Support Local: Khao Khai Thai Chicken House (Makati City)
Gai Yang (right) and Som Tam (left) at Khao Khai Thai Chicken House
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of lives across the globe. Many have lost their lives or their livelihood. While I’m also having difficulties, I’m still blessed that I still have a job. With whatever little spare money I have, I give it away to bless others who are less fortunate than me. But I thought, “How else can I be a blessing to people? And now that quarantine is easing up more and more, how can I spur economic activity in my own little way?”
As a foodie, I’m really rooting for the food industry to bounce back. So how can I help my beloved industry? I decided to do this “blessing-the-food-industry” project/series called Support Local (I know it’s generic, but it’s what I’m encouraging people to do). The game plan is to order from my favorite food spots (and order a lot of food, one-time or staggered), feature them in my blog, and promote them to my friends. I will also be focusing on small and medium enterprises owned (or partly-owned, at least) by local entrepreneurs rather than food chains run by big corporations.
Two weeks ago, I launched the series and featured Tanveer Halal Kitchenette (THK), a food spot that serves authentic Pakistani cuisine. Located in Mandaluyong City, this humble halal eatery is helmed by a Pakistani chef who makes amazing Biryani, chicken curry, Daal, and Pratha. You can read about my THK experience here.
Today, I’m featuring another local food spot. But first…
How Can You Help?
To make this project work, I will need your help. If you want to support this simple endeavor, you can help me S.P.O.T.:
Share. As simple as sharing my article or other related entries, we can spread the word.
Promote. Nothing beats a personal recommendation of the food spots to your friends. But this is best done when you have an experience of the food itself (don’t forget to share your experience and photos in social media; this will give the food spots extra mileage). If you haven’t tasted the food yet, then the next letter is for you.
Order. This is the most important of all, as we intend to help the food establishments. If you have extra money or the means, order from the food spots (and order as much as you can).
Tip. The staff are making risks to provide for their families by preparing amazing food. To help and appreciate them, I give a generous tip. So if you have the means, I encourage you to do the same. If you will have your food delivered, tip the driver or rider as well.
Let’s now talk about the food spot featured today.
The Food Spot: Khao Khai Thai Chicken House
I haven’t been to Bangkok or any part of of Thailand. I can’t wait for the pandemic to be over because the Thai capital is definitely at the top of my next food destinations list. For the meantime, I will have to settle for local Thai food spots and hope it’s authentic.
Fortunately, there’s a Thai restaurant near my girlfriend’s place and has a Zomato Gold, which entitles me to a free complimentary dish (I try to be frugal on our date night since I’m spending. LOL.). That spot is Khao Khai Thai Chicken House.
Khao Khai Thai Chicken House, which was vibrant at night pre-pandemic
A fairly new food spot that just opened last year, Khao Khai is not your typical Thai restaurant. You won’t find Pad Thai (Thailand’s national dish made with stir-fried noodles), green and red curries, and Tom Yum (Thailand’s answer to our sinigang or sour soup). Instead, Khao Khai serves food mostly from Northern (largely bordering Myanmar, the modern day Burma, and where the city of Chiang Mai is) and Northeastern (largely bordering Laos and also known as Isan) regions of Thailand.
I’ve frequented Khao Khai a lot prior to the pandemic due to its amazing food (most of the dishes I tried were superb). I planned to feature it in my blog but the lockdown happened. Now is my opportunity to write about my favorite local food spot of the year!
The Food
I’m not too familiar with the dishes offered by Khao Khai. Luckily, their menu has a description. So I’ll combine that with my research. But let me cut to the chase and talk about the food I ordered recently. Please take note that I’m not listing the prices because it will depend on where you order (at the restaurant, website, or Foodpanda).
Drunken Spaghetti
This is Central Thailand’s interpretation of the pasta dish. The menu notes that this is not pad thai. Noted!
Drunken Spaghetti
It has a nicely chewy spaghetti noodles, mixed with slices of chilies, garlic, and red bell pepper. There are also pieces of anchovies, for an umami factor, and holy basil, for a strong flavor. Overall, the dish is rightly sweet and stay-in-the-mouth spicy.
The Drunken Spaghetti is one of my favorite dishes in Khao Khai. I’m just not sure why it’s called drunken.
