The Holy Tattoo Tom Yum Chicken Burger by Nakorn Mu Burger, Bangkok, Thailand

The Holy Sak Yant Tattoo Burger (Tom Yum Gai Burger)

by Nakorn Mu Burger, Bangkok, Thailand

A sak yant tattoo is a type of holy tattoo prescribed and administered in Thailand by Buddhist "ajarns", or masters. These holy men create intricate designs which are said to imbue the recipient with blessings, power, or magical protection. Angelina Jolie famously sports a sak yant tattoo on her back.

Nakorn Mu Burger is a new Thai hamburger stand that brands each of their burgers with a sak yant design created by one of the great Thai tattoo masters. Their burgers, topped with gold leaf and served up with a prescribed prayer that you are supposed to say before eating, take the traditional hamburger and blend it with unique Thai flavors.

I had wanted to visit Nakorn Mu Burger since seeing a clip of their shop online a few weeks back, but each time I visited JODD Fairs, their shop was too busy. It's obviously super popular!

This week, I finally had a chance to stop by and order one of their famous holy tattooed hamburgers.

Thailand holy tattoo burger (tom yum gai chicken burger) in Bangkok, Thailand

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Nakorn Mu Burger serves up several distinctly Thai hamburgers. Their selection includes such offerings as Tom Yum Gai, Khao Soi, and more! 

We decided to order their famous tom yum gai (chicken) burger.

After you order your burger, you also have to choose which sak yant blessing that you want to receive on your burger.

You can choose between a branded sak yant symbol for luck, love, or wealth. 

I decided to go for their luck brand (on the left in the photo below). I've always felt that one can never have too much luck.

Once the burger is ready, the chef gives a "wai" (the Thai prayer-like gesture of luck), then presses the hot brand into the bun, scorching it and branding it with the chosen sak yant talismain symbol.

Finally, they add a small square of gold leaf to the burger bun to finalize the blessing before serving.

various sak yant (sacred tattoo) designs for the Nakorn Mu Burgers

The brands are based on ancient Khmer designs and were created by a Thai monk specifically for this shop. Each burger comes with its own blessing, and a provided card tells you the prayer that you should read aloud to activate the blessing before you dig in.

examples of the different types of magic tattoos: for luck, love, and health respectively

The prayers are written out in Thai, but luckily my wife was there to help translate! We dutifully said our prayer, then tucked into our holy hamburger.

Nakorn Mu Burgers branding sacred sak yant tattoos into the burgers, Bangkok, Thailand

We ordered the Tom Yum Gai Burger.

This chicken burger is made with lemon grass, ginger, and all of the other requisite tom yum herbs and seasonings. The patty is thick and juicy and is slathered in a rich, spicy, and sour tom yum sauce.

The burger was toasted, and the branded sak yant gave it an extra crispiness.

I really enjoyed the burger, not just for the gimmick, but also for the delicious meal that was served to me.

I really want to eat here again. They have a few other options that I want to try next time.

tom yum gai burger at Nakorn Mu Burger, Bangkok, Thailand (chicken burger with holy symbols)

Price

The tom yum gai burger cost 209 baht.

They also sell coconuts and mooncakes with their unique sak yant designs, so if you are in Bangkok and in need of an extra blessing, be sure to check Nakorn Mu Burger out!

Location

This shop, inside of JODD FAIRS DanNeramit Market, is located at RHC7+4WM, Phahon Yothin Rd, Chom Phon, จตุจักร Bangkok 10900 (between 5 Yaek Lat Prao and Phahonyothin 24 BTS Stations). It is open from 4pm to 12am daily.

Nakorn Mu Burger at JODD Fairs, Bangkok, Thailand

See the map below for the exact location.