Pad Thai is a Thai noodle stir fry dish that is one of the most popular menu items at Thai restaurants around the world. The noodles used in Pad Thai are thin, flat rice noodles. These noodles are typically soaked in hot water for about 5-10 minutes until they are tender and pliable. Other common ingredients in Pad Thai include bean sprouts, garlic chives, scrambled egg, firm tofu, and a protein such as chicken or shrimp. Some recipes also call for shredded carrots, green onions, and peanuts as toppings. The sauce for Pad Thai is typically made with a combination of fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, and tamarind paste. However, some recipes use a substitute for tamarind paste, such as rice vinegar or ketchup. While wide flat noodles are typically not used in Pad Thai, they can be substituted for the thin rice noodles in a pinch.