Looking for the best local takes on this Southeast Asian staple? Use your noodle and grab a bowl at Thai Orchid Restaurant (203 N. Barstow St., Eau Claire), where they’ll stir it up as spicy as you like. Just a few blocks away, excellent pad thai puts the “plus” in Egg Roll Plus (1611 Bellinger St., Eau Claire), a staple of the Valley’s Asian cuisine scene. Thai-ing up the top three are the noodles served at Mueang Thai (2637 N. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire), a small west side joint offering big flavors. —Tom Giffey