Foreigner FriendlyYes
✗VegetarianAdventurous
Spice Level
Price Range40-60 THB
About This Dish
Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice featuring poached chicken served over rice cooked in chicken fat and broth, accompanied by a fermented bean-ginger-garlic dipping sauce. The Thai version differs from the Singaporean by using a darker, more pungent sauce made from fermented soybeans (tao jiao). Every Bangkok street has at least one khao man gai cart with whole chickens hanging in the window.
Flavor Profile
The balance of tastes in this dish
Sweet1/5
Sour1/5
Salty2/5
Spicy1/5
Umami2/5
History & Origin
Brought to Thailand by Hainanese Chinese immigrants, the Thai version evolved its own identity through the addition of fermented soybean sauce and a more aromatic rice preparation.
Best Time to Eat
Perfect Pairings
Chicken broth soupIced tea
Insider Tips
- 1The Thai version uses fermented bean sauce, not the ginger-garlic sauce of Singaporean versions
- 2Every Bangkok street has at least one khao man gai cart
How to Order
Point and say this to order like a local
Pronunciation:cow man gai
ข้าวมันไก่
Say this: Khao Man Gai (Hainanese Chicken Rice)
Cuisine Region: Central Thai
Price Range: 40-60 THB
Best Time to Eat: Lunch
Where to Try It
The best city to experience this dish
Bangkok
The best city to experience this dish
More from Central Thai
Other dishes from the same region
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