Hat Yai Food and Restaurants - Page 2
Hat Yai Restaurant Listings Page 2
For a general overview of the food scene in Hat Yai see Hat Yai Food and Restaurant Listings Page 1. The following restaurants are some of the places I've eaten at in Hat Yai.
Address: 44 Soi 17 Karnchanawanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 235923
Mobile: +66 (0)89 463 3555
Comments: In February 2012 one of the visitors to this site wrote to inform me that Baan Lalit had closed and that the restaurant is now a pet shop.
When it was a restaurant there were always lots of cats and dogs around and I knew that the owners were fond of animals.
When I had a chance, I spoke to one of the girl owners. She told me the restaurant closed because the cook injured her shoulder. The pet shop is called 'Pet Crazy'.
I will leave this entry here just in case anyone was looking for Baan Lalit and couldn't work out what had happened to it. The small bakery next door (Bakery Box) run by the same people is still open for business.
Address: 44 Soi 17 Karnchanawanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 235923
Mobile: +66 (0)89 463 3555
Latitude: N 07° 00' 50.1" (N 07° 00.834')
Longitude: E 100° 29' 34.1" (E 100° 29.569')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This coffee and cake shop is next door to - and run by the same people - as 'Pet Crazy', which used to be Baan Lalit (see above).
In recent years there has been an explosion of coffee shops in Hat Yai but a few years ago there weren't that many. Bakery Box is one of the originals, along with Ome Bake House and Ep's.
The girls who run it are friendly, they like cats, and the cakes are good. What more could you ask for?
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 636 Thamanoonvithee Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 4
Telephone: +66 (0)74 356635
Latitude: N 07° 00' 16.9" (N 07° 00.282')
Longitude: E 100° 29' 27.7" (E 100° 29.461')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This place started off quite big anyway but doubled in size when it took over the computer shop next door.
It is at the end of Thamanoonvithee Road, near Tesco Lotus and also near to the university. It is thus popular with the Mor Or crowd. As well as coffee and cakes, they do Thai food and a few steak dishes.
The food is quite good and there are lots of cute, young waitresses if you like that sort of thing. I do!
Diner Comments:
- Nice food and reasonable priced. Sorry, no more cute young waitresses. Too bad, only part of the menu listed are in English and a lot of it are Thai. Will go back again. (Nov 2012)
To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 9 Tanon Bpoonagun, Soi 2, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 4
Telephone: +66 (0)81 891 9321
Latitude: N 07° 00' 02.7" (N 07° 00.046')
Longitude: E 100° 29' 31.3" (E 100° 29.522')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: The Basil is one of those rare beasts in Hat Yai: a Thai-run restaurant that serves good farang food. The owner, Khun Anusorn, is a man of vision who would like to see Hat Yai and the surrounding area promoted more as a tourist destination.
I'm not sure if anything will ever change though. Many Malaysians have their own pre-arranged agendas when visiting Hat Yai, and farangs will continue to pass through as quickly as possible on their way to Thailand's beaches and islands.
The menu is described as 'Mediterranean Cuisine' and it certainly has an Italian flavour. The bruschetta and the salads are good, as are the pasta dishes where you can choose your own combination of sauce and pasta type.
The desserts are excellent and I can thoroughly recommend the freshly-made tiramisu. There is a comprehensive wine selection with wines available by the glass or bottle, although some bottles cost as much as Bt20,000.
In this area - which is predominately a student area - you can eat local food (and eat well) for less than Bt100. This might make The Basil seem expensive. However, a very tasty four course Italian meal for the equivalent of a British fiver would be considered cheap in many other places so everything is relative.
On early visits I was surprised, and a little disappointed, that there were no pizzas on the menu. I didn't go to The Basil for a long time, but visited again in January 2014 and was delighted to see lots of pizzas available. These are authentic style pizzas, and not like the things that are served in well-known chain restaurants in Thailand which purport to sell pizzas.
The restaurant is located in Soi 2 of the road that runs alongside the Prince of Songkhla university.
The opening hours are from 11:30-14:30 and 18:00-22:30.
