🔄 Last checked 2 Jul 2026 · details and hours can change — check the venue before you go
Ask anyone from San Sai which khao man kai (chicken rice) shop you have to try at least once, and "Dan Chicken Rice" is one of the first names that comes up. This place wasn't born with a MICHELIN sign — it started as a small stall in San Sai's Sam Yaek market more than 20 years ago, run in that plain, homey way stalls are, until the crowds outgrew what the original setup could handle. So the owners expanded and moved into a bigger shop near the market, and that's the point where the story changed. Since 2022, the MICHELIN Guide has awarded this restaurant a Bib Gourmand every year through the 2026 guide, which in plain terms means: genuinely good food at prices ordinary people can easily afford. A plate of chicken rice for a little over thirty baht with a MICHELIN stamp of approval isn't something you find easily in this country.
What MICHELIN praises about Dan Chicken Rice in particular is the boiled chicken — tender and juicy, never dry or tough — paired with rice that's fragrant and cooked evenly through every grain. It's satisfying even on its own, but the real signature move is the restaurant's own ginger dipping sauce, sharp and ginger-forward in a way many regulars say is the main reason they keep coming back. Spoon it over the chicken rice and everything falls into place. If you're not into boiled chicken, there's crispy-skin fried chicken rice too, or you can order it half-and-half. Finish with the hot broth served alongside, and you've got the full khao man kai experience the way it should be. A plate runs about 35-45 baht, and a full meal per person comes in under 100 baht — which fits the Bib Gourmand spirit exactly.
What also makes this place fun is the genuine Chiang Mai suburban atmosphere. San Sai is an area most tourists drive straight through on their way to Mae Jo or up the mountain without stopping, but locals know that Sam Yaek San Sai market is one of the liveliest morning-to-noon food spots in the district. The restaurant sits on the old San Sai road, across from the PT gas station, with a large chicken statue out front as a landmark you can spot from a distance. It's not far from downtown Chiang Mai by car, and the drive gives you that feeling of heading out of the city for the food locals actually eat. If you ever want a morning off from khao soi or nam ngiao in town, drive out this way — you'll understand why a chicken rice stall in a local market grew into a restaurant MICHELIN tracked all the way out to San Sai.
Dan Chicken Rice (San Sai)
Dan Chicken Rice, San Sai branch, sits on the old San Sai road near Sam Yaek San Sai market, across from the PT gas station, with a chicken statue out front as the landmark — easy to find if you're driving yourself. The restaurant is open every day from around 07:00-07:30 until 2pm, but take that closing time with a grain of salt, since the boiled chicken usually sells out before the afternoon even with large daily batches prepared. Best to go before noon, or for a sure bet, go in the morning.
No need to worry about the price — a plate of chicken rice runs about 35-45 baht, and a full meal with rice, broth, and sides comes in under 100 baht per person. The restaurant is walk-in only, no advance booking needed, but if you want to check whether the chicken is still available or order a large quantity, call 081-022-1128 or 081-387-4404. The easiest way to get there is by your own car or a ride from downtown Chiang Mai heading toward San Sai — ideal for a breakfast or lunch stop before or after touring the Mae Jo and San Sai area.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| MICHELIN award 2026 | 🍽️ Bib Gourmand |
| Province | Chiang Mai |
| Cuisine | Chicken rice / one-dish meals |
| Approx. price | Chicken rice ~35-45 THB/plate, under 100 THB per person |
| Booking | No online booking — call 081-022-1128 |
| Hours | Open daily, mornings around 07:00-07:30 until 14:00 (often sells out before afternoon) |
| Landmark / getting there | Sam Yaek San Sai market (old San Sai road) |
| Area | San Sai |
Before you go
Call 081-022-1128 / 081-387-4404 · Go before noon — the boiled chicken sells out fast even with large daily batches. Look for the chicken statue out front, across from the PT gas station on the old San Sai road.
Stay near Chiang Mai and hit every MICHELIN stop
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🏅 MICHELIN restaurants across Thailand 2026