From time to time I find myself going to Chatuchak market. It may be that a friend is in town who has never been there or we are looking for a particular item for one of the bars that is best sourced from the market. Most people call it J.J. market because in Thai it is pronounced Jatujak. I used to hate going there but now that I know where I am going I tend to enjoy checking the place out and eating at my favorite Isaan Fried Chicken joint. No reason naming the place since it won’t help you find it but I will tell you how to get there.
This place is tasty and cheap. The only thing I ever order is a breast of fried chicken, sticky rice and an iced coffee to combat the drowsy effects of the chicken and rice. My usual order is 80 baht and I leave stuffed and happy. The crew speaks very little English but they have an English menu so there is no problem ordering but some of the Isaan style dishes may be unfamiliar to you and you may not find them tasty but feel free to explore given it is so cheap. I have yet to find better fried chicken in Thailand but the reason I make that claim is in hopes someone may know of another good place to try. Street food is absolutely the best dining to be had in Bangkok.
There are 2 ways to find the place and depends if you are wondering around and get hungry or if you go directly from underground train to the fried chicken.
- If you are already in the market then you need to go to section 26. As you past section 26 to the left of you, like you are walking to the underground, you will need to go to about the middle of the section and then look under the roof to the left. You should see small wooden tables and stools. You should also be smelling the fried chicken cooking. There is no sign from the outside that will help you. Check the pic for an example.
- If you are coming by underground - get out at the Kamphaeng Phet station and use Exit 2. Exit 2 drops you right into the corner of JJ market. Enter the corner and walk left. Section 26 is now on your right. Go to about the middle and look right. Smell and see fried chicken. You can’t miss the place.
It is usually pretty busy and mostly full of Thais. People tend to share tables so grab a seat, order and enjoy. Be sure to get some coffee or find a place for a nap.
It is finger looking good and they use those tiny pink napkins so maybe bring your own moist towelettes if you are a clean freak. Borrow some from Lolitas if you have to.
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In my opinion the internet should get laid more - not less. America needs help.
Two spots on the street for good fried chicken:
Suk Soi 23 between 7-11 and Suk Road (next to Shell Station) in the afternoons and early evenings.
Suk Soi 33 at the corner of Suk Road most every afternoon.
Don’t know if its as good as your JJ market spot, but both are in the general neighborhood if you’re in Sukhumvit a lot.
One hole in the wall where you can get delicious fried pork strips (about 8 inches long, 1 inch wide)priced 20 baht each:
In the alleyway off Suk Soi 22 that runs between Titanium Bar and Srijinda Mansion. As you enter the alley, it is about 20 meters in on the left. There are a couple of tables and chairs there to tip you off that food is available. Open from lunchtime until late evening Mon to Sat.
View all comments by werewolf
ww - this is what I was hoping for. People to chime in with some other options. thanks much!
View all comments by smitty
I don’t recommend borrowing the towelettes from Lolitas. They are all sticky and hard last time I did.
View all comments by Day walker
So I should be having sex right now instead of reading about fried chicken? mmm food for thought
View all comments by hanuman
h - I consider this blog a gateway to a better sex life so read on!
View all comments by smitty
Gutted… being the holy month of Ramadan…Sex and Fried Chicken are not available for me
View all comments by Day walker
…half way down Prachsongkhro Road:….an afternoon-evening market with some of the freshest street-food available…in the Din Daeng district at least…
(also nearby, just follow the market down to the end, an excellent public- running track (all tartan), -sporting centre, -swimming-pool and -basketball fields)…
View all comments by Andy
Do these places deliver? It’s a bit of a trek from Soi 4?!
View all comments by Day walker
IMHO, the best fried chicken is made by an old Isaan chap who has a cart on suk soi 8. There is no better. So tasty. He makes a wicked som tam to go with that and the sticky rice. He moves around the soi but is mostly by the 7-11 (and by Lolita’s so you can make an afternoon of it all). He’s about 60 with a goatee. Sorry, that’s the best I can do on finding the guy but he’s there almost every day.
Second best is in Patpong but not as healthy since they double fry but very tasty. The cart is there every night and is located near the entrance of Patpong II on Suriwong.
Neither place delivers.
View all comments by pmmp
totally useless i know but i had the sexiest fried chicken near ramkampheng (shocking spelling i know) football stadium but have no idea where it was
i went to watch thailand in the Asian Cup and after the game tucked into 4 pieces of the most heavenly chicken ever
hit the spot after guzzling 10cans of leo varying from ice cold to luke warm that we snuck into the stadium (jobsworthy security guards)
View all comments by myspace.com/penfold_xxx
The place is called the Dusty Kitchen Floor no idea what the is in the Native tongue but the chicken rocks
View all comments by FalangRakThai
anyone been here:
Soi Polo for the fried chicken?
http://eatbma.blogspot.com/2006/07/polo-fried-chicken-bangkok.html
View all comments by smitty
soi polo chicken is great. they deliver as well. highly recommended is the crisp garlic they douse on top.
View all comments by joebkk
j - good stuff. I need to try it. Where is the soi exactly?
View all comments by smitty
I know a Carnival bar dek serve who lives on Soi Polo, and who looks like she’s consumed loads of fried chicken in the past year.
The elevated walkway that runs between Lumpini Park, and the Tobacco Factory at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4, overlooks Soi Polo, which is just south of Soi Ruam Ruedi.
Sounds like a worthwhile visit when I get back to Bkk. (to sample the chicken, not the dek serve).
View all comments by DJ
I’m looking for a fried chicken recipe like the type you’ve got pictured above. I lived in Bangkok for 2 years from 1995-1997 and have missed that chicken ever since (not to mention the sticky rice and som tam goong….). If anyone has a recipe, please let me know how I can fry some chicken like they do it in Bangkok!!! Thanks a mill.
Brad
View all comments by brad