Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Stir-Fry)

The unofficial national dish of Thailand -- minced pork or chicken stir-fried with garlic, chilies, and holy basil (kra pao, a variety distinct from Italian basil with a clove-like aroma) over high flame and served over rice with a fried egg -- is eaten at virtually every Thai restaurant and street stall for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dish's popularity with Thai people themselves (rather than tourists) can be measured by the fact that it appears on no hotel menus but is ordered in almost every local restaurant, every meal.