Khao Soi
by Khao Soi in Kala, Bangkok, Thailand
Khao soi, an iconic chicken curry noodle soup from the north of Thailand, was recently named the best soup in the world by Taste Atlas, beating out 99 other international soup dishes! I personally have to agree. Khao soi is one of my absolute favorite Thai dishes. It's rich, flavorful, and something that I often crave! Even if you aren't traveling in Chiang Mai or the north of Thailand, khao soi has become so popular that you can find it all throughout the country.
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| a bowl of Khao Soi by Khao Soi in Kala, Bangkok, Thailand |
Khao soi has a long and convoluted history. While a uniquely northern Thai dish developed in the Kingdom of Chiang Mai, a quasi-independent client state to neighboring Siam sometime around the 19th century, it has distinct influences from all across Asia.
It is believed that khao soi evolved from a noodle dish brought by Chinese Muslim traders who traveled through Siam via Burma along the spice routes. A similar Burmese dish is called ohn no khao swè (khao swè being the Burmese word for "noodles").
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| khao soi noodles |
In Thai, the name "khao soi" means "cut rice", which is in reference to the method that is used to produce the noodles. The dough for the noodles is made from rice flour spread out on a very thin cloth stretched over a pot of boiling water. The steam from the water cooks the noodles, which are then rolled up and cut by hand using sharp scissors into long, thin strips.
The heart of the dish is the khao soi curry paste, a mix of shallots, garlic, dried red chilies, lemongrass, turmeric, coriander, and shrimp paste. This paste is sautéed in a pot until it becomes fragrant. Next, coconut milk is added to the curry paste to create a creamy base for the soup. The dish is seasoned with salt, sugar, and fish sauce to achieve a harmonious balance of flavors.
A bowl of khao soi usually comes with a chicken drumstick stewed in the curry soup so as to take on all the delicious flavors of the broth. In addition to the steamed noodles, a bowl of khao soi is also topped with a handful of crispy fried rice flour noodles to add an extra crunchy texture.
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| khao soi - northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup with chicken |
Each bowl of khao soi is also served with a small plate of extra ingredients that you can add to your soup. Traditionally, you will receive a plate containing pickled mustard greens, chopped red onion, and lime. I like to add all of these ingredients into my soup.
You'll never see chili flakes served with khao soi. It's typically not a spicy dish at all, and in fact, the curry is quite sweet! However, if you like a little extra kick to your curry, northern Thai restaurants will usually provide a small pot of fried chili. Be careful! The fried chili can get very spicy very fast! I like to add just a small spoonful of this into my soup (but then again, I love spicy food).
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| flavors and garnish for khao soi - pickled mustard greens, onion, and lime |
If you want to try one of the very best (and not spicy) Thai dishes, check out khao soi. It's an absolute must whenever you are traveling in Chiang Mai or anywhere else in northern Thailand. It's sweet, rich, filling, aromatic, and absolutely delicious. It's no surprise to me that khao soi is considered to be among the best (if not THE best) soups in the world!
Note: There's a dish in Laos that's also called "khao soi", but it's very different from this traditional Thai dish. Don't get them mixed up, although both dishes are very tasty. Lao Khao-Soi, Luang Prabang (theworldofstreetfood.com)
Menu and Prices
A bowl of khao soi here cost just 80 baht (about $2.25), a really reasonable price for such a big portion. Khao Soi in Kala has other items on their menu as well, but I highly recommend you try their khao soi before ordering anything else. You won't regret it!
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| Khao Soi in Kala menu and prices (Bangkok, Thailand) |
Location
Khao Soi in Kala is located at 1345 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Bang Lamphu Lang, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600. It's a short 5-minute walk from Krung Thonburi BTS station.
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| Khao Soi in Kala is a small traditional noodle shop near the river in Bangkok, Thailand |
After your delicious khao soi, walk just a few meters to arrive at Bua Loi Khlong San for a bowl of famous old-fashioned Thai dessert.
See the map for the exact location.
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