Ask anyone in the south about Trang and they will talk about food. Trang’s Hokkien and Hainanese heritage shows in its love of long breakfasts: platters of dim sum, crisp roast pork, strong local coffee and plain sponge cake, followed later in the day by curry noodles and seafood from the Andaman coast. The MICHELIN Guide does not cover Trang, but the town has many long-running family restaurants and busy markets.
- Style: Thai-Chinese breakfast culture plus southern Thai and Muslim cooking
- Don’t miss: Trang roast pork, dim sum, Trang cake, local coffee
- When: go early; many breakfast shops are busiest before 9 a.m.
- Travel page: Things to do in Trang
Dishes to try in Trang
Trang roast pork (mu yang Trang)
Whole pigs are seasoned with five-spice and other aromatics, then slow-roasted until the skin is crackling and the meat sweet and juicy. It is sold by weight in the morning and eaten with dim sum or coffee.
Dim sum
Breakfast in Trang is a social event. Shops bring steamers of dumplings, buns, spare ribs and fish balls to the table, and you pay for what you eat. Weekends are especially busy.
Trang cake
A light, cream-free sponge baked in a ring-shaped mould. It is closely linked to Lam Phu Ra in Huai Yot district and comes in flavours such as plain, pandan and coffee. It makes an easy edible souvenir.
Local coffee (kopi)
Trang’s old coffee shops serve dark, sweet coffee brewed through a cloth filter, often with condensed milk, alongside pa thong ko (Chinese fried dough sticks) and sangkaya custard.
Khanom jeen with southern curries
Fresh rice noodles topped with fish curry, yellow curry or green curry and a basket of fresh vegetables. Southern versions are spicy; there are usually milder choices.
Khao yam
The southern herb rice salad with toasted coconut, dried shrimp and budu sauce, found at morning stalls.
Big-prawn fried noodles
Wide rice noodles stir-fried with large river or sea prawns are a Trang favourite at Chinese-style restaurants.
Seafood at Pak Meng
Restaurants near the pier grill fish, squid and crab and serve them with spicy seafood sauce, a good lunch after an island tour.
O-eh and local desserts
Old-town cafés serve shaved-ice desserts such as o-eh, shared with neighbouring Phuket, as well as Chinese cakes and pastries.
Markets and places to eat
Trang morning market: The best place to see roast pork being cut and to graze on curries, khao yam and sweets. Map
Evening food streets: Trang’s night market and walking street sell grilled snacks, noodles, desserts and local products; check which nights it runs during your visit.
Long-running shops featured by TAT: Phong-O-Cha 2 for dim sum and roast pork (Map); Kha Nom Jeen Khun Pum, serving rice noodles in southern curries for over 60 years (Map); Ran Lor Kung for big-prawn fried noodles (Map); and Tabtieng Old Town Café for cold brew, Chinese cake and o-eh (Map).
Hours and branches change, so check opening times before you go.
Food at festivals
During the Vegetarian Festival, usually in September or October, stalls flying yellow flags sell meat-free versions of Trang favourites, from dumplings to curries. Chinese New Year brings a food fair in town, and the Trang Love Festival in February includes a foodie market in Sa Kaphang Surin Park. The annual cake and roast pork festival celebrates the two dishes Trang is proudest of. See our Trang travel page for the festival calendar.
FAQ
What time do Trang breakfast shops open?
Many open around dawn and are busiest between 6 and 9 a.m. Some close by late morning, so go early.
Is Trang roast pork halal?
No, it is pork. Trang also has many Muslim restaurants serving halal curries, roti and khao mok.
What can I bring home from Trang?
Trang cake is the classic souvenir, along with local coffee and dried seafood.
Are there MICHELIN restaurants in Trang?
Not currently. The MICHELIN Guide Thailand does not cover Trang, but the long-running family shops are well worth seeking out.
More nearby
Cover photo: Dim Sum Trang.jpg · Ahoerstemeier · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
