Can I only eat it in Hat Yai?
No. Hat Yai-style fried chicken is sold in other areas too. If you have come to Hat Yai, you could have the dish known by the city’s name with sticky rice.
Hat Yai Fried Chicken
Hat Yai Fried Chicken · ไก่ทอดหาดใหญ่
In Hat Yai, try crispy fried chicken served with fried shallots. It is Hat Yai fried chicken, known by the name of the city. The crispy chicken gets the richness and aroma of the shallots, and it goes well with sticky rice. Put some of the shallots served with it on a piece of chicken and try a mouthful.
Hat Yai Fried Chicken: Southern Thai style fried chicken served with sticky rice, fried shallot, and sweet chili sauce · T.Tseng · CC BY 2.0
Resized for display
What does it taste like?
It is a dish where you enjoy the crunch of fried chicken together with the rich flavour of shallots. Another feature is that it is seasoned with aromatics such as garlic, coriander root and white pepper. You could also try the chicken and shallots together before adding any sauce.
Eating fried shallots with the chicken brings out more richness.
The basics
- Dish
- Hat Yai Fried Chicken · Hat Yai Fried Chicken
- Thai name
- ไก่ทอดหาดใหญ่
- Type
- Sides and grills
- Region
- South · A signature dish of Hat Yai
- Main ingredients
- Fried chicken served with fried shallots. It is known as a dish seasoned with garlic, coriander root, white pepper and the like, and eaten with sticky rice.
The dish and where it comes from
Hat Yai is a city in the Songkhla area, where the food cultures of the Chinese and Muslim communities sit together. Hat Yai fried chicken is known as a signature dish of the area. It is sold in other cities too, but if you have come to Hat Yai, have it as a meal with sticky rice.
How to order and eat it
- Choose the pieces and the number you want. If you are with others, you can order the pieces you want to share.
- Look at whether sticky rice and sauce come with it and order more of what you need.
- Try the chicken and fried shallots together first. Next, add a little sauce for a different flavour.
Frequently asked questions
Is every chicken dish halal?
No. You cannot decide whether something is halal from the type of meat. If you need a halal meal, check the restaurant’s certification and the actual ingredients and cooking conditions.
More dishes and cities to explore
Official sources and references
If you would like to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are worth a look. Ingredients and cooking methods can vary from one cook to the next.