🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Ask anyone in Pattani what they eat for breakfast and the most common answer is roti and teh tarik. Muslim-Malay tea shops open before the sky even brightens; people stop by before work or school, or sit reading the news over a long glass of tea. By evening the same shops, or different ones, come alive again and stay busy late into the night. It's a rhythm of life you see clearly across the three southern border provinces.
The charm of the tea shops here is that nobody's in a hurry. You can order one glass of tea and sit for an hour. The next table over is talking politics, football, and rubber prices all at once. Hot roti comes out by the plate — tear it and dip it in curry or condensed milk. We've picked out morning shops, late-night shops, and old-town shops with that classic feel.
Worth reading before you go
Pattani is in Thailand's southern border region. In town the atmosphere is normal and people are very friendly, but we'd recommend checking the latest news and safety advisories before every trip. Planning for daytime through early evening is more relaxing. Respect Muslim-Malay culture and dress modestly, especially when visiting shops near a mosque or inside a community.
Roti, teh tarik, old-style coffee — what's the difference?
Before you sit down, knowing what's on the table makes ordering more fun. These three are the heart of a Pattani tea shop.
- Roti — dough that's kneaded, flicked thin, and fried on a flat griddle until it's crispy outside and soft inside. Eaten with curry, sugar, condensed milk, or a fried egg. In Malay there's also the simply named 'roti kuena' (egg roti).
- Teh tarik — hot tea mixed with condensed milk, then 'pulled' by pouring it back and forth between two cups until it builds a soft froth and a smooth, rounded taste. Drink it hot or iced. It's the national drink of Malay culture.
- Southern iced tea / iced black tea — proper southern tea brewed strong, sweetened just right, with a lovely orange color. Another popular pairing with roti.
- Old-style coffee (kopi) — traditional dark-roast coffee brewed through a sock filter, with condensed milk or taken black. A heavy, bold flavor that modern cafés rarely have.
- Snacks to go with your tea — beyond roti, there's keropok (fried fish crackers), khao yam (southern rice salad), khao man gai, and fried bites to nibble on alongside.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Pattani 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.
Roti, teh tarik & tea shops Pattani locals actually go to
We've ordered these by how often locals mention them and how easy they are for a first-time visitor to reach. There's a mix of morning spots, late-night spots, and old-town shops. Most prices are very light — drinks run just a few tens of baht a glass.
Anwa Teh Tarik Pattani & Yahya Roti
One of the first names that comes to mind in Pattani when you say teh tarik. The roti is thick and soft, fried a touch crisp on the outside and fragrant with butter; the teh tarik is brewed strong with a smooth, rounded taste. It has several branches and has grown into a brand the whole town knows. A great first try to get you hooked.
Bang Nood
An original roti shop in town where people fill up from early morning. Hot roti goes with teh tarik or curry, and there's khao yam and other Malay dishes to add on. It's near Prince of Songkla University Pattani campus with student prices, open long hours — good for breakfast before you head out.
Sam Mad Roti Teh Tarik
A roti and teh tarik shop going strong for more than 13 years. The teh tarik is strong and tea-fragrant, the roti crispy outside and soft inside. It's over by the Ram Komut city gate arch — a shop people often post about on social media and pass along by word of mouth.
Anoru Old-Town Tea House
A tea shop set in an old building in the Anoru old-town quarter, with a classic feel you can't find in modern shops. Sip tea and old-style coffee among old riverside buildings. Good for anyone who likes a step-back-in-time atmosphere and photographing the old town while they're at it.
Ong Chiang Tea Shop
Another old tea shop in the old-town quarter that's been part of the community for a long time. Locals drop in to sip tea and chat in a relaxed way. It's a corner where you see the real way of life in Pattani — not a shop dressed up for tourists.
Rupang Cha Rusamilae
A late-night tea shop near the university, open in the evening through past midnight. There's roti, rice porridge, made-to-order dishes, som tam, yam salads, and snacks. Good for anyone who likes a Pattani-style night-time atmosphere and long chats with friends.
Kopi Bang Tea Shop & Teh Tarik & Coffee
A shop that brings old-style coffee (kopi), teh tarik, and fresh-brewed coffee together in one place. Open daily, it's good for anyone who wants to try both the traditional and the newer drinks. The atmosphere is easy to sit in, and it's a regular spot for people in the area.
Tuen Ma Kor Cha Yen
A proper southern tea shop known for iced tea sweetened just right and brewed southern-strong, at light prices. Good for grabbing a big cup to go before heading on, or sitting with a snack. It's a shop the city's younger crowd likes to stop at.
Gu Roti Teh Tarik Pattani
A genuine Malay-style roti and teh tarik shop. The roti is crispy outside, soft inside and made fresh; the teh tarik is soft and frothy. There are several fillings and toppings to choose from. It's a shop that leans into traditional flavor and friendly prices — good for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Free Style New York Coffee
A true late-night shop, open from early evening through to dawn. There's roti, single-plate rice dishes, yam salads, and drinks starting in the tens of baht. Good for night owls or a late-night hunger, and a chill hangout spot for Pattani's younger crowd.
Tips for ordering roti & tea
If you want crispy roti, tell the shop you want it 'crispy' — some shops fry it soft by default. Order teh tarik hot and you'll get a nicer froth than iced, and if you don't want it too sweet just say 'less sweet'. Most tea shops take cash, so it's easier to carry small notes.
The tea-shop way of life — why Pattani people love it
Tea shops here are more than restaurants — they're the social space of the Muslim-Malay community. People come not just to eat, but to meet friends, catch up on the news, and talk about work and home. From the early morning crowd before work to the late-night gathering spot for young people and night-shift workers.
During Ramadan (the fasting month), tea shops get especially lively at night, as people come out to break their fast and eat and talk at length. If you're here in that season you'll really see the charm of this culture — but do respect the timing and local customs too.
- Sit as long as you like, no rush — ordering one glass of tea and sitting for an hour is completely normal; nobody pushes you out.
- Coming solo is fine — plenty of people sit and read the news, scroll their phone, or work alone.
- It's the community's news hub — want to know what's going on in town? Listening to the next table over gives you the picture.
- Open all day long — some shops in the morning, some late at night; all told, you can find a spot to sip tea at almost any hour.
Split by time & area, so it's easier to find a seat
Morning, near PSU (Rusamilae)
Roti shops open early at student prices, with Bang Nood and other roti spots spread around. Good for eating before you head out.
Anoru old town
Tea shops in old buildings like the Anoru Old-Town Tea House and Ong Chiang, with a classic feel — and you can carry on exploring the old town.
Late night, around town
Rupang Cha and Free Style stay open until dawn — good for night owls or anyone who wants to soak up the night-time atmosphere.
Plan a full Pattani food trip, with places to stay and things to do
See the Pattani travel guide →