Chiang Mai Specialties: Silky-Smooth Chicken Feet Congee

Text & Photos /Xiao Sheng

The food scene in Chiang Mai’s Old City is incredibly diverse, but this chicken feet congee stall stands out with its amazing broth. The chicken feet are so tender they melt in your mouth—even I, someone who usually avoids chicken feet, was amazed by the flavor.

This time, I’m introducing a congee shop in Chiang Mai, but it’s not your typical one—it specializes in chicken feet congee. I wouldn’t have known about this place if a friend hadn’t brought me here. The shop only has a Thai name, so I’m not sure how to refer to it in English. It’s located just outside the southeast corner of Chiang Mai’s Old City, on Sridonchai Road near the intersection with Chang Klan Road, right across from the 3C mall Pantip Plaza, so it’s not too hard to find.

This congee shop doesn’t offer many items—just pork rib congee and chicken feet congee. The pork rib congee costs 42 baht, while the chicken feet congee is even pricier at 52 baht. For Thai street food standards, that’s relatively expensive, but the portion is quite generous, which explains the higher price.

The chicken feet congee comes with a variety of ingredients: two eggs, several chicken feet, pig’s blood, and slices of meat. In addition to rice, there’s also a bit of glass noodles, making it feel like a hearty mixed dish. The congee itself has a deep, rich broth that looks incredibly flavorful.

I usually don’t like chicken feet, but these were truly impressive. Normally, chicken feet are dry and flat, but these were plump and satisfying. Even better, they were cooked until they were so tender they melted in your mouth, showing just how much care went into preparing them. They were so easy to eat without any effort.

Aside from rice, the chicken feet congee also includes some glass noodles, creating a unique pairing. The broth is rich and deeply flavorful, with an intense taste that makes every ingredient—chicken feet, pig’s blood, and meat—absolutely delicious. After trying this congee, I fell in love with its distinctive, rich aroma.

I’ve visited Chiang Mai many times and tried plenty of local snacks, thinking I’d pretty much tasted it all. But this chicken feet congee, brought to me by a friend, was something completely new and unlike anything I’d had before. It’s another wonderful discovery, and I’m heading back to Chiang Mai next week hoping to find even more tasty surprises.

Unknown Chicken Feet Congee in Chiang Mai
Address: Intersection of Sridonchai Road and Chang Klan Road
(Opposite Pantip Plaza 3C Mall)

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey and every trip is a search—for something I’m not even sure of—but in the end, I always gain more than I expected. That’s why my wandering journey will never end.