Originally published in Jan 28, 2009, updated with new photos.
I love fried chicken and some of the most flavorful fried chicken in the world are from Southeast Asia, for example, this crispy, moist, juicy and extremely delicious Thai fried chicken.
I learned this Thai fried chicken recipe from Chez Pim, a talented food blogger turned Michelin-star restaurateur. The recipe is easy, with very simple ingredients, and fail-proof.
These fried chicken rival the best ones from street vendors in Bangkok. They are best served with Thai sweet chili sauce which you can buy from Asian stores. Enjoy!
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Thai Fried Chicken Recipe
Thai Fried Chicken - the BEST fried chicken recipe ever, marinated with cilantro, garlic and Asian seasonings. Crispy, moist and so good!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken, drumsticks, thighs, breasts, or cut-up chicken pieces
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and pounded
- 2 tablespoons cilantro roots or use the cilantro stems, without leaves
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, large-grained or kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
- oil for deep-frying
Flour mixture:
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons rice flour
Instructions
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Clean the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
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Use a mini food processor or a mortar and pestle to blend the garlic, cilantro roots and salt until they become a fine paste.
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Add the paste, fish sauce, oyster sauce, ground black peppper to the chicken and mix well. Transfer the chicken into a big Ziploc bag and marinate for four (4) to six (6) hours in the fridge, or best overnight.
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When ready, heat up a pot of cooking oil or use a deep fryer. While waiting for the oil to heat up, mix the three types of flour together in a new Ziploc bag. Add the chicken and coat evenly with the flour mixture. Shake the excess flour off.
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Drop the chicken gently into the oil and deep fry the chicken until crispy and golden brown (the inside should cook thoroughly but remains juicy). Transfer the fried chicken out on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.
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Serve the fried chicken immediately with Thai sweet chili sauce.
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Fried Chicken Lover
I was a bit disappointed. It tastes like fried chicken, but the high notes of the marinade, the cilantro root, coriander and white pepper, got buried under the umami of the the oyster and fish sauce and the distinct flavor of fried flours.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Fried Chicken Lover, even in Thailand, you don’t actually taste so much of the marinade. Yes, the fish sauce covers up the aroma, but I guarantee you even though subtle, if you just fry the chicken without those other ingredients, they WON’T taste the same!
Gina
Hi, tfs this recipe. Can I use dried cilantro? Thanx for your response
Rasa Malaysia
You can try but dried cilantro don’t have much taste or aroma.
Taylor from On The Gas
Seriously, I got hungry while just looking at the photos. Correct, the best fried chickens are in Southeast Asia. I can’t wait to go back to Southeast Asia especially in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam for my cooking classes in these respective countries.
Julia
Wow!, I have eaten Thai fried chicken so many times, Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks!! Thai fried chicken is great.
Davey
Dear mrs rasa there are some things missing from your recipe how long do you cook the chicken and at what temperature these things are crucial when cooking chicken btw way you are a lovely young woman
Rasa Malaysia
Deep fry at 350F for about 8 minutes or until cooked through.
Davey
Dear mrs rasa some things are missing from your recipe how long do you cook the chicken legs and at what temperature these things are important when frying chicken I have fried a lot of it and I know please help btw you are beautiful.
Teo ai li
Hi, I am planning to make and bring the chicken wings to a beach party. Do they stay crispy for at least 2 to 3 hours? Thanks
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, I think so. :)
Nancy
I’d like to make this, but there is no mention of the temperature of the oil or how long to cook the chicken. I’m afraid to overcook or undercook the chicken. Can you address this please?
suji
wow ! This is nice fried chicken recipe. looking attractive for eating ………!!!. I think it’s too delicious.
Scott
Take a look at She Simmers blog for a really great version of thai fried chicken – street food style. I have made it now for a number of years…looking forward to adding your Korean version to my repertoire as well
Rasa Malaysia
I have always used Chez Pim’s recipe and it tastes very good. I will check out She Simmers.
Madeleine
Can you bake the chicken?
Rasa Malaysia
You can try, but I am not sure how they will turn out without trying myself.
mandy
Tried this recipe yesterday and it was a hit. The marinate really gets into the chicken. I was not able to get the smooth texture as those in your pictures, not sure if it was because i didn’t use rice flour in the mix.
Chris
Your thai fried chicken recipe reminded me of my all-time favorite thai dish that I’ve only found in one restaurant, ever. It’s called Crispy Garlic Chicken and it’s quite famous among Seattleites. A well-rated restaurant in Seattle (called Buddha Ruksa) is the only place I’ve seen it and the locals call it “crack chicken” because its so addicting.
This is a shot in the dark but I’m wondering, with your culinary genius, you could recommend something similar to it? It’s very similar to your thai fried chicken recipe as it is pieces of chicken that have been lightly floured and fried, and then mixed in a skillet with some type of chili past. It is not sweet. It is then garnished with fried basil leaves and a few sprigs of cilantro.
If you are ever in Seattle, look it up! I made it at home once and it turned out almost identical to the restaurant version but I last the base recipe I began with and did not record my alterations to it. The second time I made it, it turned out horrible!
Chat 2 Friend
Excellent tips & method about recipes, you have a wide range of indian recipes list available, helpful site – thanks
Indian Racipes
Jo
What a delicious recipe – this is one that I will be trying for my family in the very near future. Thank you so much for sharing.
http://www.aussie-true-blue-recipes.com
Joanne
You know how much my family and my dotter loves the recipe. They “sapu” all!
I marinated the chicken with cilantro, still taste wonderful!
I substitute rice flour with tapioca flour, the chicken skin still remain its crunchiness after I left it in room temp for quite some time.
