Polo Fried Chicken (Gai Tod Jay Kee)
8.4Friend Score / 10#7 of 20 Restaurants in Bangkok
Known forsom tam (green papaya salad)larb (minced meat salad)sticky ricewhole deep-fried tubtim fish
Gai Tod Jay Kee — the fried chicken shop on Soi Polo by Lumphini Park that's been showering birds in crispy fried garlic since the 1950s. Hat Yai-style chicken, proper som tam, and sticky rice, most meals well under 450 THB. Long a Michelin Guide fixture, still full of local office workers. Simple, legendary, worth it.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 07:00–22:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | MRT Lumphini, ~10-min walk up Soi Polo (Sanam Khli) |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Best time to go | Early lunch (11am-noon) before the office crowd, or mid-afternoon |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.4/10- Value8.5
- iconic7.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level7.0
- Authenticity9.0
- Accessibility7.5
Frequently asked questions
- Do they do takeaway?
- Yes, and locals get whole birds to go constantly — the garlic travels fine. A box of chicken plus sticky rice makes an elite Lumphini Park picnic.
- Is there anything for people who don't eat fried chicken?
- The menu runs deep into Isaan territory — grilled beef and pork salads, larb, soups, and vegetable dishes. But bringing a fried-chicken abstainer here is a strange life choice.
- Is Polo Fried Chicken in the Michelin Guide?
- It's been a Michelin Guide fixture for years running. Nothing about the canteen-style room changed because of it — you're still eating with civil servants and embassy staff on lunch break.
- What makes Polo Fried Chicken special?
- Southern Thai (Hat Yai) style fried chicken buried under a snowdrift of crispy fried garlic — juicy inside, crackly outside. The founder started as a street stall in the 1950s and the recipe hasn't wavered.
- Where exactly is it and how do I get there?
- On Soi Polo (Soi Sanam Khli), off Wireless Road next to Lumphini Park — about a 10-minute walk from MRT Lumphini. It pairs perfectly with a morning walk in the park.
- How much does Polo Fried Chicken cost?
- A half chicken runs around 130-200 THB, and a full spread with som tam and sticky rice stays under 450 THB for two-ish people. It's proper street pricing with a roof and air-con.
- What are Polo Fried Chicken's hours?
- Daily roughly 7am to 10pm, though it traditionally closes one Monday a month (often the second) — worth a quick check before a special trip. Yes, fried chicken for breakfast is allowed.
- What should I order with the chicken?
- Som tam (papaya salad), sticky rice, and their spicy grilled beef salad — the Isaan holy trinity. Ask for the som tam 'pet nit noi' if you want the chili dialed down.
Nearby in Ask Bangkok
- Lumphini ParkAttraction0.27 km · 3 min walk
- Pad See Ew Convent (Convent Road Stall)Restaurant1.27 km · 16 min walk
- SmallsBar1.44 km · 18 min walk
- Erawan Shrine (Thao Maha Phrom)Attraction1.45 km · 18 min walk
- Paste BangkokRestaurant1.54 km · 19 min walk
Where to stay near Polo Fried Chicken (Gai Tod Jay Kee)
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