Morning Jok (Thai Congee) – Comforting Rice Porridge

Jok (โจ๊ก) vendor
Jok (โจ๊ก, pronounced joke), or the Thai version of congee also known as rice porridge, is about as comforting as a Thai breakfast can come.
While it’s available at some famous sit down restaurants like Jok Samyan, it’s more of a dish that people prefer to grab for takeaway. It’s a dish that makes one want to curl into a fetal position while watching a movie and drinking a cup of tea (maybe that’s why it’s often taken away?).
I didn’t first care for jok that much, I thought it was a little on the wimpy side and preferred to eat something more filling and spicy, but after eating it a number of times for breakfast recently, I can honestly say that I’m quite a converted fan now.

The cart that produces it all!
Within just about every morning market in Bangkok you’ll find at least one jok (โจ๊ก) vendor.

Still cooking jok over charcoal for a lovely smoky flavor
Jok (โจ๊ก) can be cooked on a stove, but I prefer when it’s cooked over charcoal, giving the rice a slight grilled smoky flavor. Here are a few pots of jok on the fires in different thickness stages.

Assembling jok for takeaway
Morning jok vendors can get quite busy, it being a very popular Thai breakfast dish to eat in the morning.

Pork and pig parts
While you could order it meatless, pork normally plays a significant part in any bowl.
Minced pork meatballs and slices of liver are the two most common pork additions. The vendor normally pre-cooks the meat and then adds them to each order.

Jok to-go
Plastic bags are of course used for takeaway, and since jok is piping hot when it’s served, the bags are placed into metal cans before being tied with a rubberband, placed in another plastic bag, and handed to you.

About to dig into my morning jok
Upon arriving home, the next step is to find a bowl, empty the contents of the plastic bag into the bowl, garnish with a few pieces of fresh ginger and onions and season with a little vinegar (however much desired), and dig in!
Morning (or even evening) Jok (โจ๊ก) is available throughout Bangkok, often from street stalls.
Here’s the video from my last delicious jok breakfast:
If you’d like to come to this spot, it’s located in the Talat Mahasin Market on Sukhumvit 101/1. On Soi 26 make a right, and then make a first left and the stall is right on the corner in the morning from about 6 am – 8 am.
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Stephanie
6 years ago
I know this is an old post but we just got back from Thailand a couple days ago and I had jok for the first time at my husbands families home in the Isaan region just outside of Udon and again in Chiang Khan, it’s absolutely delicious! Definitely going to try making it ourselves now that my husband got the recipe from his parents. I love seeing you’re videos from Thailand and other places in the world.
Patrick Lee
6 years ago
I plan on going to Bangkok this October. Do you know of any jok places inside of a mall? Thank you.
Frans
10 years ago
Is the Talat Mahasin Market still worth visiting? I heard it’s all but death..
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
I just a small neighborhood market, so not worth traveling across town to visit. If you’re in the area however, it’s good and local, from about 6 am – 8 am in the morning.
Yok Nusuwan
6 years ago
ahah sawadee ka, i watched your videos and it was really fun to watch. I’m thai aswell and honeslty i miss eating food from thailand and watching you eat it makes me jealous.
Yok Nusuwan
6 years ago
and um i wanted to ask, what do they cook the jok in? pls reply asap
Crossfire
10 years ago
I grew up with jok and I love it. I also love to add a bit of lime juice to it but I suppose that’s not so common in jok.
Wen I visited my thai relatives in Pak Kret I ate some jok under the Rama IV bridge. They sell it late in the night till morning. Really good stuff. Made me come back for more!
Too bad I only had tasted jok at 5 places. Some in bangkok and near my mothers home town….but I don’t remember it being that good. It was ok.
Good post. World needs more jok love!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey, great to hear that, glad you love jok too! I might have to try it with some lime juice next time!
Dan
10 years ago
Nom! The best jok I have come across was in chiang mai, a place called jok somphet at the northern end of the moat. Beautifully smooth and rich!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks Dan, glad you enjoy jok too!
Kitti
10 years ago
Dan, Jok Somphet is famous in Chiangmai. Glad, you tried it !!!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Good to hear that Kitti!
Kitti
10 years ago
Translatation to the sign on the first picture
Congee
Normal 30 Baht (approx. 1 US dollar)
with egg 35 Baht
Special (extra amount) 40 Baht (not sure that this price include egg or not)
You can eat at the table near the stall or take home. The egg, you can ask to be soft boiled (kai mai suk) or boiled (kai suk) and some stall even include preserved egg (century egg but Thai call it Kai Yeaw Ma) some stall put torn chicken instead of mince pork. Also, you can ask for a request like no vegetable , no mince pork , no liver , no ginger. When eat, you can add pepper . fish sauce , sugar , vinegar , dry chilli as you like.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Kitti, thank you!!
gpks00
7 years ago
Thanks!!
how do you say with no organs (kidney/liver/lungs)?
Jason
10 years ago
Mark,did you add the egg or it comes with it?….would love to try it when I’m in Bangkok…growing up jook (as we call it in Cantonese) was comfort food for us…love it with the pig organs (kidney/liver/lungs etc) and minced pork….though I don’t recall us having it for breakfast though….
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Jason, yes you have to request the egg – which is “sai kai.” You can also get it with all the organs inside!