Fried
Thai Fried Chicken ไก่ทอด · gài thâwt
Crispy Thai fried chicken, often marinated with garlic and served with sticky rice.
- Spice
- Mild
- Also called
- Gai Tod, Hat Yai Fried Chicken, Gai Tod Hat Yai
- Virtual price
- ฿75
What it is
Thai fried chicken (gai tod) is chicken marinated in garlic, coriander root, fish sauce and white pepper, then fried until deeply golden and crisp. The famous Hat Yai style is topped with crispy fried shallots and served with sticky rice and a sweet-chilli dip.
How it tastes
Very crisp and savoury with a garlicky, peppery marinade; the Hat Yai version adds crunchy sweet fried shallots and pairs with sticky rice and jaew or sweet chilli sauce.
Where it comes from
Eaten nationwide, but the most famous style comes from Hat Yai in southern Thailand; also a staple of Isaan sticky-rice meals.
Ingredients
- Chicken (wings, thighs or drumsticks)
- Garlic
- Coriander root
- Fish sauce
- White pepper
- Rice flour
- Fried shallots (Hat Yai style)
How it's made
The chicken is marinated for hours, coated lightly in rice flour, and fried until the skin is crisp and golden, then showered with fried shallots and served with sticky rice.
Variations
- Gai Tod Hat Yai (with fried shallots)
- Isaan style with sticky rice
- Gai Tod Nam Pla (fish-sauce fried chicken)
- Street-cart small pieces
Where to eat it
Street carts, Hat Yai chicken shops and Isaan grills across Thailand.
