Chun’s Gluten-Free Brown Rice Noodles Pad Thai
Ingredients:
- Brown rice flour
- Water
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 44 g Total Carbohydrates
- 2 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 5g Protein
Thai Kitchen Gluten-Free Stir Fry Rice Noodles
Thai Kitchen Gluten-Free Stir Fry Rice Noodles come in white, brown, and a kit with a gluten-free sauce.
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Water
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 0.5 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 45 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- <1 g Sugars
- 4g Protein
Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Brown Rice Noodles
Ingredients:
- Brown rice
- White rice
- Tapioca starch
- Water
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/2 Ounces):
- 200 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 45 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Sugars
- 4g Protein
Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Pad Thai Noodle Kit
Ingredients:
- Rice
- Water
- Sugar
- Tomato
- Rice Vinegar
- Fish Sauce
- Garlic Chives
- Pickled Radish
- Soybean Oil
- Garlic
- Onion
- Modified Corn Starch
- Tamarind Paste
- Citric Acid
- Chili Pepper
- Xanthan Gum
Nutrition Facts (Per 85 g/ 1/3 of package):
- 260 Calories
- 1 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 370 mg Sodium
- 58 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 14 g Sugars
- 4g Protein
Alternatives to Pad Thai Noodles
There are several alternatives to traditional pad thai noodles on the market. They tend to be lower in carbs than traditional pad thai noodles. Here are some examples.
Miracle Noodle Ready-to-Eat Pad Thai
Miracle Noodle makes a ready-to-eat variety of pad thai. They use shirataki noodles which are plant-based, low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan.
Ingredients:
- Konjac shirataki noodles
- Tofu
- Water
- Coconut sugar
- Garlic chives
- Shallot
- Peanut
- Coconut Oil
- Garlic tamarind paste
- Gluten free soy sauce
- Salt
- Citric acid
- Caramel color
- Chili Powder
- Paprika
Nutrition Facts (Per 140 g/ 1/2 of package):
- 90 Calories
- 3.5 g Total Fat
- 0.5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 350 mg Sodium
- 12 g Total Carbohydrates
- 3 g Dietary Fiber
- 7 g Sugars
- 3g Protein
Nasoya Pasta Zero Shirataki Spaghetti
Nasoya also makes a noodle made with shirataki making it gluten-free and vegan.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Konjac flour
- Chickpea flour
- Potato starch
- Calcium hydroxide
- Reduced iron
- Folic acid
Nutrition Facts (Per 113 g/ 2/3 cup):
- 20 Calories
- 0.5 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 5 g Total Carbohydrates
- 3 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 0g Protein
Packaged Pad Thai Nutrition Facts
If you are looking for pad thai to take to work or have on the go, here are some gluten-free options.
Amy’s Thai Pad Thai
This frozen variety of pad thai is not only gluten-free but dairy-free, vegan, and plant-based.
Ingredients:
- Organic rice noodles
- Organics broccoli
- Organic cane sugar
- Organic tofu
- Water
- Organic carrots
- Organic green onions
- Organic tamari
- Organic brown rice vinegar
- Organic cashews
- Expeller pressed high oleic safflower
- Sunflower oil
- Organic red onions
- Paprika
- Sea salt
- Tamarind extract
- Organic garlic
- Organic distilled vinegar
- Black pepper
Nutrition Facts (Per 269g/1 tray):
- 410 Calories
- 10 g Total Fat
- 1.5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 760 mg Sodium
- 68 g Total Carbohydrates
- 3 g Dietary Fiber
- 23 g Sugars
- 12g Protein
Loma Linda Pad Thai
This option comes in 10 oz. packages that you can pop in the microwave and is made from konjac noodles.
Ingredients:
- Konjac noodles
- Textured soy protein
- Red pepper
- Tomato
- Corn
- Sunflower oil
- Water chestnut
- Tomato Paste
- Carrot
- Peanut
- Sugar
- Water
- Tamarind paste
- Salt
- Vinegar
- Onion
- Yeast extract
- Chili Powder
- Garlic flavor
Nutrition Facts (Per 285 g/ 1 1/4 cup):
- 260 Calories
- 7 g Total Fat
- 1 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 1210 mg Sodium
- 36 g Total Carbohydrates
- 9 g Dietary Fiber
- 15 g Sugars
- 13g Protein
Thai Kitchen Thai Peanut
Thai Kitchen offers another option you can microwave in a few minutes-just add water
Ingredients:
- Noodles
- Water
- Sugar
- Peanut paste
- Fish sauce
- Red curry paste
- Onion
- Garlic
- Glucono delta-lactone
- Coconut milk powder
- Lemon
- Sesame oil
- Acetic acid
- Peanut
- Spices
- Lemongrass
- Tamarind paste
- Xanthan gum
- Citric acid
- Caramel color
- Yeast extract
- Dehydrated vegetables
Nutrition Facts (Per 276g)
- 540 Calories
- 12g Total Fat
- 3 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 510 mg Sodium
- 96 g Total Carbohydrates
- 5 g Dietary Fiber
- 29 g Sugars
- 10g Protein
Dr. Mcdougall’s Vegan Pad Thai Noodle Soup
Another just add water option. Dr. McDougall’s soup is also vegan and comes in convenient cups.
Ingredients:
- Rice Noodles
- Organic sugar
- Yeast extracts
- Onion
- Natural flavors
- Potato scratch
- Lime juice powder
- Carrot
- Garlic
- Sea salt
- Red bell pepper
- Spices
- Chili pepper
- Tamarind
- Shallot
- Cilantro
- Green onion
- Paprika
- Soymilk
Nutrition Facts (Per 56 g/1 big cup):
- 190 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 0 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 620 mg Sodium
- 43 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 4 g Sugars
- 4 g Protein
Final Thoughts
Pad thai noodles themselves are relatively healthy. They are low in fat, sugar, and sodium. Just keep an eye on the carbs. Most pad thai noodles will have at least 40g per serving. The best gluten-free pad thai rice noodles include Lotus Foods, Annie Chun’s, and Thai Kitchen rice noodles.
Keep in mind; pad thai can become an unhealthy dish even if the noodles aren’t that bad. Keep an eye on sodium levels, calories and sugar when ordering pad thai from your favorite Thai restaurant.
If you are looking for a lighter dish containing lower-carb noodles, Miracle Noodle Ready-to-Eat Pad Thai and Nasoya Pasta Zero Shirataki Spaghetti are phenomenal options.
Related Questions
Are Pad Thai Noodles Vegan?
Pad thai noodles are vegan as they are typically made from rice flour and water. They don’t contain any animal byproducts, which means they’re suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Just be mindful of any premade pad Thai or pad Thai from a restaurant. They may add ingredients to make the dish no longer vegan-friendly.
Are Pad Thai Noodles Keto?
Pad Thai is not keto-friendly. Rice noodles are high in carbohydrates and contain little fat, so they’re not suitable for a ketogenic diet. Noodles may be made with almond or coconut flour instead of rice flour to make them more keto-friendly. You can also use Shirataki noodles as an alternative to traditional rice noodles. This will significantly reduce the number of carbs.
Are Pad Thai Noodles The Same As Rice Noodles?
Pad Thai noodles are made from rice flour and water, making them a type of rice noodle. Keep in mind there are many different varieties of rice noodles, so make sure you check the label before assuming they are gluten-free.
Are Pad Thai Noodles The Same As Pho Noodles?
Yes, pad thai and pho use similar rice noodles, but this is where the similarities end. Pad thai and pho are very different dishes, including where they originate from. Pad thai is from Thailand, and Pho is a Vietnamese dish.