Western breakfasts and snacks and other Hat Yai, Thailand Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Regency Hotel coffee house and restaurant

Even though I love Thai food there are times (especially in the morning) when my stomach just wants some bread, eggs and more familiar food.

This coffee house and restaurant does good breakfasts, sandwiches and coffee. It is part of an upmarket hotel so very clean and the service is impeccable. The tables are dressed in clean, white linen. The prices reflect this and are quite high for this part of the world.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 23 Prachathippart Road, Hat Yai

Restaurant Name: ? - No Roman script

Another fantastic 'hole-in-the-wall' local restaurant.
This place is very simple. They have a very large pot of clear soup. You order a dish and select the type of noodles you want. A handful of noodles are put into a wire basket and lowered into the hot soup for a few seconds to cook. The noodles are then put into a bowl and various meats, vegetables and herbs added. A ladleful of soup is added. On the table to accompany your meal are fresh bean shoots and mint leaves and of course the Thai condiments - sugar, dried chilis, vinegar with chilis etc.
Average cost is about 30 baht.

Favorite Dish: Noodle soup with chicken or shrimp.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Thanon Sangchan
Directions: Just a few doors away from the Oasis Pub

Restaurant Name: Lee Garden Plaza

Strolling around one day I came across two young Danish girls looking a bit lost. After successive meals consisting of local noodles and rice they were desperate for some western food, a feeling I can relate to well. I took them to Lee Garden Plaza, one of the few places in Hat Yai where restaurants serving western food can be found.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Other

Address: Lee Garden Plaza
Directions: Near the Regency Hotel

Restaurant Name: Fish and Seafood

Hat Yai has some great places for fresh fish and seafood. I am not usually a big fish fan but can't get enough of it here, especially since a fish supper costs less than three pounds.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Seafood
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: KFC

I don't believe I am writing this. Back home I only eat at fast food places in extremely desperate times. So why suggest a western fast food joint in Thailand when there is excellent, cheap, freshly-cooked local food everywhere?

Having a western stomach I get cravings for western food occasionally even though I really enjoy the Thai food that I eat most of the time here.

When such a craving arises I need to find western food. And quick. KFC serve creamy mashed potato with brown gravy and it is REALLY good. The chicken they sell is no better than that sold at the local market but the mashed potato is to die for!!

Favorite Dish: Chicken and mashed potato with gravy.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Lee Garden Plaza

Restaurant Name: Hong Kong Suki

This is an interesting concept. You order food and it all comes to the table uncooked. On the table is an electrically heated pot of boiling water into which the food is put to cook. The restaurant kindly supply plates, chopsticks and some dipping sauce.

I wasn't that keen on it. Years ago I worked in the US and there was another Brit guy there that loved to cook for us. He boiled everything in sight and it was a nightmare being invited there. Suki was kind of reminiscent of this.

You'd think that as they didn't have to employ a chef the food would be cheap but it isn't compared to other places in Hat Yai.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +66 (0)74 351 678
Address: Lee Gardens Plaza, 29 Prachathipat Rd., Hat Yai

Restaurant Name: Bun Kun Pu(?)

This restaurant is definitely worthy of a mention. When I asked what it was called the woman pointed to a sign on the wall - in Thai. I know a few spoken words of Thai but, as far as this farang is concerned, the written language to me is just squiggles. I asked what it was in English and was told Bun Kun Pu but I'm not sure what system of transliteration they were using.

The food is quite different to anything else I've found in Hat Yai. I believe the cuisine is from the North-East of Thailand in the Isaan region but has been modified to suit the taste of southern Thais. The Som Tum (papaya salad) is very good as are all the other dishes I have tried. The food can be hot though. If you don't like it too spicy tell them "Phet nit noi". Having an Isaan influence, if you ask for rice they automatically gfive you sticky rice. I'm not that keen on sticky rice so order steamed rice, which I think is Khao Suey.

As well as being very good, it is also very cheap. On my first visit there was a problem with flies - not one or two but swarms of them. Even though the food was good I was releuctant to go back because of the flies but when I did the flies had gone.

It is located on Prachathipat Road just a few yards from Suphasarnrangsan Road on the left-hand side.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Various

Hat Yai is one of the Thai southern provinces that has a large Muslim population. Consequently there are many Muslim restaurants around town. I won't pick out any specifically but there seem to be a lot located along Niphat Uthit 1 and 2 roads and the Sois that run between them.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Kosher/Halal