Diner Comments:
- To amend the original post, The Basil offers quite a list of pizzas and this is why I go there. At least 12 on the menu plus the option of building your own. Authentic, Neapolitan-style thin crust. Well worth the wait. And the restaurant IS open on Mondays. (2012-2014)
- Nice atmosphere, reasonable priced for this kind of environment and food presentation. Recommend the stuffed pork chop and goose liver with duck breast. There is no printed receipt for the food taken. Definitely will be back again. (November 2012)
- Good mediterranean food, tender steaks, portions could be a little bigger, winelist is small, Prices and service is ok. Great is the homemade Tiramisu.
Smokers can sit outside and will not catch a cold inside the airconed restaurant. Always worth a visit. (2010/2011)
To add your comments, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: Central Department Store, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 3
Telephone: +66 (0)74 352333 ext 2010
Comments: The owners of the original Basil restaurant are hard-working and ambitious and had plans to open an upmarket restaurant serving good Western in the heart of the Hat Yai tourist area.
They put a huge amount of effort and money into the venture making sure that everything was just right and in the process exceeded their budget.
In the third quarter of 2010, the second Basil branch was opened. It was located next to Central department store, underneath the Novotel hotel.
I managed to eat there twice and was duly impressed ... before disaster struck.
Like many other local businesses, The Basil @ Central was completely destroyed by the huge flood that struck Hat Yai in the early hours of Tuesday 2nd November 2010. Being located in a basement meant that the damage suffered was a lot worse than many other places.
This came after the restaurant had barely been open for a month and it was very sad. I felt enormous sympathy for the owners.
I took a quick look on November 11th 2010 and everything appeared to have been destroyed. TOPS supermarket, which had also recently reopened after a big refurbishment, was also destroyed. It must have been heartbreaking for the owners who had put so much time and money into the business.
I wasn't sure if the restaurant would reopen again. It didn't. The basement was refurbished and opened over a year later, but there was no Basil.
I will leave this entry here in case anyone wants to know what happened.
Address: Phetkasem Road - close to Suphattano School (behind Chonlada shop)
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 234872, +66 (0)81 897 2770
Latitude: N 07° 01' 08.9" (N 07° 01.148')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 50.7" (E 100° 28.845')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: The full name of this restaurant is Beung Thong Seafood & Garden Fishing Park.
The restaurant sits next to a large rectangular body of water reminiscent of a shrimp farm. People come here to fish but I'm not sure if fish are bred here to be consumed in the restaurant.
I've only been once and it wasn't a very memorable occasion. I was greeted by those strange looks from the Thai staff they give when they don't expect to see a farang. They then proceeded to ignore me until I asked to see a menu.
After serving me with a plate of chicken and cashew nuts it took them five minutes to get me a plate of rice. Every restaurant in Thailand, including this one, has rice cookers full of already cooked rice so there is never any reason to wait but I had to here.
The food was OK but I've had better elsewhere for cheaper. I won't be rushing back.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 25 Soi 4 Supasarnrangsan Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 261499
Mobile: +66 (0)87 689 8343
Latitude: N 07° 00' 43.0" (N 07° 00.711')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 42.0" (E 100° 28.706')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: As is the case throughout Thailand, there is a huge wealth gap in Hat Yai. You will find slum dwellings alongside some palatial-type homes, and often they will be almost next door to each other.
On the roads you will see the latest luxury vehicles from Porsche and Mercedes Benz (costing more than three times the price as the same models in Europe) and you will also see whole families travelling around on one small motorbike.
There are lots of restaurants catering to the less wealthy, but there are also some upmarket places that cater to local residents and tourists with money. This is one of them.
The owner/chef, Bill, worked at the world-famous Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok which, for many years, always featured in the list of the top 10 hotels in the world. I have never stayed at the Oriental, but I have eaten lunch there quite a few times.
His girlfriend, incidentally, is called Lin, hence the name of the restaurant.
It's a really nice place. There is a very comfortable coffee shop at the front, then an indoor garden, and the restaurant area sits behind. It has all been well designed and it has a pleasant ambience.
The menu isn't extensive, but the dishes are prepared with a special touch. Prices, as you may expect, are a little higher than most other places, but so is the quality of the food.
Billin is located fairly close to the Hansa JB Hotel, but it is in an area that doesn't see many tourists and if you don't know where it is it may be a little difficult to find.
