April 25, 2022
When it comes to street food, very few places in the world can match Thailand for quantity, variety, and sheer deliciousness! Phuket is no exception – its streets and marketplaces are a sensory kaleidoscope of aromatic smells and sounds as vendors prepare stir fries, curries, salads, snacks, and everything you can imagine. Here are five of our Phuket favorites to get you started on your streetside culinary journey – and remember, Karma Royal Boat Lagoon is now open following a hiatus during COVID, making it the perfect time to experience this tropical island paradise with Karma Experience.
Oh Tao
You’re unlikely to find this dish anywhere other than Phuket – but on the island, it’s a perennial favorite among street food vendors. Eggs are blended with deep-fried taro, flour, pork rind, baby oysters, bean sprouts, shallots, and soy sauce. As you can imagine, it’s an intense medley of flavors and textures – with stickiness being its primary characteristic, said to represent strong family bonds, which is why it’s always enjoyed at Chinese New Year.
Khua Kling
This one is not for the faint of heart – or taste bud. Khua Kling packs a punch even by Southern Thailand’s tongue-searingly hot standards! If you can handle the heat, this combination of ground chicken or pork, dry-fried in a mix of curry paste, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and an absurd number of chillies is a real treat. You can take the edge off the heat with some raw cabbage or jasmine rice.
Hokkien Mee
After a few hours of sightseeing, this hearty noodle dish really hits the spot. It combines thick egg noodles with barbecue pork, squid, prawn, and Chinese cabbage, all immersed in a smoky, salty pork broth enriched with soy and white pepper – all cooked in a blazing hot wok. Add a soft poached egg for extra style points. As local as it gets.
Nam Prik Goong Siap
Nam Prik are spicy dips that you can find all over Thailand (“nam” means water and “prik” means chili). Phuket’s version is Goong Siap – a sweet and spicy mix of whole dried shrimps, fish sauce, shallots, garlic, and palm sugar muddled together and served with crunchy vegetables like cucumber, green beans, mini aubergines, and bitter herbs.
Oh Aew
These neon-hued desserts are a perfect pick-me-up and cool-me-down – and a favorite with kids young and old! They consist of layers of black grass jelly, softened red kidney beans, and palm seeds blended with Chinese herbs and topped with shaved ice and syrup. Some vendors add coffee, Thai tea, condensed milk, or chocolate for an extra twist. However, the tried and tested original is the best.
Experience these culinary delights and more with Karma Experience. Phuket’s vibrant street food scene is just one of the many reasons to visit this tropical paradise. Book your stay at Karma Royal Boat Lagoon and start your gastronomic adventure today!
