🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Takua Pa Old Town was once the port city of Thalang and the commercial heart of the tin-mining era, which is why Hokkien Chinese settled here in large numbers. The result: Sino-Portuguese shophouse rows and the covered five-foot walkways locals still call ngo kha ki in Hokkien. Breakfast in this neighbourhood became a full-on Southern Chinese inheritance. Phang Nga town proper has its own veteran dim sum and Hokkien noodle shops that are no less serious. Our ranking follows reputation and what locals say — not a fixed score — because each place shines on a different dish.
10 Hokkien Mee & Dim Sum Spots Worth Your Morning
Pa Da Hokkien Mee (Takua Pa)
A neighbourhood favourite in Takua Pa Old Town that many regulars consider the real deal for Hokkien mee in this area. Thick yellow noodles wok-tossed until sticky and glossy, topped with a runny egg and loaded with prawns, squid, pork, morning glory, and crispy pork crackling. The sauce clings rather than drowns — bold and aromatic without needing extra seasoning. Served with fresh vegetables. Small, unpretentious, completely local.
Jin Geng
A vintage coffee shop on Klan Kaew Road in Takua Pa Old Town open for over 70 years and now in its second generation. The Michelin Guide has mentioned it on the Takua Pa food trail. Standouts are the pork-and-prawn siu mai, steamed buns in three fillings (pork, custard, black bean), and mee sua — thin wheat noodles in pork-bone broth with offal and morning glory. Opens very early.
Mee Sua Ko Chai (Takua Pa)
A heritage coffee shop in a vintage yellow Sino-Portuguese shophouse, trading for over 50 years and now with a third-generation owner. Serves mee sua and old-school drip coffee as breakfast — the authentic Takua Pa way. Opens only for a short morning window; late risers may miss out.
Jeeb Sod Dim Sum (Phang Nga)
A popular dim sum shop in Phang Nga town where you pick pieces from a chilled display and they steam them fresh. The house dipping sauce follows a local Phang Nga recipe — sweet-forward with a slight tang. Beyond the siu mai there's rice congee with pork, rice soup with fish, mee sua, bak kut teh, and dry Phuket-style noodles. Open morning until mid-morning.
Krua Lung Chok (Phang Nga)
A relaxed, no-fuss breakfast shop in Phang Nga town with a longer menu than most: dim sum, pork-bone congee, mee sua, bak kut teh, braised pork knuckle, and Hokkien mee. Stays open later than the typical dim sum spot — good for late risers or anyone wanting breakfast and lunch combined in one stop.
Ma Tae Trang Dim Sum (Phang Nga)
A Trang-style dim sum specialist that set up shop in Phang Nga town, bringing over 30 types of dim sum steamed fresh to order, alongside Trang-style roasted pork and rice plates. Dim sum starts from ฿15 a piece, rice dishes from ฿50. If you're a dim sum fan with a soft spot for the Trang tradition, this one's for you.
Praem Dim Sum (Takua Pa)
A popular dim sum shop in Takua Pa Old Town that opens early enough to be many regulars' first meal of the day. Handmade dim sum steamed to order — a solid start to a morning walk through the old town. Closed Mondays; check before planning an early-week visit.
Pa Miad (Phang Nga)
A spot in Phang Nga town where regulars go specifically for the stir-fried Hokkien mee. The noodles hit the right texture — crisp at the edges, tender in the middle — and the sauce is aromatic enough that you won't need to add anything. Topped with a duck egg. Homestyle, filling, and good value.
Maak Plu (Phang Nga)
A proper Southern Thai restaurant in Phang Nga town, best known for mee hun (Southern Chinese-style glass noodles), crab curry, fish with fermented soybean sauce, and garlic prawns. More of a lunch or dinner destination than a breakfast stop — sits near the rural highway close to the provincial employment office.
Hok Gee Lao (Phang Nga)
A veteran Chinese restaurant in Phang Nga town whose name signals clear Hokkien roots. Southern Chinese dishes and noodle plates across the menu — the kind of place that works best when you come in a group and order a spread to share. Good for soaking in the flavour of an old-school Chinese eatery in this part of Thailand.
Before You Go
Most spots in Takua Pa Old Town are breakfast-only operations — open before 6am and closed by noon or earlier. Mee Sua Ko Chai shuts at 10am. If you want to eat at several places, aim to arrive before 9am. Praem Dim Sum is closed Mondays. And keep in mind that Phang Nga town and Takua Pa are roughly 1.5 hours apart by road — plan each meal around one area rather than trying to do both in the same morning.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phang Nga 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.
Hokkien Mee vs Mee Sua vs Dim Sum — What's the Difference?
- Hokkien Mee — Thick yellow wheat noodles wok-fried until glossy and slightly sticky, with pork, prawns, squid, morning glory, and egg. Some spots add crispy pork crackling on top. A filling, wok-charred main dish.
- Mee Sua — Very thin wheat vermicelli in a clear pork-bone broth with offal and morning glory. Light and comforting — the classic Hokkien Chinese breakfast.
- Dim Sum — Steamed siu mai, bao (buns), and har gao, eaten with local dipping sauces and old-school drip coffee. The breakfast culture of the tin-mining-era neighbourhoods.
- Mee Hun — A Southern Chinese-style glass noodle found in a handful of restaurants like Maak Plu. Closer to a full lunch or dinner dish.
Picking a Spot Based on Where You're Staying
Exploring Takua Pa Old Town
Walk the morning market, then hit Pa Da Hokkien Mee, Jin Geng, Mee Sua Ko Chai, and Praem Dim Sum one after another through the Sino-Portuguese shophouse lanes.
Based in Phang Nga Town
Start with Jeeb Sod or Ma Tae Trang dim sum, then if you're after stir-fried Hokkien mee swing by Pa Miad or Krua Lung Chok later in the morning.
Passing Through en Route to Khao Lak
Takua Pa sits on the road north toward Khao Lak and Khao Sok — a Southern Chinese breakfast there is a natural pit stop before the beach or the jungle.
Honest Notes
Prices listed are approximate ranges drawn from review sources and can vary with portion size and time of year. The ranking isn't a final verdict — taste is personal, and we'd recommend trying two or three spots and picking your own favourite. Opening hours at small old-town shops can shift day to day; checking their Facebook page or calling ahead is always safer than showing up cold.
Plan a full eat-and-explore trip to Phang Nga
See the Phang Nga Travel Guide →