It’s one of the most popular dishes in South East Asian cooking and for many it’s seen as Thailand’s national dish. However, the origins of pad Thai are disputed.

Some believe it was created and taken to the country centuries ago by Chinese immigrants. Others believe it was invented during the rule of military dictator, Plaek Phibunsongkhram, as a way of cementing Thai nationalism in the 1940s.

Thai food writer Chawadee Nualkhair dissects all the theories with Matt Pintus.

(Photo: Pad Thai. Credit: Getty Images)