We recently had a wonderful trip to Hat Yai, Thailand. Hat Yai is renowned for its food, and we took this opportunity to try as many restaurants in Hat Yai as possible. This article will focus on the food and restaurants we visited, while we plan to write a separate article about the activities and sightseeing sspots we visited during our trip.
The food and restaurants listed below are arranged according to our itinerary. I will write an honest review, keeping in mind that taste is subjective. With only a few exceptions, most of the dishes we tried were Thai. We tried to avoid foods we were already familiar with in Malaysia to fully embrace the local cuisine.
Here are the food and restaurants we visited in Hat Yai.
1. Krua-pa-yad
After arriving at Hat Yai on the first day, we took a Tuk Tuk to a popular Thai restaurant called Krua-pa-yad. This restaurant is always full, so we tried to arrive before 6:00 p.m. to beat the long queue.
The restaurant uses a numbering system to manage the customer flow. We were lucky to be 8th in line before our turn to be seated. (After our meal, the queue had grown to over 40 people outside the restaurant!)
The dishes we ordered were authentically Thai and had a slightly different taste than Thai restaurants in Malaysia. We enjoyed the juicy Stir-fried malindjo leaves with egg, the stir-fried lump crab meat in yellow curry, the deep-fried sea bass with fish sauce served with papaya salad, and the Tom Yam clear seafood soup with abalone mushrooms, fish, squid, and prawn, and fried egg with climbing wattle.
This was our first meal in Hat Yai, and the food standard is moderate. They have a large open-air kitchen, and you can get near to see how they cook. Service is fast, and the place is very clean. Overall, we enjoyed the food served but were looking for more exciting Thai food to try as we stayed in Hat Yai for four days.
- Address: 272 Sripoovanart Rd, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: ⋅ 10 am–2 pm, 4–8 pm (daily)
- Phone: +66 87 394 2989
- Service options: Cash only · Doesn’t accept reservations
2. รังนกสยาม Siam Birdnest / 金城燕窝
Thailand is renowned for its bird’s nest delicacies. After exploring the vibrant Lee Garden Night Market, we visited one of the longest-standing and most celebrated suppliers of Thai bird nests.
We ordered both the basic version and the one with ginkgo nuts. The one with ginkgo nuts was more to my liking due to its sweetened flavor. Overall, the sweetness level was moderate, which is preferred by most people today.
I learned that they cultivate the bird’s nests, giving us confidence in their quality and authenticity. The prices were very reasonable, and the friendly Chinese lady who owned the shop even treated us with complimentary ginseng tea.
- Address: 2F3C+X8F, Thanon Niphatuthit 3, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours:⋅ 8.30 to 10.00 daily
- Phone: +66 89 870 5719
3. Kim Yong Market
The following day, we walked to Kim Yong Market to try the local street food for breakfast. The wet market is inside the building, while outside are rows of stores selling various items, mainly street food.
We also purchased some food items along the way, including preserved radish, and tried some very nice black sesame rice biscuits.
After that, we went to another coffee shop to have half-boiled eggs and the local coffee and tea before we moved on to the next destination.
- Address: ตลาดกิมหยง Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 7 am–6 pm daily
4. Rice dumpling store by Wanna
We also stopped by a rice dumpling shop where the lady owner, Wanna, demonstrated how to wrap the dumplings. The ingredients used differed from what we typically use in Malaysia, as they featured black glutinous rice instead of the usual sticky rice.
Her skill of wrapping the dumplings was impressive, and the technique was passed down from her mother over five decades. We ended up ordering more than a dozen dumplings from her!
Although we didn’t catch the name of her shop, it is located between Wat Thawon Wararam and Fire Dragon BBQ Thai.
Phone: 089-877-6197 (Wanna)
5. Lunch at Pakmornalo Naisuan
We went to Pakmornalo Naisuan restaurant, about 7 7-minute walk from the rice dumpling store. It offers unique Thai food, including Tom Yum soup and different summer rolls wrapped with various fillings. The price is reasonable, and the food is nicely presented and decorated. It also has a special seafood platter served on top of a large bamboo with dry ice.
The price was very reasonable, and the taste was quite good, too. The food is traditional yet innovative, making it appealing and nice-looking. This is one of the restaurants I recommend trying while you visit Hat Yai.
- Address: เลขที่10 Choltara Rd, Tambon Hat Yai, Amphoe Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday⋅
- Phone: +66 63 872 8728
6. Sirada Restaurant Koh Yo
We had dinner at Sirada Restaurant while visiting Koh Yo Island, a seafood restaurant by the lake. The prices were reasonable, and the food was quite good.
The restaurant wasn’t full that night so we could choose seats. We opted for a table on the edge of the terrace on top of the sea.