Gaeng Hung Lay
An iconic dish of Northern Thailand, Gaeng Hung Lay is a pork dish with a rich curry. This has Burmese roots and it is sometimes referred to as Burmese Curry (again, the region borders Myanmar).
Gaeng Hung Lay
Khao Khai’s version has a strong flavor. I’m sure the curry paste has ginger and turmeric. The chunks of pork are tender and those with fat add another layer of richness. There are also cloves of garlic but have lost their pungency. Overall, this is a delicious dish!
Gai Tod
Khao Khai isn’t called a Thai Chicken House for nothing. They specialize on chicken dishes. One is Gai Tod or fried chicken, which is done Bangkok street cart style. It’s available in 1 piece, 2 pieces, or 3 pieces, and you can have it with either Jasmine rice or sticky rice.
Gai Tod
The chicken is greasy, juicy, and tender, covered with garlic bits and spring onions. But what bring this dish to another notch are the dipping sauces. One is a sweet chili sauce, and the other I believe is Prik Nam Pla or Thai-style dipping sauce that’s spicy, tangy, and a bit salty.
Gai Yang (Plus Som Tam)
If you want something healthier than fried chicken, then get the Gai Yang or grilled chicken. Available throughout Thailand, the dish has its roots from the Lao people of Laos and Isan (remember, the Isan region largely borders Laos). It is marinated with different spices and is commonly eaten with sticky rice and Som Tam, a spicy salad made with hand-cut unripe papaya and also originating from the Lao people. While the salad ingredients vary per recipe, it is typically flavored with fermented fish sauce and palm sugar.
Gai Yang and Som Tam
Khao Khai’s gai yang is juicy and tender but I couldn’t distinguish its flavors (I think there’s fish sauce in it). But what transforms a rather simple grilled chicken is the side of som tam. It’s sweet, spicy, and tangy, tasting like pickled vegetables. It has a nice crunch from the papaya and peanuts, and a refreshing taste from the cilantro. Take note that the salad has tiny shrimps in it. Glad I saw it since I’m allergic to it!
By the way, if a side dish of som tam isn’t enough, you can order a plate of it!
Moo Hung
I’m supposed to get Muu Yang Thawt or fried grilled pork (yes, it’s fried and grilled) but ended up ordering this dish. I guess that’s the challenge of not being familiar with the Thai names of the dishes! LOL.
Moo Hung
This dish is a simple dish. Think of it as a more flavorful adobo with tender pieces of pork. It comes with fried egg and rice.
Phat Mama
Yes, there is Thai dish named as such and is no way connected to Yo Mama jokes! LOL.
Mama is a Thai brand of instant noodles. Phat (similar to pad like in pad thai) Mama, then, is a stir-fried instant noodle dish. Khao Khai’s menu describes this dish as a favorite among college students. Now, I remember my college years when I was young, dumb, and broke, eating instant noodles and siomai during mealtimes. LOL.
Phat Mama
From the aroma of Khao Khai’s version, you can instantly (see what I did there?) tell that it’s made with instant noodles…I think. The noodles are soft as expected but is not mushy. It’s still pleasant in the mouth. The dish also has bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chicken, onion, and pechay (Chinese cabbage). Then it’s topped with a fried egg.
Honestly, it really is a glorified version of instant Pancit Canton, a Filipino stir-fried noodle dish that uses wheat-flour noodles. I say it in a good way (I’m an instant pancit canton eater). Although I won’t be ordering this frequently. LOL.
Victory Wings
These chicken wings are marinated in fish sauce and herbs and deep-fried to a crisp. It’s nicely sweet and spicy, perfect with a cold beer. But these go well with rice as well!
I’m just not sure why it’s called Victory Wings. Perhaps it’s named after Bangkok’s Victory Monument. Any answer for this?
I hope that my article made you crave not-so-usual Thai food. If it did, then order from Khao Khai Thai Chicken House soon! That’s the goal of this project/series! Let’s support them and other local food spots in this time of crisis!
Khao Khai Thai Chicken House
Address: 5772 Ebro Street, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City
Operating Hours: Daily, 11AM-10PM
Contact Nos.: (02) 77171240, 0949-1132942
Note (as of July 27): If you order via Foodpanda and pick-up your food, you’ll get a 20% discount. Also, I believe they’re already available for delivery throughout the Metro Manila area. Dine-in is still not allowed.
Other entries in the Support Local series: Tanveer Halal Kitchenette (Mandaluyong City)