The pros: Trader Joe's Vegetable Pad Thai is quick, easy, tasty pad thai that is ready in the microwave in about 4 minutes. Not overly spicy. For $2.69 you are getting a lot for your money compared to going out or attempting to make this at home. Trust me a lot goes into making a pad thai.
The cons: Surprisingly low in protein and relatively high calorie. Should come with an optional packet of sriracha or hot sauce. By being vegan this does not contain any seafood flavors so you might want to change some of your expectations.
The verdict:
Will I buy this again? Yes, it beats making it at home. You'll dirty most of your kitchen trying to achieve Pad Thai glory. Sur La Table frequently offers a Thai class. Pad thai is covered, you'll see how much prep goes into it. This item is vegan, however you may find yourself longing for some more tofu as there are only a hand full of strips here.
You may still want to add a few mix ins of your own, as this is mostly sauce, noodles, and some bean sprouts at the bottom. A few peanuts and some lime would go a long way in improve this at home.
The box of Trader Joe's Vegetable Pad Thai:
The nutritional information, how to prepare, and the ingredients:
Out of the box you get this:
After allowing it to cool down I peeled back the plastic to reveal this:
What did I think of it? Just wish there were fewer calories and I'll keep a bottle of hot sauce at work to modify Trader Joe's Vegetable Pad Thai as I see fit. Keep a lime handy.
Would I buy it again? From time to time, yes. This is no where nearly as good as restaurant Pad Thai, but your options are limited if you are vegan.
Want to see more items I’ve reviewed from Trader Joe’s? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
I love Pad Thai, I'll have to see if I can find a UK stockists!