🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Wake up early in Roi Et and walk into a market, and the first thing you'll notice before you see it is the smoke from the khao jee grill. The word jee is Isan dialect for grilling or roasting, and the khao here means sticky rice, so khao jee is simply sticky rice shaped into patties and grilled over the fire. It's a cheap, filling morning snack that's easy to find at the markets. If you've come to Roi Et and want to eat the local food the way people here actually eat it, khao jee is a good place to start.
What is khao jee, and what makes it so fragrant?
Khao jee is made from hot cooked sticky rice, kneaded until it's tacky, then shaped into round or flat patties on a skewer. A little salt is sprinkled on for a light savory taste, then it goes onto the charcoal grill, turned back and forth until the outside starts to firm up and turn golden. Once it's ready, it's dipped or brushed with beaten egg and grilled again until the egg cooks to a fragrant gold. Vendors can repeat this a few times to build up a thicker egg layer. The smoke of the fire and the richness of the egg are what set khao jee apart from plain sticky rice.
- Savory (egg-brushed) — sticky rice dusted with salt, brushed with egg, grilled until golden. Salty and rich in just the right balance, and the version you'll see most often at the markets.
- Sweet (sugar / coconut khao jee) — some vendors sprinkle sugar or brush on sweet coconut cream before grilling for a sweet, fragrant finish. Good if you don't want the salty version.
- The trick to that golden color — many vendors mix duck egg in with the chicken egg, because duck egg gives a brighter yellow that makes the khao jee look more appetizing.
How to eat khao jee at its best
Khao jee is best hot, while the egg is still fragrant and the rice still soft. If you're getting it to go, tell the vendor you'll eat it right away so they grill it fresh, then eat it within a few minutes. Once it cools, the rice firms up and a lot of that smoky aroma fades.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Roi Et food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Where to find khao jee at the markets in Roi Et
Khao jee isn't sold by any big-name shop. It's the regular stalls at the morning markets and fresh markets that locals in each neighborhood just know about. We've lined up the markets where you're most likely to find khao jee and other morning snacks, from the in-town morning markets to the community markets. The flavors and the specific vendors shift a bit day to day, but the morning-market atmosphere is the real thing you can count on.
Rung Charoen Morning Market (city center)
The main morning market for people in Roi Et, open before the sky even lightens, with fresh produce, bagged local food, and morning grill stalls to browse. In the early hours you'll usually find khao jee and hot sticky rice stalls mixed in with grilled pork and Isan sausage. It's the easiest place to start if you want to try several morning snacks in one spot.
Thung Charoen Market (bagged morning food)
A morning market people talk up for its bagged local food and grill stalls. Wander through and you've got a good chance of finding a khao jee stall grilling both savory and sweet. Good if you want to walk and graze on several morning bites, from sun-dried pork to fried snacks to hot sticky rice alongside the khao jee.
Ban Non Sawang Morning Market (Nuea Mueang)
A community morning market in the Nuea Mueang area, with the down-to-earth feel of a neighborhood market where locals come to shop for ingredients and grab breakfast. It's a spot where you've got a good chance of finding khao jee and grilled sticky rice from the regular vendors. Good if you want to slip away from the in-town markets and see real local morning life.
Rajabhat Market (university area)
A market in the Roi Et Rajabhat University area with plenty of student-priced snacks to choose from, including grilled items, fried snacks, and hot sticky rice. The khao jee here leans cheap and is good for taking the edge off your hunger. Easy to wander and graze without spending much.
Community markets around town (rotating by day)
Besides the regular morning markets, Roi Et has community markets that rotate open by day across different neighborhoods. In the morning many of them have khao jee, grilled sticky rice, and local snacks. Ask a local where today's market is setting up and you'll find fresh khao jee straight off the grill without much hunting.
Saket Nakhon Walking Street (evening)
Roi Et's main walking street, open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, roughly 4–10 pm. This isn't a morning market, but if you missed khao jee earlier in the day, you've got a chance of finding khao jee and grilled sticky rice mixed in among plenty of other street food. Good if you're out in the evening and want to try local food in a lively market atmosphere.
Roi Et Night Market (late night)
A late-night market for anyone who sleeps in or gets hungry late, with a wide range of food from savory to sweet. Some nights there are grilled sticky rice and khao jee stalls to try. Good for a light late meal or to take back to your room. It's not a morning-market vibe, but you still get the local food.
Want khao jee in the morning? Go early
Khao jee sells fast and is grilled fresh one skewer at a time, so the popular morning-market stalls often sell out before late morning. If you're set on hot khao jee straight off the grill, get to the market around 6–8 am for the freshest pick and the most options.
What to pair khao jee with, Isan-style
Khao jee is good on its own, but if you want a proper Isan breakfast, pair it with things sold at the same market for a fuller, more rounded morning meal.
- Hot sticky rice — khao jee and steamed sticky rice are close cousins, and plenty of people eat them together to fill up.
- Grilled pork & Isan sausage — the morning grill items sold right next to the khao jee stall at almost every market. The salty, rich flavors go together well.
- Jaew (dipping sauce) — some people like dipping khao jee in a slightly spicy jaew for an extra dimension of flavor.
- Traditional coffee / hot milk — a market breakfast isn't complete without a hot drink to go with warm khao jee.
Other morning snacks you'll find next to khao jee
Since you're already walking the Roi Et morning market, beyond khao jee there are several other local snacks worth trying to round out the meal.
Grilled stuffed sticky rice
Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf with a banana or taro filling, grilled until fragrant. A close cousin of khao jee that's often sold at the same stall.
Egg pan & rice porridge
Hot breakfast you'll find at the markets and morning shops. Good if you want something brothy to go with your khao jee.
Khao kriap pak mo
A steamed-to-order morning snack with a minced pork filling, easy to nibble on. Found at the in-town morning markets.
Plan a full eating-and-sightseeing trip in Roi Et
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