bangkok
Clockwise from right: Khao Phing Kan, Phuket; kaeng phed ped yang( roasted duck in red curry); a local fisherman stands on the edge of his boat and throws his net into Red Lotus Lake, Udon Thani
Best of the rest: FOODIE HOTSPOTS IN THAILAND images: awl images; getty
Phuket
Everyone thinks of Phuket as a purely fly-and-flop destination, thanks to its many beaches and( usually) sunny skies. But Thailand’ s biggest island is also the site of its most unusual street food, a mix of Thai, Malay, Teochew Chinese and Hokkien Chinese influences that’ s more akin to what you’ d find in Penang than anywhere else in the kingdom. Along the picturesque Sino-Portuguese streets of the Old Town, you’ ll find dishes like o-tao, a Hokkien-style deep-fried omelet topped with crispy pork rinds, as well as mee Hokkien, featuring stir-fried udon-like noodles topped with a fried egg. Don’ t miss out on the o-aew, a Jell-O-like dessert with shaved ice made from the seeds of the o-aew plant. And while you can find dishes like moo hong( braised pork stew) elsewhere in Thailand, you shouldn’ t miss trying it in its birthplace of Phuket— specifically, at Raya Restaurant in the Old Town.
Udon Thani
It might not be Northeast Thailand’ s biggest city, but when it comes to food, Udon Thani showcases a wonderful mix of Thai with Laotian and, most notably, Vietnamese influences. Northeastern Thai( aka Isan) cuisine shares a common ancestry with that of neighboring Laos, but the Vietnamese influence comes from the influx of settlers during France’ s colonization of Vietnam. This results in interesting fusion dishes like guay jab yuan, starchy rice noodles in a thick broth, and kai kata, or‘ egg in a pan,’ baked eggs with steamed Vietnamese-style sausage and a sweet-buttered bun on the side. Besides Vietnamese-inspired cuisine, you can also experience a panoply of great Isan food combining Thai and Laotian flavors. Isan is the birthplace of thai som tum, or green papaya salad— a great combo with grilled local chicken and sticky rice that’ s one of Thailand’ s most popular meals. fall 2025 • 57