Frozen microwavable meals are always a roll of the dice. Surely, they’re known more for their convenience and portability than for their culinary excellence. (We cringe at the thought of some mushy "chicken loaf" swimming in once-frozen gravy.) Which is all the more reason to get excited about that rare exception to the rule. Leave it to Trader Joe’s, the prepackaged-food folks who brought you peanut-butter-filled pretzel nuggets, to offer a frozen pad Thai dish that rolls the dice and comes up "snake eyes."

Authentic Thai? No — not even close. But for $1.99, you get a nicely spiced (if a bit on the sweet side) vegan rice-noodle bowl that’s ready to eat in less than five minutes, and is topped with scallions, crushed peanuts, and tofu. We just wish the portion size was a bit bigger; one bowl contains what would normally pass for a side dish in most restaurants. But as a side dish or on its own, Trader Joe’s pad Thai makes a decent lunch or dinner on the go ... with not a smidgen of gravy in sight.

Available for $1.99 at various Trader Joe’s locations.