Thai Gai Yang
Thai Gai Yang is a beloved street food and home-cooked dish from Thailand, featuring chicken marinated in a fragrant blend of garlic, cilantro roots, white pepper, fish sauce, and sometimes lemongrass, then grilled to perfection with the skin on. The skin becomes delightfully crispy while the meat stays juicy, and it's often served with a spicy-sweet dipping sauce called jaew. It's a staple across Thailand, especially popular in the Isaan region.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in protein and fat due to the chicken skin, with minimal carbs unless served with rice or sweet dipping sauces. A typical serving of around 150-200 grams provides roughly 300-400 calories, along with B vitamins, selenium, and zinc from the chicken.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 380 kcal |
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbs | 5 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 0.5 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Phosphorus | 220 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 8 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.6 mg |
| Selenium | 25 mcg |
| Iron | 1.5 mg |
| Zinc | 2.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.3 mcg |
Per 1 serving (about 200 g, including skin and a small portion of marinade) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The use of cilantro roots in the marinade is uniquely Thai, providing an earthy depth that's hard to replicate, and grilling with skin on is a deliberate choice to lock in moisture and add a textural contrast that's central to the dish's appeal.
