The defining dish here — chicken marinated in lemongrass, garlic, and coriander root, then grilled over charcoal until the skin chars and the meat stays juicy. Multiple delivery reviews on foodpanda call it out as the main reason to order. The marinade soaks through to the bone rather than just coating the surface.
Tips from diners
Order the whole chicken rather than half — it takes slightly longer but the cooking is more even when done whole.
Pair with sticky rice and som tam — the three together are the standard Isaan set that most tables order.
Steamed glutinous rice in a traditional bamboo container.
Tips from diners
Order one basket per person — sticky rice goes fast when eating gai yang.
The milder Thai-style version without fermented fish, made in the mortar to order. Reviewers mention asking for no spice when ordering for children — the staff accommodate adjustments reliably. Several reviews describe it as tangy and well-balanced.
Tips from diners
Ask for no spice (mai phet) when ordering for children — the kitchen adjusts without making a fuss.
Stir-fried minced pork with holy basil and chilies, served on rice with a fried egg.
Tips from diners
A reliable solo dish if you're not hungry enough for a full chicken — add the fried egg on top.
Fresh raw prawns dressed in fish sauce, lime, garlic, and chilies. A classic Isaan dish that divides opinions — reviewers who love it call it bright and clean, while first-timers should note it is genuinely raw. One of the more adventurous items on a menu otherwise familiar to most visitors.
Tips from diners
These prawns are genuinely raw — if that's not your thing, the shrimp-based dishes are all cooked. But if you enjoy sashimi, the flavor here is bright and clean.
Trading as Sabaijai since 2000, this sprawling open-air restaurant at Ekkamai Soi 3 has become the neighborhood's go-to for gai yang (grilled chicken), sticky rice, and cold Singha on warm evenings. The bilingual menu with large photos has made it accessible to foreign residents and visitors without dumbing down the food. Known for courtyard seating that fits large groups and live music on weekend nights.
The restaurant is down Ekkamai Soi 3 — take the BTS to Ekkamai, exit the station and walk south into the soi for about 5 minutes.
Live music runs on weekend evenings — arrive by 7pm for a table before the crowd builds.
The courtyard seating handles large groups easily — call ahead to check availability for parties of 8 or more.
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