Traveling the 3 Southern Border Provinces 2/15: Satisfying Feast at Auan Bak Kut Teh, Hat Yai

Traveling the 3 Southern Border Provinces 2/15: Satisfying Feast at Auan Bak Kut Teh, Hat Yai

When it comes to Hat Yai from mr.hotsia's perspective, one of the top things to do is to tour the diverse and rich local cuisine. This city is not only a commercial and shopping hub but also a true paradise for food lovers. Today, I will take you to experience the delicious flavors at “Auan Bak Kut Teh,” a legendary spot in Hat Yai that both locals and tourists must not miss.

Getting to Auan Bak Kut Teh is easy. It’s located in downtown Hat Yai, near Kim Yong Market, a famous shopping area that mr.hotsia has previously explored for local food and shopping.Eating Local Food in Hat YaiandKim Yong Market Radish Cake, Hat YaiYou can comfortably cover both eating and shopping in one day here.

The bak kut teh here is a rich and flavorful Chinese herbal soup with fresh pork offal and fragrant herbs simmered until deeply infused into the meat, making the broth smooth and not greasy. Although it sounds like Chinese cuisine, the taste is adapted perfectly for Southern Thai palates. The herbs soak into the pork thoroughly. Sometimes mr.hotsia likes to add offal like intestines and liver to enhance the variety of textures.

Besides bak kut teh, the must-try dish is the crispy pork belly, fried to perfection without oily residue. Paired with hot herbal soup, it greatly enhances the meal’s enjoyment. I have sat down to eat here in the evening; the relaxed atmosphere and seeing Hat Yai locals dining warmly together is a rare sight in big cities.

Besides bak kut teh, Hat Yai offers many other dishes you shouldn’t miss, such as the pig tail noodles I wrote about inTraveling the 3 Southern Border Provinces 1/15: Eating Pig Tail Noodles at Yinkit, Hat Yaiand pork blood soup at Kim Yong MarketPork Blood Soup at Kim Yong Market, Hat Yaiwhich has an extraordinary flavor.

Kim Yong Market is also a favorite spot for mr.hotsia to stroll and snack during the day, offering fresh produce, dried goods, and various snacks. Importantly, prices are affordable and flavors are excellent, perfect for those wanting to experience authentic local life.

For traveling to Hat Yai, I usually choose to fly into Hat Yai Airport because it’s convenient and close to the city. Alternatively, if you enjoy traveling by bus, there are many companies offering routes from Bangkok and nearby provinces, providing comfort and affordable prices.

After a satisfying meal of bak kut teh at Auan, I recommend taking an evening walk around Hat Yai. You might want to visit the walking street in front of the Clock Tower, where there’s a delicious Chan-style Pad Thai waiting for you to try.Chan-style Pad Thai, a Songkhla specialty at the Clock Tower walking street, highly recommended by P'Kan.This dish perfectly complements your southern border trip.

If you have more time, mr.hotsia suggests heading out to Ranot, a nearby town with fresh seafood and spicy local dishes likeDeep-fried Sea Fish Net, Ranot, SongkhlaorSpicy Stir-fried Sea Catfish, Ranot, Songkhlawhich will give you a unique new dimension of Southern Thai cuisine.

For those who want to see the atmosphere and signature dishes here, mr.hotsia recommends watching the videoTraveling the 3 Southern Border Provinces 2/15: Satisfying Feast at Auan Bak Kut Teh, Hat Yaithat I recorded, so you can see the real scenes and feel inspired to travel immediately.

In summary, Hat Yai is not just a shopping or commercial city; it is a land of delicious and bold local food with a perfect blend of Chinese, Malay, and Southern Thai flavors. Anyone traveling the 3 Southern Border Provinces who misses trying bak kut teh here is truly missing out. mr.hotsia guarantees satisfaction and a full belly that makes you forget about gaining weight!