Stir-Fried Squid with Salted Egg Yolk in Bangkok, Thailand

Pla Muk Pad Kai Khem, or Squid with Salted Egg Yolk

by Bamee Ban Pong Jae Dang, Bangkok, Thailand

It's a little bit expensive for local Thai food, and it's definitely not very health - especially if you're trying to watch your cholesterol. However, pla muk pad kai khem, or squid with salted egg yolk, is one of my favorite guilty pleasure Thai dishes. This luxurious street food dish (it sounds like an oxymoron, but it's not!) combines thick and chewy pieces of fresh stir-fried squid with a rich and creamy sauce made from salted egg yolks.

stir-fried squid with salted egg yolk in Bangkok, Thailand

Bamee Ban Pong Jae Dang is one of my new favorite local restaurants. Located near the Lat Phrao MRT Station in the northern part of Bangkok, this little restaurant has a huge kitchen, ample seating, a great English menu complete with lots of photographs, and reasonable local prices. It's a popular spot for local residents, businessmen, and government workers to enjoy a delicious freshly cooked meal.

I ordered the stir-fried squid with salted egg yolk and sat down at one of the small metal tables for my meal to arrive. It's not a fancy place, but it's very clean, the service is friendly and quick, and the food is really tasty. While I waited, the staff brought me a small steel mug filled with ice, which I filled up with weak tea from the communal pitcher sitting on the table.

Thai squid and salted egg served with rice

Served with a plate of white rice, this is one of the most decadent and filling Thai dishes I've ever had, second only, perhaps, to yellow crab curry. The perfectly cooked rings of squid meat are stir-fried in a creamy sauce made from only the golden yolks of the khai khem (salted duck eggs) mixed with other strong and flavorful aromatics.

The squid is eaten with local jasmine rice, which helps absorb some of the rich and oily sauce and balance out the strong salty flavors of the dish.

It's not necessarily a cheap dish, and it's not always that easy to find, but if you happen to see this dish on the menu when you are traveling through Thailand, please give it a try!

fresh squid is stir-fried with the creamy yolks of salted eggs

Price

This dish costs 200 baht (around $6), which is pretty expensive for local Thai food. Other items on the menu are much more reasonable, but due to the expensive ingredients, this is more of a special treat or luxury dish than an everyday lunch.

Location

Bamee Ban Pong Jae Dang is located just steps from MRT Lat Phrao's Exit 3 at RH4C+WMM, Lat Phrao Rd, Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900.