S.S. Gai - Review - East Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation
"Fried chicken? Nashville has as much of that as we do musicians who show up with a guitar and a dream. But make it extra crispy, loaded with Thai flavors, and served with a healthy dose of tamarind fish sauce, and you’ve got something in a league of its own. That’s what you’ll find at S.S. Gai, one of six food and drink vendors at a refurbished car wash (aptly named The Wash) in East Nashville. Once you try some of this chicken, you won’t be able to resist skipping your mid-day work meeting to swing by for lunch, or rolling through for a casual but excellent dinner. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Eliza Kennard photo credit: Casey Irwin The menu is pretty tight, and even includes some really good grilled chicken, but go with the fried—if only to rip off bites of crackly skin, scoop up the fried shallots that’ll inevitably fall off, and shovel the whole thing into your mouth. Order some grilled peanuts to douse heartily in chili vinegar and cubes of fried mango sticky rice for dessert, too. Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Gai Tod This Thai fried chicken is crackly crispy, full of chicken-fatty flavor, and covered in fried shallots and garlic that can’t hang on to save their lives. We like to sprinkle those bits into a wrap we’ve made with the accompanying lettuce, seasonal vegetables, and sticky rice. Then dunk that whole thing into the little cup of tamarind chili fish sauce. It doesn’t get much better than that. photo credit: Casey Irwin Gai Yang Grilled chicken, and served with all the same things as the fried. But where the fried comes in two or four pieces, this arrives as a leg quarter, breast quarter, or half or whole bird. Order the side of risky spice, a homemade blend that comes in a little cup, and sprinkle a little on the perfectly charred pieces. It packs a wallop, and you’ll definitely feel it in your sinuses. photo credit: Casey Irwin Grilled Peanuts Tossed with tamarind, coriander, kaffir lime, and chili flakes, these peanuts are essentially the greatest bar snack ever. Take some home to have with a cold beer, but while you’re sitting at The Wash, toss as many as you can into the remaining aromatic chili vinegar that comes with the chicken and eat them with a spoon. photo credit: Casey Irwin Mango Fried Sticky Rice Ridiculously delicious little cubes coated in palm sugar, coconut, and sesame. They’re sticky, chewy, and dense, and the perfect size to nibble off a fork while walking to your car. The Special Maybe it’s slow coal-roasted halved honeynut squash glazed in golden sesame paste and palm sugar that’s finished with lime juice. Maybe it’s smoky grilled chicken wings with fish sauce caramel or a charcoal grilled local tri-tip slathered in oyster sauce and aromatics. S.S. Gai has a 100% success rate when it comes to specials. Always order one. Thai Tea The perfect ratio of tea to milk and blessedly not-too-sweet. We have yet to find a better Thai tea in Nashville." - Ann Walczak