Great recipe, thanks!
adam
how much baking soda such I add to the flourmix
Felicia
I’m about to make this and realise I don’t have rice flour, is there any substitute?
Rasa Malaysia
Skip it.
lilian
btw, i also read that adding baking powder or self rising flour produces a fluffier crispier batter? is this true?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, or baking soda.
adam
how much baking soda such I add to the flourmix?
lilian
i checked out chez pim’s recipe and it used rice flour only. Is your batter even cripsier if u use a combination of rice, all purpose and corn flour? Just asking ur opinion as i am definitely gonna try out these wings.
Rasa Malaysia
The thing about rice flour only is that they don’t stick to the chicken so the crispy coating falls apart easily. You can try both version and decide.
David Sinclair
how ever I shall give this recipe a try thanks, sincers \o.o/
David Sinclair
I just got back from Thailand I travelled north to Chiang Rai and south to phuket and phi phi island, I loved the chicken that I got off the carts, but I can’t seem to find the recipe, to my taste I don’t remember tasting cloves or black pepper, it was just fried chicken, if some one could help me ,that would be great thanks, sincers \o.o/
Caroline
Tried this recipe for the first time today…. it really is sooooo goooood! My only regret is I didn’t cook more of it… it disappeared within minutes!
VW
Is there a substitute for cilantro roots? I live in Canada and I don’t think the stores sell cilantro roots, just the leaves.
Rasa Malaysia
Use the stems instead.
Thomas
Hi,
I tried this fried chicken recipe to be served together with nasi lemak last night. I must say this has got to be the most delicious fried chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life. It’s really fragrant from each bite and certainly infused with the flavour of an authentic Asian fried chicken. Thank you so much for posting this recipe!
ray
hi i just wan to find out that what how to get 2 tablespoons cilantro roots..???
Rasa Malaysia
Chop up the cilantro roots, and then fit them into the spoons. You need two TBS.
Ine
Only been to Thailand once and I’ve been looking for the recipe for the street fried chicken ever since. Now I’ve found it, major thanks ;) Tried this out, and it is every bit as good as the real thing :)
joyce
hey rasa…
its me again…thnk you your recipe its really awesome…more power on your site…
joyce,
chandler, a,z
Rasa Malaysia
You’re welcome, I am glad you love it. :)
Jane
I actually made this for my family last night and we loved it (even my 3 yr old). I was hesitant about using fish sauce as a marinade thinking that it might be too salty and fishy. But with the cilantro and garlic, all the flavors were well balanced – Delicious! This will definitely be a regular on our menu. Thanks!!!
Rasa Malaysia
Daniel – thanks for trying the fried chicken recipe. I have posted some soup recipes and you can find them at https://rasamalaysia.com/rasa-malaysia-recipe-index/
Anonymous
Delicious! I’ll try to use the same marinade to bake the wings.
By the way, do you throw out the oil or do you reuse it again for cooking?
Lingzie
yum! this looks like a really good recipe!! supposed to be going on detox after all that CNY eating… but after seeing this post…. all detox plans flying out the window!
May
First time here. Found your site through Google. I love all sorts of fried chicken and am tired with the same fried chicken recipe and wish to try new fried chicken recipes. Thanks for the tips about making fried chicken crispy. I can’t think of any American fried chicken that uses rice flour. I will have to try your fried chicken recipe soon. Thank you.
Passionate Eater
What an excellent idea for a Super Bowl party! Thanks to you Rasa Malaysia, and Chez Pim!
Anonymous
Great fried chicken photos. What you made should rival those chicken wings from chain restaurants. Applebee’s, Chili’s, Pizzahut, Domino’s, Hooter’s, or KFC, new Asian addition to menu?
Salt N Turmeric
I started using rice flour to coat when i fry chicken after reading somebody’s blog who also refers to Chez Phim’s. They are crunchier. I like!
mycookinghut
This is a great dish! I love fried chicken.. especially the crispy skin… :)
pigpigscorner
They look perfect! I love chicken wings esp fried…yummy with sweet thai chili sauce.
Jan
That fried chicken looks sooooo good!
Bee Yinn
Valerie – If there is still blood in the bones, it means they are not completely cooked, so put them back and dry for another minute or so. Cilantro = coriander. It’s the white part of the coriander stalks.
Ken
Fried chicken is one of those dishes which is loved by everyone, regardless of your background and origin. And that’s why KFC created a huge fried chicken empire even though their fried chicken are just OK. Thanks for finding such a great fried chicken recipe and share with us. Love the fried chicken gallery too. Yummy!
Maryann
Very tempting :)
Marc @ NoRecipes
Looks great! I love Asian fried chicken. If you’ve never had it Korean fried chicken is amazing too (it’s sweet, garlicy and spicy and has a crispy glaze). There’s Japanese fried chicken (kara-age) which is soy and ginger marinated then dusted in corn starch.
Valerie Kuan
Yummy fried chicken!! I love fried chicken but each time I deep fried there is still blood in the bones, what did I do wrong? What is cilantro roots? Thanks!
chuck
Once again a stunning photo. I can almost taste this chicken. I love fried chicken.
matt wright
The best fried chicken I have ever seen. Lovely photos too.
Adeline
Thank you very much for this recipe to zing up the dull January we’re going through!!
This creation is going to satisfy everyone in the house and lighten up their day!!
Eating Penang
In Penang, Belacan fried chicken is very popular and there are many hawkers selling them. Fried chicken is always a good family recipe that everyone enjoy.
My Taste Heaven
Fried chicken, fried chicken. I love fried chicken. I trust you that this recipe is good and will give it a try!
Dan
Beautiful fried chicken pictures. Love them all.