Fried chicken and soup dishes of the Songkhla area
In Hat Yai, try fried chicken served with fried shallots. Eaten together, the chicken and shallots give crunch and a rich aroma. When you want a different meal, you could also choose bak kut teh, a herb-scented pork rib soup. Meet the varied food culture of the Songkhla area one dish at a time.
Choosing a meal in Hat Yai Eat the fried chicken with sticky rice. Eat the fried shallots with the chicken, and add the sauce a little at a time. On a day when you want a warm soup meal, choose bak kut teh made with pork ribs.
Food culture in this city
The Songkhla area, where Hat Yai lies, has the food of Chinese-descent and Muslim communities side by side. There are meals of sticky rice with fried chicken, and meals of bak kut teh with its Chinese-style herb aroma. The meat and seasoning differ from dish to dish, so choose a menu together that everyone in your group can eat.
Bak kut teh is not introduced as a dish that began in Hat Yai. Even for a chicken dish, you cannot decide on the name alone whether it is halal.
What to eat in Hat Yai
Pick a dish you would like to try. We explain what it tastes like and what to eat it with.
It is a dish in which you enjoy the crunch of the fried chicken and the rich taste of shallots together. It is also characterised by seasoning with aromatics such as garlic, coriander root and white pepper. You can also try the chicken and shallots together before adding any sauce.
The aroma of herbs and aromatics is added to a broth in which pork ribs have been simmered. The colour and richness of the broth differ with the recipe. Alternate between the ribs and the broth to notice the aroma.
Reference photo showing a mangosteen. It is not limited to the Thai growing areas and varieties described in the text. Peeled Mangosteen · Azreey · CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized for display, partly cropped · Photo provided under CC BY-SA 4.0Main season Apr–Aug
The white flesh is sweet and juicy. Some varieties, such as the Thai Rong Rian, differ in texture and in how easily the flesh comes away from the stone.
Bak kut teh is not introduced as a dish that began in Hat Yai. Even for a chicken dish, you cannot decide on the name alone whether it is halal.
How should I choose a dish if it is my first time?
Eat the fried chicken with sticky rice. Eat the fried shallots with the chicken, and add the sauce a little at a time. On a day when you want a warm soup meal, choose bak kut teh made with pork ribs.
If you want to read more about these dishes and regions, these sources are a good place to start. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one eatery to another.
