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All Thailand Betong Chicken Rice
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

Betong Chicken Rice

Try Thailand’s distinctive take on Hainanese chicken rice at the source.

Betong, Thailand

Added By
Austin Bush
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Betong is especially famous for its chicken rice and this is one of the most popular places to get it.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
Betong is especially famous for its chicken rice and this is one of the most popular places to get it.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
Line up at lunch for excellent khao man kai.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
A local breed of chickens are the bird of choice here.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
The accompanying sauces have a cult following.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
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About

Khao man kai, rice cooked in chicken broth and paired with slices of poached chicken, a dish with roots on the Chinese island of Hainan, is served by thousands of vendors in just about every corner of Thailand. Many vendors claim to serve the dish in the style of Betong. To see what form the dish takes at its source, head to this predominantly Chinese community, Thailand’s southernmost town.

Follow the stream of locals and tourists to this raucous shack minutes from the border with Malaysia. Known in Thai as Charoen Khao Man Kai, it’s not the only place in Betong to get the dish, but it’s almost certainly the most popular.

The chicken here comes from a local breed, and has a texture that packs a pleasant snap and a deeply savory flavor. This is flanked by rich, fragrant, perfectly-cooked rice, a bowl of clear, peppery chicken broth. The two  accompanying dips—one based around soy sauce and sesame oil, another a tart, savory, and salty fermented soy bean concoction—are excellent.  

Related Tags

Rice Chicken Restaurants Food Street Food

Know Before You Go

Pair your dish with a refreshing glass of Asian pennywort juice.

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Added By

Austin Bush

Published

October 9, 2024

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Betong Chicken Rice
202 Sukkhayang Rd
Betong, 95110
Thailand
5.773749, 101.068993
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Nearby Places

Gurun Electric Converter Temple

Gurun, Malaysia

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Thailand

Thailand

Asia

Places 125
Stories 13

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Gurun Electric Converter Temple

Gurun, Malaysia

miles away

Nyonya Palazzo

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Thailand

Thailand

Asia

Places 125
Stories 13

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