Pad krapow (ผัดกะเพรา) tells you that a dish is stir-fried with holy basil. It does not tell you every ingredient in a particular restaurant's pan. One shop may serve minced pork, another chicken or another protein. A fried egg can be included, optional or absent, and the heat depends on the kitchen's recipe. A clear menu separates those choices instead of presenting one universal plate.
Holy basil and the dish name
Thailand Foundation's rice with stir-fried pork basil and egg example illustrates one way the dish can be served. Its title is a useful concrete example, not evidence that all pad krapow uses pork or comes with an egg. The Thai word krapow refers to holy basil; when a menu names a protein, check that the name and photograph match what the shop actually serves. Do not swap basil types in the description without checking the kitchen's ingredient.
Protein, rice and fried egg need separate choices
“Pad krapow moo” tells a customer more than “pad krapow,” but a complete menu should say whether the pork is minced or prepared another way. If the restaurant offers chicken or other variations, list the real options clearly. Check whether rice is part of the serving and whether khai dao, a fried egg, is included in the stated price or offered as an extra. An image showing an egg beside an item sold without one can mislead a customer unless the difference is explained.
Spice and dietary restrictions vary by kitchen
Chili may be stir-fried into the dish or included in a prepared sauce, so “not spicy” should not be promised automatically. Ask what the kitchen can actually change before cooking. Sauces and packaged seasonings can also add ingredients that are not obvious from the dish name. For an allergy or other restriction, staff should check the current recipe, labels and preparation process. Replacing meat with mushrooms does not itself make the dish vegetarian or allergen-free if the sauce or equipment remains unchanged.
A menu description to adapt, not copy
For a restaurant that really serves this version, a starting sentence could be: “Minced pork stir-fried with holy basil, garlic and chili, served over rice; fried egg not included.” The kitchen must correct the protein, seasoning, spice, egg and price before publishing this text. Keep the Thai, English and Chinese descriptions and serving photo aligned whenever an option changes. For a second familiar stir-fried dish, compare the reviewed Pad See Ew guide; it is a noodle dish, not another name for basil stir-fry.