Jok (โจ๊ก), or Thai Breakfast Porridge in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Jok, or Thai Breakfast Porridge

by Sai 1 Porridge Shop in Ayutthaya, Thailand (โจ๊กสาย๑)

One of my very favorite Thai breakfast dishes is a hot and hearty bowl of jok, or Thai rice porridge. It was an early morning in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, and I stopped in at a very small and very local shop for what my hotel manager had assured me was the very best bowl of jok in town! Served with boiled pork balls, sliced green onion, a runny soft-boiled egg, a sprinkling of fresh black pepper, and a healthy dash of soy sauce, I can't think of a better way to start a morning of adventure.

jok, or Thai rice porridge, from Jok Sai 1, Ayutthaya

There are actually two different types of Thai rice porridge, jok (โจ๊ก) and khao tom (ข้าวต้ม). Khao tom is made with full grains of boiled rice (I'd love to write a post about the difference between these two dishes in the future). This is jok, the more common type of Thai rice porridge. Jok is made by boiling "broken", or smashed, rice until it is smooth. Good jok should have a soft, cotton-like texture(or the consistency of a good bowl of oatmeal).

The shop itself is unassuming, and almost hidden. The sign is in Thai and could be easy to miss if you don't know where you're going (although there is an English menu, so it's easy to order even if you are a tourist).

Jok Sai 1 in Ayutthaya, Thailand (breakfast rice porridge shop)

You can place your order at the front, then take a seat at any table. There's a refrigerator in the back of the restaurant with water and soft drinks. You can help yourself (ice is freely provided in the nearby cooler), and the price of your drink will just be added to your bill at the end of your breakfast.

how to make Thai rice porridge - cook broken rice slowly in a big pot

jok, or Thai rice porridge, is made by cooking broken rice slowly in a big pot

The shop is definitely not a well-known place for tourists, but is extremely popular with locals! It was crowded in the morning I visited, but service was super fast! They had made up a huge batch of jok, and customized the ingredients for each person's individual serving. I ordered my jok with pork balls and a soft-boiled egg. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy jok is to break the egg yolk and stir it into the porridge to add some extra richness to the dish.

The portion was great for the price (just 20 baht), and is a super filling and hearty way to start your day. It kept me full until lunchtime!

The dish is served with egg, pork ball, and thinly-sliced green onion. Each table has some additional condiments, which I would totally recommend if you want to best enjoy your breakfast! Add a little bit of everything on offer: a sprinkle of black pepper, a few pieces of thin-sliced ginger root, a splash of soy sauce, and maybe a half a spoonful of spicy red chili flakes for a bit of extra heat. You can't go wrong, and the beauty of jok is that each dish should be customized to perfection just for you.