🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Most Hat Yai souvenirs cluster in two main areas: Kim Yong Market downtown (dried goods, processed seafood, imports) and the well-known dessert shops outside the market, like Baan Ko Kai. Plan your time well and a single loop through Kim Yong covers nearly everything, then you swing by a dessert shop on your way out of town.
One tip before you start: short-lived edibles like candied mango or grilled squid are best bought close to your departure day, while dried goods like dried squid, cashews and imported snacks can be bought early since they keep for a long time.
The Edible Souvenirs People Bring Home Most
Ranked by what people actually buy and how easy it is to find in town, with rough prices you'll see around the shops (prices shift with grade and season, so treat these as a loose guide).
Dried Squid
The real star of Hat Yai souvenirs. You'll find it whole or in thin sheets, with a nicely balanced sweet-salty flavor. Kim Yong Market carries several grades, and the busier stalls turn over stock faster so it's fresher. Give it a sniff and press the flesh first — it should be soft, not hard and woody.
Grilled Squid
Eat it hot while you walk the market, or take it home pressed flat on a skewer with a squeeze of bold southern dipping sauce. This kind of thing is short-lived, so if you're flying it home, buy it on your departure day and seal it tight.
Cashew Nuts
Big, good-grade cashews are easy to find at Kim Yong — salt-roasted, butter-baked, or the honey-coated southern style. Most shops let you taste before buying, so you can compare a few before deciding.
Rose Mooncakes / Soft Pastry Cakes
Small round pastries with bean or pumpkin filling and a light rose-water scent. They pack neatly and travel easily. Baan Ko Kai makes them fresh daily and carries a halal mark, which helps if you're worried about preservatives.
Malaysian Imported Snacks
Butter cookies, wafers, chocolate, dried fruit — this stuff is clearly cheaper at Kim Yong than in Bangkok. Pi Kong and Je Duang are names that come up often, importing directly from Malaysia.
Pepero / Choco Oats / Packaged Seaweed
Popular imports you can buy in bulk for handing out. A large box of Pepero runs around ฿185 a pack, seaweed about ฿45 a pack, choco oats around ฿75 a pack. Walk around and compare prices in the market.
Candied Mango / Fruit Preserves
Tart, sweet and juicy. Je Hong's candied mango is a vendor reviewers mention often. These are fresh and don't last long, so buying close to your departure day is best.
Crispy Fish / Dried Shrimp / Fish Maw
Dried cooking ingredients that southern and Chinese-Thai families love to bring home. Kim Yong Market stocks several grades — a good pick for older relatives who enjoy cooking, since it keeps long and travels easily.
Steamed Buns / Frozen Dim Sum
Ko Uan's steamed buns are an old favorite that Hat Yai locals know well. Buy them steamed to eat right away, or in frozen packs to take home — handy if you're not traveling far or you've got a cooler bag.
Bird's Nest
A premium gift for older relatives. Burapha and Thai Arun Bird's Nest are names people recommend. Bottles start around ฿299, with higher grades running into the thousands — pick by budget.
How to Pick Good Dried Squid
The smell should be fragrant, not sharp or fishy. Press the flesh and it should feel soft and springy, not hard like wood. A natural pinkish-brown color beats an unnaturally bright red. And pick a stall with plenty of customers, because faster turnover means fresher stock.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Hat Yai food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Kim Yong Market — What to Know to Shop Smart
Kim Yong Market is the hub for Hat Yai souvenirs — a two-floor building split into several lanes. The ground floor leans toward dried goods, nuts, cashews and imported snacks, while the upper floor has miscellaneous souvenirs and fabric. It's open roughly 9:00–20:00 daily, and mornings have full stock and fewer people.
- Compare prices before you buy — shops in the same market can differ in price, so take a loop to survey before deciding.
- You can taste before buying — especially nuts, cashews, chestnuts and squid; most vendors are happy to let you try.
- Well-known shops people mention — Pi Kong (Lane 3, Lot B149, open 8:00–18:00) and Je Duang focus on Malaysian imports, sealed tight.
- Buy dried goods first, fresh goods last — plan grilled squid and candied mango as your final stop before leaving.
Well-Known Dessert Shops Outside the Market
If you want nicely boxed desserts to give as gifts, the well-known dessert shops in town do this better than the market. Everything's made fresh daily and there's a storefront with plenty of styles to choose from.
Baan Ko Kai
Known for coconut cakes and mooncakes, made fresh daily with no preservatives and a halal mark on every item. The main branch is on the Kho Hong side near the university.
Anajak Bakery
A big shop that covers both bakery and souvenirs. The Kho Hong branch is the large one — good for sweeping up several different gifts in one stop.
Ko Uan Steamed Buns
An old-school Hat Yai shop for steamed buns and dim sum. Buy them fresh to eat or packed to take home — the locals know it well.
Plan Your Souvenir Run Without the Stress
If you want to cover all the souvenirs without running around in circles, you can break it up by day like this — adjust to your own departure date.
Buy the Dried Goods Early
Save the Fresh Goods for Last
Bringing It on the Plane
Dried squid and grilled squid have a strong smell, so seal them in several layers and put them in checked baggage. As for liquids like dipping sauce or candied mango with syrup, if you're carrying them on they must be under 100 ml per item — otherwise checking them in is the safer bet.
Want a full-day eat-and-shop plan for Hat Yai?
See the Hat Yai travel guide →