Billed as a Thai chicken house with a diner ambiance, Khao Khai, which opened its newest branch in BGC, is more than just your usual Thai restaurant. What sets it apart is its focus on Northern Thai cuisine, popular in the cities of Chang Mai and Isan, such as Phat Mama, Red Beef Curry, Seafood Khao Soi and Thai-style chicken fried rice, among others.
Packaged as a “Thai chicken house” when it first opened in Poblacion, Makati in 2019, Khao Khai, as its growing number of regular customers know by now, also introduced the Thai diner concept in the country. What many don’t know though is the restaurant’s focus on authentic flavors of Northern Thai cuisine. More Metro Manila-based foodies would now get to experience Khao Khai’s brand of Thai cooking, as it recently opened a new branch, its sixth, acutally, at the second floor of Crossroads, Bonifacio Global City.
Owned and operated by Making Fine Group, the same company behind Tiger Sugar, Gram Cafe & Pancakes, and Chunky Boss, Khao Khai’s growth is being driven by the warm reception of the local dining crowd to some of the least known flavors of Thailand from Chiang Mai and Isan—dishes that go beyond the usual Pad Thai or Green Chicken Curry.
Signature Thai Chicken Gai Tod (three pieces)
Chicken Krapao Platter
Signature Thai Chicken Gai Yang (large)
Khao Khai Thai Chicken Gai Tod
In fact, diners coming to Khao Khai will not find the usual Thai staples on the menu. Instead of Pad Thai, Bagoong Rice, or Tom Yum, they will find Phat Mama, or ramen noodles stir-fried; Seafood Khao Soi, a classic and aromatic Northern Thai soup with coconut curry broth, fried egg noodles, shrimps, and squid; Red Beef Curry, which are beef sirloin strips cooked in garlic and red paste with a hint of lime and aromatic Thai lemon grass; and Yaowaraj Fried Rice, or Thai-style chicken fried rice.
At the heart of Khao Khai’s menu is its selection of fried and grilled chicken. Their signature Gai Tod fried chicken is battered and done carefully, ensuring the right moisture in the poultry to achieve the perfect outside crisp and a surprisingly flavorful and juicy meat. Meanwhile, Khao Khai also features a Thai grilled chicken dish called Gai Yang, a popular street food in Isan, marinated for nearly half a day before grilling.
Yet the unsung heroes in Khao Khai may not just be the food, but the sauces, many of which the restaurant does from scratch. Sauces are fundamental to Thai cuisine, and a number of dishes served – most importantly the grilled and fried chicken – are paired with two important ones: the Nam Jim Jaew (fish sauce with herbs and spices, prepared at least eight hours before service) and Nam Jim Kai (home-made sweet chili sauce).
A roll of sides and salad are served on the table as diners enjoy many of Khao Khai’s delicacies, including Som Tam and egg salad sauce – allowing guests to appreciate even more the unique flavors in these parts of Thailand.
From Som Tam Platter (hand-cut papaya salad) in the vegetable selection to Mango Sticky Rice as an ending to a great meal, Khao Khai brings not just flavors but also the Thai street experience in clean, air-conditioned surroundings. Evident in every branch are the Northern Thai-inspired flourishes in design and the aromatic and flavorful smell that makes for memorable dining.
Khao Khai is located in six other branches in Poblacion, Makati; Del Monte Avenue, Quezon City; Mall of Asia; Santolan Town Plaza; SM Manila; and SM Fairview.
Deliveries are available via Food Panda and Grab Food.
Check Khao Khai on Instagram @khaokhaiph and Facebook.com/KhaoKhaiPH
