Braised Fish Maw in Red Gravy by Pae's Brass Pot Congee, Bangkok, Thailand

Braised Fish Maw in Red Gravy

by Pae's Brass Pot Congee, Bangkok, Thailand

I set out one morning to have a late breakfast at Pae's Brass Pot Congee 38 Years, a Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning congee, or congee, or rice porridge, shop in Bangkok, Thailand's riverside Bang Pho neighborhood. I was originally going to order Pae's famous congee, but when I looked at the menu and saw fish maw in red gravy, I changed my mind and decided to go for something new!

braised fish maw in red gravy in Bangkok, Thailand

A fish maw is the swim bladder of certain types of bony fish that help regulate their buoyancy. It's also a delicacy in many parts of East Asia, particularly in Chinese cuisine. The fish maw is dried to preserve it, and it's a common sight at markets and Asian grocery stores throughout the world.

When it's cooked, the dried fish maw becomes soft, spongy, and slightly chewy. It doesn't have too much taste on its own, but acts as an absorbent vessel to soak up all of the delicious flavors that it's stewed in.

braised fish maw at Pae's Brass Pot Congee, Bangkok, Thailand

At Pae's Brass Pot Congee, they keep a big pot full of fish maw and red gravy stew bubbling all day long, so all of the ingredients become super soft and tender, and all of the flavors incorporate into every single bite.

The exact recipe is a family secret, but the stew is mellow, flavorsome, and rich, and is filled not only with soft pieces of fish maw, but also other delightful ingredients like tiny, boiled quail eggs, slivers of brown mushrooms, cilantro, and more.

fish maw stew with quail eggs, mushroom, and cilantro

Menu and Prices

A bowl of braised fish maw in red gravy costs 150 baht. It's a little pricier than some of the other menu offerings, but reasonable considering the large portion size of this decadent dish.

Pae's Brass Pot Congee Menu - Bangkok, Thailand

Location

The full name of the restaurant is "Pae's Brass Pot Congee 38 Years", which is something of a misnomer. In fact, the third-generation shop has been serving congee, soups, and stews in their iconic brass pots since 1968! 38 is, a bit confusingly, just the founder's lucky number.

Bae's Brass Pot Congee is located at 320 Pracha Rat Sai 1 Road, Bang Sue, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand. It's just a short metro ride from Chatuchak Park and Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue Grand Station), the city's main railway station.

The closest metro is MRT Bang Pho, which is just a 2–3-minute walk away from the restaurant.

Bae's Brass Pot Congee (38 Year), Bangkok, Thailand