- Address: 8 2 เกาะยอ Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla 90100, Thailand
- Hours: 10.00 am to 9:30 pm daily
- Phone: +66 74 450 235
7. 2459 Restaurant
While at Songkla, we headed to Songkhla Old Town for lunch in the 2459 Restaurant. It is easy to find at a junction in an old building. We parked at a public car park just five minutes from the restaurant.
While we had tried some of these dishes the previous day, others were completely new to me. The shrimp and heart of coconut dish is particularly special to us, as we couldn’t find anything like that in Malaysia. The flavor and texture of the heart of coconut are quite similar to bamboo shoots.
- Address: 5HXR+34W, Yaring Alley, Bo Yang, Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla 90000, Thailand
- Hours: 10 am to 6 pm (close on Thursday)
- Phone: +66 90 262 6541
8. Som tum Hua Mai Esan restaurant (North Eastern style) food
This restaurant is highly recommended as it serves Esan, Northeastern Thai food. Although Hat Yai is located in southern Thailand, this restaurant is quite famous, and we are eager to try this ethnic food.
Isaan (Esan) is one of Thailand’s four regions. It is largely influenced by the culinary traditions of Laos and Khmer cuisine from Cambodia. Bplah rah, a thick and opaque fermented fish sauce, is a key component in Isaan dishes. Its taste differs significantly from Nahm Nlah, the thin and clear fish sauce. Soups and curries typically have a clear broth base and rarely incorporate coconut milk. Various types of meat are commonly char-grilled or roasted, with river prawns, snakehead fish, and catfish being popular seafood choices.
Below are the dishes we ordered:
- The first is a dish with raw crab, shrimp, and mussels topped with sunflower sprouts. The sauce is fermented spicy fish sauce. If you are adventurous, it is highly recommended to try it because it is unique.
- The grilled pork neck meat is served with a spicy sauce but isn’t needed because it is already quite tasty.
- Then we have the Esan pork sausage served with fresh gingers, pickled ginger, ground nuts, and basil leaves.
- The papaya salad includes century eggs, hard-boiled eggs, and raw crabs. It is served with a spicy fermented fish sauce.
- Lastly, we ordered steamed sea bass served with traditional Thai spicy sauce.
Overall, it’s worth trying Esan food in Hat Yai if you do not plan to visit Northeastern Thailand. This is an eye-opener as we mostly only familiar with southern Thai cuisine.
- Address: 2F3M+8FW, Tambon Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 11 am–9 pm (closed on Wednesday)
- Phone: +66 90 232 4962
9. Breakfast at ถนัดศรีหาดใหญ่ เจ้าเก่า (since 1969)創始店 ThanadSriHatyai
We had breakfast at a noodle house established in 1969 and now in its third generation. They serve two versions of soup noodles—pork and beef. The flavor is very pure with a clear broth, and you can add sugar, chili flakes, and fish sauce to your taste. The braised beef is tender, and the flavor leans towards the lighter side. It’s a good place for breakfast if you don’t want something too spicy. The beef brisket is also very tender.
- Address: 68 Thumnoonvithi Rd, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 7 am to 7.30 pm
- Phone: +66 85 127 2284
10. Café Amazon Robinson Hatyai
Next, we went to Cafe Amazon at Robinson, a local chain similar to Starbucks. The coffee was okay and acceptable, but nothing spectacular. But we just wanted to try the coffee from the local coffee chain. The price is reasonable compared to the prices in Malaysia, and the ambiance is quite nice, with a wide range of choices.
- Address: 9 ถนนมนัสดี ต.หาดใหญ่ Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 7.00 am to 8.00 pm daily
11. Niks P107
We visited Niks P107, a well-known nut shop in Hat Yai that occupied a double shop lot. When we were there, over 30 customers purchased various nuts.
Niks offers a wide selection of nuts worldwide, with excellent quality. We were allowed to sample the nuts, and the shopkeeper was extremely helpful and friendly. With so many customers buying nuts, we were quite sure of the freshness. The nuts were stored in large sealed plastic bags to maintain their quality.
- Many customers buy the nut for personal use or as gifts for friends and family.
- Address: P.107 Big Plaza Hatyai, Ban Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
12. Baan Khun Bhu
Baan Khun Bhu is a traditional Thai restaurant operated by a husband-and-wife team. The restaurant is small, and both of them are responsible for cooking. We visited on our first day in Hat Yai, but there were so many people that we didn’t want to wait. So, on the third day, we returned, arriving early to beat the lunch crowd.
The owner introduced us to a few dishes.
- We liked his handmade sausages. He offers two types: the Esan type, which is not spicy, and the Chiangmai type, which is spicier.
- The shredded duck meat was served with a traditional Thai sauce and mint leaves.
- The som tam was with a mix of carrots, chili, tomato, groundnuts, dried shrimp, and salted eggs served with whole shrimp.
- The fried chicken was marinated and caramelized on the outside.
- Paku was stir-fried with squid, hard-boiled egg, chili, onion, and large shrimp. It was served with a white sauce, likely made with coconut milk.
