Even though time is ticking and the city is buzzing with neon lights, there will always be a moment when you let a stream of nostalgic thoughts draw you back to the good old days. That’s the reason why “vintage” always smells sweetly fresh, and so does the air in “Likhit Grilled Chicken”, a restaurant that is 58 years old.
Crispy chicken skin on a charcoal grill dipped in sweet chili sauce is Likhit’s signature dish. Suthit Sammakhan, the son who runs the family’s business, said his father started serving the Isaan-style grilled chicken in 1956. His father personally loved the heavenly taste of grilled chicken, so he created his recipe and added some Chinese herbs to the plain meat.
Suthit says he has opened three more branches of Likhit Grilled Chicken and expanded the menu to 300 dishes, but grilled chicken is still what every table orders.
For THB90, you can get half of a chicken or pay THB170 for the whole delicious thing. Dip it in sweet chili sauce for extra flavor or go for the spicy Isaan-style sauce (Jaew) for an exotic taste. Likhit knows how to grill chicken — perfectly dry but soft.
“There’s only one way to grill chicken. Use the charcoal stove. No excuse!” Suthi said. “Nowadays there are electric or gas stoves, but we’ve always used charcoal for a better smell.”
Besides grilled chicken, we tried other recommended dishes such as grilled pork with a seafood spicy sauce (THB100), fried catfish topped with spicy herb salad (THB300), and steamed shrimp with glass noodles (THB250).
While many vintage restaurants move to air-conditioned shopping malls near the BTS, Likhit Grilled Chicken goes by its own rules. Sutthi said many luxury malls have reached out to him, but he’d like to maintain the low price for his loyal customers.
Most restaurants these days are out to earn a quick buck, but Likhit Grilled Chicken sticks to the concept that has held it in such good stead for so many years. And whenever you have a nostalgic flashback, visit this old-school restaurant for some yummy grilled chickens.
Story: Jinyan Chen/ Coconuts Krungthep
FIND IT:
Likit Grilled Chicken
74/1 Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district
10am-10pm, daily
Tel. 02-281-1094, 02-281-3502