From Tuesday to Sunday the cafe is open from 10:00 until 22:00. The restaurant opens for lunch between 11:00 and 14:00 and it is open for dinner between 17:30 and 22:00. Billin is closed all day on Mondays.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 200/8-11 Niphat Uthit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 3
Telephone: +66 (0)74 246603, 239031
Fax: +66 (0)74 239031
Website: Boat Bakery
Latitude: N 06° 59' 59.0" (N 06° 59.984')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 14.4" (E 100° 28.240')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: I went to the Boat Bakery in January 2017 to order a birthday cake for my son and was shocked to find that it had closed. It had been around for so long (since 1970) that it was something of an institution in Hat Yai and I always imagined it would be there forever. However, as Buddhism reminds us, nothing in life is permanent.
Located just opposite the Kosit Hotel, it served cheap Thai food as well as Western style breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers and spaghetti dishes, etc. It was popular with both locals and tourists. I once read a forum post in which a farang who had eaten there raved about the food.
The owners have moved back to the family home and they still run a business, but it isn't the same kind of business as the old Boat Bakery. They sell coffee, but the main business is making decorated cakes for birthdays and other events.
I spoke to one of the owners and asked why the restaurant had closed. She told me that a lot of the staff had left and I know, from talking with other restaurant owners, that finding good, reliable staff in Thailand can be a real problem. She also mentioned flooding. The Boat Bakery had suffered severe flood damage three times and recovering from a big flood involves a huge amount of effort.
If you are interested in buying a decorated birthday cake the new Boat Bakery is located behind the Shell petrol station on Karnjanawanich Road near the university. The telephone number is +66 (0)92 662 1899.
Diner Comments:
- Food is reasonably cheap and fast service. Must try the fried minced pork on bread. A set of 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, bacon, jam, butter and coffee cost only 50bth. (August 2012)
Address: 1/9 Karnjanavanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 211929, +66 (0)74 218124
Latitude: N 07° 02' 33.6" (N 07° 02.560')
Longitude: E 100° 30' 25.6" (E 100° 30.426')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: The quality of the food is excellent at Bon Khao but I have included it here more for its location and the great view. It is located on the road that runs from Hat Yai Municipal Park up to Bodhisattva Kuan Im. The setting is very tranquil as the restaurant is completely on its own surrounded by trees. Perched up on the hill it offers an excellent view over Hat Yai. I have visited in the day time but am told that the view at night is very nice with Hat Yai lit up.
For directions and comments about getting there see Bodhisattva Kuan Im.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 1 Klongrien 1 Road, Soi 7 Rajyindee
Map: Map 4
Telephone: +66 (0)74 357340
Latitude: N 07° 00' 26.7" (N 07° 00.446')
Longitude: E 100° 29' 04.7" (E 100° 29.078')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This is a typical larger-style Thai restaurant where Thais go for a night out, rather than purely to eat. There's live music and a lot of serving staff.
The charge for the entertainment and ambience is included in the food prices so eating at somewhere like this is more expensive than your average Bt30 rice shop.
Bor Bai Mai is located near the Acoustic pub, Pink Resort, and Sittara Spa.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 384 Moobaan 6, Tumbon Saay Sanaam Bin, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 1
Telephone: +66 (0)74 251743
Mobile: +66 (0)81 957 3896
Latitude: N 06° 57' 48.4" (N 06° 57.806')
Longitude: E 100° 25' 31.9" (E 100° 25.531')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: I'll leave this entry here just in case anyone comes looking fot this restaurant, however, it closed some time in 2014.
Address: 75/205 Niphatsongkrao 5 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 367297
Latitude: N 07° 01' 19.4" (N 07° 01.324')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 35.0" (E 100° 28.584')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: Thais are very fussy when it comes to food. If food is not deemed as being aroi or if prices are seen as as being too high or is the service isn't up to scratch, they vote with their feet and go somewhere else.
A busy restaurant is always a good sign in Thailand. If a restaurant has no customers there is normally a good reason. If you get a restaurant recommendation from a Thai, follow it. That's how I found this place. One of my wife's friends recommended it, so while passing one day we gave it a try.
The food was excellent and very reasonably priced. There is a good selection of traditional Thai dishes including fresh fish and seafood. The service was very good.
The junction of Phetkasem and Niphatsongkrao 5 roads is where the new Siam Nakarin building is being built. It's a huge building and easy to spot.