The restaurant mainly serves local diners. While the prices are reasonable and the food isn’t exceptional, it’s a great place to experience local cuisine. Here, you can enjoy dishes prepared for the locals rather than for tourists.
- Address: Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 11. am to 7.30 pm (close on Wednesday)
The owner informed us that he frequently closed the restaurant earlier after finishing all the food prepared for the day.
13. Ken Phu Pang
Ken Phu Pang is a unique dessert house with an indoor lush landscape. Its name comes from a prominent Thai actor known for his roles in various television dramas and films. It is quickly becoming a popular destination for dessert lovers.
Their signature dish is toasted bread coated with a crispy caramelized surface tipped with a generous scoop of ice cream.
Tourists do not typically frequent this dessert house; instead, it attracts local customers, particularly those who enjoy recording shorts for Instagram and other social media platforms. Despite being a relatively small city, the young generation in Hat Yai embraces pop culture just like in other bigger cities, especially among Gen Z. We probably stood out as the oldest customers in the dessert house!
- Address: 38 Tanrattanakorn Rd, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
- Phone: +66 80 750 8854
14. Fire Dragon Food Court 火龙美食广场 มังกรไฟฟู้ดคอร์ท
For dinner, we visited the food court in the town center. We ordered soup and fried noodles, but the quality was below our expectations. However, we were delighted when the owner of the steamboat and barbecue shop above, Fire Dragon, invited us to try their food. So, we went upstairs and ordered a small portion to sample.
We had a pleasant conversation with Patricia, the owner, who had returned from overseas to help with the family business. Although this wasn’t traditional Thai food, the Thai BBQ offered a refreshing experience, especially with its unique dish made from crocodile meat.
- Address: 164/1 Supasarnrangsan Rd, Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 12–10:30 pm
- Phone: +66 63 242 9959
15. Chokdee Dim Sum 好运肉骨茶
On the last day before leaving Hat Yai, we visited a famous Hat Yai restaurant specializing in local Dim sum. The restaurant is particularly famous among Malaysian tourists.
The restaurant is so large that two shops are on opposite sides of the same road. First, we went to the first shop, where we received two pieces of paper with the same number. One paper was placed on a metal tray while the other was kept. After that, we selected our dim sum at the counter and put it on the tray. The shop assistant then took the dim sum tray and sent it to the kitchen. They steamed the dim sum and brought it to the other shop across the road, where we sat, using the second piece of paper as a reference.
What stands out about this dim sum is its uniqueness. It significantly differs from the Hong Kong style, with a localized and innovative approach featuring various shapes and combinations. If you haven’t tried Thai dim sum before, this is definitely an experience you should consider. In addition to dim sum, they are also famous for their Bak Kut Teh. I was pleasantly surprised by how good their Bak Kut Teh is, especially compared to the Malaysian standard.
- Address: 58 25 Lamaisongkrew Rd, Tambon Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 6–11:30 am, 5–8:30 pm
- Phone: +66 81 372 6181
16. PKTHAILAND ผ้าปาเต๊ะ – Meat floss shop
Before lunch, we dropped by a specialized meat floss shop. This shop is famous for the various types of meat floss made with pork. We were given samples to try. Finally, we brought some back home as we really liked the flavor.
- Address: 52 Supasarnrangsan Rd, Tambon Hat Yai, Amphoe Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 8:30 am–6 pm
- Phone: +66 98 505 2449
17. Je Ouan Noodle
Before we left Hat Yai, we wrapped up our food adventure at Je Ouan Noodle House, renowned for its signature duck noodles. The dish comes in both dry and soup versions, each with a unique appeal.
The noodles are served with tender duck meat, duck intestine, coagulated blood, and giblets—ingredients that may be an acquired taste but add depth to the dish. I was open to trying everything, and I found the combination intriguing. The dry version deserves a special mention for its smooth texture, resembling the Chee Cheong Fun in Malaysia.
- Address: 116, 1 Supasarnrangsan Rd, Tambon Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Hours: 10 am–6 pm
- Phone: +66 74 350 980
Conclusion
This is the complete list of food outlets and restaurants in Hat Yai we visited during our stay. As mentioned, we tried savoring as many local foods as possible, from street food to restaurant dishes. Some items were quite common, like eggs, while others were more exotic, such as raw shrimp and fermented fish sauce. Overall, it was a great experience, and we truly enjoyed our food adventure. If you ever plan to visit Hat Yai in Thailand, I hope this list of food and restaurants will help plan your culinary journey.
We will upload a separate article about the places we visited, including sightseeing spots in Hat Yai, Songkhla Old Town, and Koh Yo Island. Stay tuned!
Note: If you plan to visit Thailand, check out our article about things to do in Betong, Thailand.
🎞️ Watch the video shot during our food hunt
Please watch the video we made for our trip on YouTube. As below:
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