Thai Congee Rice Porridge at Joke Samyan (โจ๊กสามย่าน)

Good thing she made another fresh pot of joke as soon as we came!
Perhaps the most well known Thai breakfast dish is Joke โจ๊ก, Thailand’s version of rice porridge congee.
Like I mentioned before in the article, Joke โจ๊ก could be considered the cornflakes and milk of Thailand. While it’s normally consumed as a morning meal, you can also find it at night as well – sort of like a late night bowl of cereal.

Preparing joke
Famously made at their original location across the street from Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, Joke Samyan (โจ๊กสามย่าน) has since relocated to the Udom Suk neighborhood (remember that duck restaurant).
Though the atmosphere is not quite the same as it used to be, the joke is still served as it always was.

Joke Samyan (โจ๊กสามย่าน)
The owner and joke cook herself has quite a personality with some serious congee cheffing expertise.

Pot of lightly seasoned minced pork
Joke normally includes pork meat balls that are very lightly seasoned. A lump of minced pork is divvied into bite sized meatballs and boiled in water before being added to the larger pot of bubbling rice porridge.

Joke โจ๊ก
I ordered the special version including pork meatballs, a few slices of liver and also what I consider of utmost importance in any bowl of joke: an egg.
The joke must be just the right temerature when the egg is plopped into the bowl – not too cool so the white doesn’t cook, but not too hot as to over-cook the yolk.
No mistakes at Joke Samyan (โจ๊กสามย่าน), whose hands have served more bowls of joke to hungry students than anyone could ever possibly count.

Joke would be nothing without the addition of the egg
The breaking of the yolk, a dash of pepper, and a splash of soy sauce made my breakfast complete and I was ready to dig in. The joke was soothing, a breakfast that was non-spicy, lightly salty, and pretty good.
The Bottom Line
Great Joke porridge on a day when you’re looking for something soothing to ease the stomach.
Joke Samyan (โจ๊กสามย่าน)
Address: Sukhumvit 103, Udom Suk Soi 9, Bang Na, Bangkok
Phone Number: 081-350-6671
Hours: Monday – Friday: 5 am – 9 am & 4 pm – 9 pm; Sat – Sun: 5 am – 9 am
Prices: 35 THB for this bowl including meat and an egg
ซอยสุขุมวิท 103 (อุดมสุข ซอย 9) ถนนสุขุมวิท บางนา กรุงเทพฯ
How to Get There
Take the BTS to Udom Suk station, exit to Sukhumvit Soi 103, walk down the street until you reach Soi 9 (about 500 meters or so), make a left and the restaurant will be on your right hand side 4 buildings down.
View Bangkok Eating Thai Food Map in a larger map
Rakhal
9 years ago
My girlfriend and I made the trip down to Udom suk this morning to try Joke Samyan and we are very glad we did!! The Joke was absolutely perfect!! We ordered Joke moo sai kai (pork joke with egg) the ginger and green onions was a perfect mix with the lightly peppery pork and rice porridge. When you break up the yolk and stir it in it adds this rich creaminess that is so comforting and delicious! They have chinese tea in pitchers on the tables that you can pour over ice to drink. The woman was very nice and asked if we were from the area, when we said we lived on Rangnam and were there because we had heard about her on the internet she was very happy and surprised. Get there early if you can, by 8:20 they had run out and were turning people away.
Mink Mackley
10 years ago
We went there this morning and it opened. It was really good!
Dwight Turner
10 years ago
Thanks Mink for letting us know you found it and enjoyed!
Antoine
10 years ago
Hi Mark,
I recently both found out about your blog and moved to the Udomsuk area…So, you can imagine the level of my disappointment when I decided to try this spot for a late breakfast today, and didn’t find the place operating there any longer. As I don’t speak Thai I could not inquire about their possible new location.
Well, I still have to try a few other places you are recommending around here.
Thanks for the good job !
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Antoine, thanks for following along. Are you sure they are not operating anymore? Perhaps they are closed for the New Year? I think they are still running, but maybe on vacation. I’m sorry, I know how disappointing it can be to go somewhere and not find them open. Hope you’ll find some more places, Udom Suk has some good food!