🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Roti sai mai isn't a trend that popped up overnight — it's been part of Ayutthaya for decades, with many shops passing the recipe down through Thai-Muslim families. The sweet has two parts: a thin pancake spread out on a hot griddle, and the spun sugar, made by pulling boiled sugar into soft fine threads. You wrap the sugar in the pancake, roll it up, and eat it by the bite. It's just sweet enough, easy on the wallet, and you get a lot for the price — which is why almost everyone who visits Ayutthaya ends up carrying some home.
What is roti sai mai?
It looks like a small, pale pancake — white, or tinted to match the flavour you pick — and it's sold as a set: a box of pancakes and a bag of spun sugar kept separate, so you wrap each piece yourself just before eating. The whole appeal is in freshness: the pancakes need to be soft, and the sugar threads can't be clumped together. The better shops spread their pancakes the same day and pull fresh sugar every morning. The original is plain white pancake with plain white sugar, but many shops have branched out into flavours like pandan, strawberry, cocoa, and orange for more variety.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Ayutthaya 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.
Well-known shops still open today
There are dozens of roti sai mai shops in Ayutthaya, clustered along U Thong Road around the old-city island and at the edges of town where the roads come in and out. We've picked out the ones with a real reputation, that have been around a long time, and that are genuinely still selling right now — with rough prices per set (prices change with size and season, so double-check at the shop).
Abideen-Pranom Saeng-Arun
The shop a lot of people credit as the original, selling for over thirty years on U Thong Road across from the hospital. It's a regular stop for Thai celebrities, and it holds a Bib Gourmand from the MICHELIN Guide. Thin, soft pancakes and fine-spun sugar — a solid place to start if it's your first time.
Mae Pom
Another well-known name that's earned Michelin-level mentions. The standout is that some of its recipes mix in sesame seeds for extra fragrance, with a mellow sweetness. It gets busy over holidays, so if you want to be sure of getting some, order ahead or go early.
Mae Choo Sri
Known for variety — several sugar flavours and several pancake colours, like original, pandan, strawberry, blueberry, orange, banana, and cocoa. Great if you want to buy a mix to share around or to compare flavours. The shop opens very early, before dawn.
Suthasinee
If you like a thicker pancake, this is the one — chewy, springy, and fragrant. It has a loyal base of regulars and you can find it at souvenir stalls around town.
Bang Mad
A shop that's been going for over twenty years, with several pancake flavours to choose from. An easy-to-find, wallet-friendly option that works well if you're buying souvenirs in bulk.
Bang Imron
Another shop locals and visitors mention often, leaning on its original-recipe pancakes and sugar. The sweetness isn't so heavy that it gets cloying, and it's easy to grab from the roadside — handy to stop at while driving through.
Ruen Thai
A shop you'll often find at souvenir stalls and markets — a reliable backup that's easy to come across when you're hunting for gifts around town. Decent quality, easy on the price.
Bang Din
A local shop passed around by word of mouth, with fresh pancakes and soft sugar. Worth a try if you want to compare it against the famous names and figure out which style you prefer.
Which shop should you buy from?
If it's your first time and you're short on time, just stop at Abideen-Pranom Saeng-Arun on U Thong Road — it's easy to find and it's the original. If you want a mix of flavours to share, Mae Choo Sri has more to choose from. And if you like a thicker, chewier pancake, try Suthasinee.
How to eat it well
- Wrap it right before you eat — don't wrap it and let it sit, or the sugar melts into the pancake and turns it soggy. Put a little sugar in the middle of a pancake, roll, and eat right away.
- Just enough sugar per bite — too much and it's cloying, too little and you lose the spun-sugar flavour. Adjust to your own taste.
- Pair it with hot tea or coffee — the sweetness plays well against an unsweetened drink, so you can keep eating without it getting sickly.
- Try a few flavours — if you've bought a mix, start with the original before moving on to the fruit flavours so you can pick out each one more clearly.
How to take it home and keep it fresh
Roti sai mai is a fresh sweet — it doesn't last for a month like baked goods. If you're carrying it a long way, there are a few things worth knowing.
- How many days it keeps — left out of the fridge it's good for about 3–4 days; refrigerated you can stretch it to around 7 days, though the pancake may firm up a little.
- Ask about packaging — some shops offer vacuum-sealed packs or sealed boxes that travel better over long distances. Ask at the counter before you buy.
- Keep out the moisture — store the sugar in a tightly sealed bag and don't leave it exposed to air for long, since humidity makes the threads clump together and softens the pancake too much.
- Bring cash — many roadside shops mainly take cash, so small bills make things easier.
Worth knowing
Some of the famous shops sell out fast on long weekends and during festivals. If you've got your heart set on a particular one, call ahead or go early to be safe. And remember that each shop tastes different — if you have time, try a few before deciding which style you like best.
Plan a full day of eating your way around Ayutthaya — savoury, sweet, and where to stay
See the Ayutthaya travel guide →