Betong Chicken Rice (Khao Mun Gai) by Baytong, Bangkok, Thailand (Ari)

Betong Chicken Rice (Khao Mun Gai)

by Baytong Chicken Rice, Ari, Bangkok, Thailand

Hailing from the city of Betong in Yala Province in the far south of Thailand, khao mun gai is Thailand's version of Hainanese boiled chicken rice. This famous Chinese-Thai dish is simple on the surface but packed with flavor.

In Bangkok, countless shops serve khao mun gai, but Ari neighborhood's Baytong Chicken Rice is one of my favorites.

Betong-style chicken rice in Ari, Bangkok, Thailand

The chicken served at Baytong comes from a special breed raised in Betong and delivered fresh to the restaurant that is famous for its firm, bouncy texture and soft, thin skin.

The chicken is boiled in a fragrant broth and served in a chilled soy sauce-based sauce along with crispy fried garlic, cilantro, and cucumbers.

boiled Betong chicken in sauce with garlic

The name "khao mun gai" literally means "chicken fat rice", and the dish is just not complete without a bowl of said rice. The rice is cooked in chicken fat and takes on an amazing flavor.

The set also comes with a bowl of peppery herbal broth to drink along with your meal.

a bowl of chicken fat rice "khao mun gai"

I also ordered a basket of Baytong's famous char siu rolls. The barbecued red pork was rich, sweet, sticky, and served in a crispy, flaky, piping hot eggroll.

char siu fried rolls at Baytong Chicken Rice, Ari, bangkok

Location

Baytong Chicken Rice is located near BTS Ari Station at อารีย์ ซอย 4 (ฝั่งเหนือ) หรือ Phahonyothin Soi 9, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10310.

Baytong Chicken Rice in Ari, Bangkok, Thailand (Phahonyothin Soi 9)