Chumphon Pad Thai is a southern Thai twist on the classic dish, featuring a rich coconut cream base blended with curry paste and tamarind juice for a balance of spicy, sour, and sweet flavors. Slow-cooked with shrimp and crab meat, the noodles are wrapped in a delicate omelet and served with fresh toppings. Crunchy peanuts, bean sprouts, and lime complete this vibrant, seafood-forward creation.
Ashburn VA
Sense of Thai
Chumphon Pad Thai
Coconut cream / Curry paste / Red onion / Shrimp / Crab meat / Sweet radish / Tamarind juice / Palm sugar / Salt / Rice noodles / Egg / Chives / Peanuts / Lime / Bean sprouts
Signature Dish
From Prep to Plate
Chef Pat at Sense of Thai in Ashburn, Virginia, introduces Seth to Chumphon Pad Thai, a regional specialty from southern Thailand made with coconut cream, tamarind juice, palm sugar, and plenty of seafood. Rich, balanced, and beautifully plated, this version delivers bold flavors and textures that set it apart from the classic Bangkok-style dish.
And yes, you can order pad thai, but skip the basic one in favor of the crab-filled Chumphon version or co-owner Porntipa “Pat” Pattanamekar’s take, upgraded with roasted pork shoulder and bok choy.
Alice Levitt, Northern Virginia Magazine