Turn into Niphatsongkrao 5 Road, go straight on at the traffic lights and the restaurant is on the right before the fork in the road leading to Klong Hair floating market.
The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:00 to 14:00 and again in the evening for dinner from 17:00 to 22:00.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: Near Tanachart Bank on Niphat Uthit 2 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 3
E-mail: anong_heem@hotmail.com
Mobile: +66 (0)89 977 8320
Latitude: N 07° 00' 10.0" (N 07° 00.167')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 13.6" (E 100° 28.226')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: This is a really pleasant little coffee shop which also sells a good variety of tasty, inexpensive Thai dishes. It's run by a Muslim owner and so everything complies to Halal standards for visiting Muslims.
It is located near Tanachart Bank on Niphat Uthat 2, which in turn is located near to Robinson department store. The restaurant is in a Soi that runs between Niphat Uthit 2 and Niphat Uthit 3.
At lunchtimes it is very popular with the staff from Tanachart Bank. There are seating areas upstairs and downstairs.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
Address: 1476 Soi Thamarat, Phetkasem Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Off the map
Mobile: +66 (0)94 587 3030
Latitude: N 06° 59' 56.5" (N 06° 59.942')
Longitude: E 100° 26' 09.8" (E 100° 26.163')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: The owner of this restaurant worked in the New York Hilton for about 20 years as a sous chef. He then studied as a pastry chef in New York. He is now back in Thailand running this restaurant, but his wife and son are still in New York where his wife runs a Thai restaurant. They are Thai Muslims and their American restaurant was the first Thai Halal restaurant in New York.
Cafe New York has a selection of steaks, pizzas, pastas and cakes. The menu features chicken and lamb but, of course, no pork. There are also some Thai rice dishes. The owner told me that he started off serving genuine Western food, but this didn't go down too well with the locals and he had to adapt it to suit local Thais tastes.
The food is fine, my only criticism being that the portions are small and I left still feeling hungry. The restaurant is open from 11:00 to 22:00, but it is closed all day on Wednesdays.
It is located in Hat Yai Nai (on the way to the airport from downtown Hat Yai) next door to the large Racha furniture store.
Update November 2018: While driving past I noticed that this restaurant now appears to be closed. The location wasn't great and I guess it closed due to lack of business.
Address: Soi Tongdee 1, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 2
Telephone: +66 (0)74 343109
Mobile: +66 (0)89 883 6904
Latitude: N 07° 00' 49.1" (N 07° 00.818')
Longitude: E 100° 28' 43.0" (E 100° 28.716')
Google Maps: Street Map or Satellite View
Comments: Hat Yai has a number of very pleasant small cafés that serve coffee and cakes and this one is probably the most pleasant of all. People who go on about how ugly Hat Yai is just don't know Hat Yai. Overall, it's not the most attractive of Thai cities but there are a few hidden gems; some of which I have included in this web site. You will find tips here that you will not find in any other web site or guide book (that is, until they start plagiarising what is here).
Chill Chill's pièce de résistance is its exquisitely created garden. Sitting there feels like being a world away from the noise and traffic of downtown Hat Yai. There are two levels but the tables on the upper deck are very popular and seldom vacant.
A natural curtain of plant roots hang in the air from plants suspended on a trellis above and the garden is full of carefully manicured Bonsai trees. There are also other plants and water features.
The coffee and cakes are delicious, matching the surroundings. The bad news (or possibly good news) is that Chill Chill is not easy to find and casual visitors to Hat Yai are very unlikely to stumble across it.
It's in the vicinity behind JB Hotel. On Map 2 it is fairly close to where Samchai and Jiranakorn roads intersect. Tuk-tuk drivers should know Soi Tongdee 1 if you want to make a visit. Chill Chill is open from 11:30 to 21:00.
Diner Comments: No diner comments yet. Be the first to comment. If you've eaten here and wish to provide some feedback, send an e-mail to phil@phil.uk.net, or use the following form. Comments will be added anonymously.
B's Sweet to Baan Khun Bpu
Ching Sin to The Donya
Dynasty to Jae Lek
Jaelin to Long Oey
Maison De Monet to Pairin
Palm Court to Samila Sea Sport
Saneha to Sor Hueng
Steak Cafe to Yor Island