Fried Chive Cake – From Thai Street Snack to Crispy Craving

If you've never tried Fried Chive Cake before, you're in for a treat that’s crispy, chewy, savory, and packed with heritage. Known in Thai as “Kanom Gui Chai” (ขนมกุยช่าย), this humble dish has roots in Chinese-Thai cuisine and is beloved across generations.

🧄 Where It All Began

The name "Gui Chai" comes from the Teochew dialect, meaning chive dumpling. It was introduced to Thailand by Chinese immigrants, and over time, it became a staple Thai snack — especially in local markets and roadside food stalls.

Originally, chive cakes were soft, round, and steamed. Think chewy mochi texture, with a juicy garlic chive filling. Some vendors steam them fresh to order and serve them with a tangy sweet soy dipping sauce.

🔲 The Thai-Style Remix

Over time, Thais began to experiment — and that’s when the fried version came along. Instead of soft steamed dumplings, we started seeing square-shaped chive cakes, pan-fried or deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, while still chewy on the inside.

Now you’ll find both styles across Thailand:

• Round + Steamed = soft, chewy, and classic

• Square + Fried = crispy outside, savory inside, snackable heaven 🔥

Both are usually dipped in a sweet and salty soy-based sauce, sometimes with chili for a kick.

👃 But Wait… What’s That Smell?

Let’s be real: chives are strong. Like, really strong. Some people catch a whiff and back away like it’s a prank. 😂

But trust us — the smell might be bold, but so is the flavor.

Take one bite, and most people go from “umm, no thanks” to “wait… I need another piece.”

This dish is living proof that bold smells can lead to delicious surprises.

🕰️ When Do Thais Eat These?

Chive cakes are the definition of an anytime snack.

Morning? Sure. Afternoon market walk? Definitely. Midnight munchies?

Absolutely.

They’re cheap, filling, and totally addictive.

🍽️ How We Serve It at Bangkok Cafe

At Bangkok Cafe, we go with the square fried version — crispy on the outside, warm and chewy inside.

But here’s our little twist: we cut each piece diagonally into triangles before serving. Why?

Because triangles = more crispy edges, more dipping surface, and honestly… they just look cute on the plate 😄✨

Each piece is pan-fried to golden perfection and served with a separate dipping sauce on the side (we like to keep that crunch intact!).

👉 Order Fried Chive Cake Now

This isn’t just a snack — it’s a bite-sized piece of Thai street food culture, and we’re proud to serve it up fresh.

Ready to turn that “what’s that smell?” into “wow, that’s delicious”?