🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Trang roast pork isn't like roast pork anywhere else. They roast the whole pig in a charcoal oven, marinate it with Chinese spices until the meat turns sweet first and savory after, and get a skin that crisps up into sheets — tap it and you hear it snap. To eat it, they chop it into small pieces and dip it in a sauce each shop keeps to its own recipe. Trang moo yang even holds a GI registration (geographical indication), because the flavor and the way it's made are genuinely tied to this town.
What a lot of people don't realize is that the real roast pork shops in Trang open early and sell out fast. The famous market vendors start roasting in the dead of night, set up around 5am, and by mid-morning they're done. If you're set on the best ones, you'll have to drag yourself out of bed a little early.
The Trang Roast Pork Shops Locals Actually Eat At
We've ranked them by where local word-of-mouth and the actual reviews line up — a mix of market vendors you'll queue for, long-running shops in town, and places that stay open later in case you can't make it out early. Prices are rough figures we found and may shift with the season.
Ko Phao Roast Pork (Trang Municipal Fresh Market)
The one Trang locals call the most famous of all, tucked inside the municipal fresh market in the middle of town. Crisp on the outside, sweet and juicy inside. People line up before the stall is even set out — they start roasting from 1am and it sells out very quickly, so even running a little late means missing out. You can call ahead to reserve.
Trang Moo Yang
A long-running roast pork and dim sum shop on Huai Yot Road, open most of the day, good for anyone who'd rather sit down and eat in peace without fighting for a spot in line. The small plates are fairly priced, the flavor is sweet-leading and well-rounded with their own dipping sauce, and there are rib noodles, spring rolls and dim sum to order alongside.
Ko Jiu Roast Pork
Another vendor in the municipal market that people scramble to buy from. Opens very early, crisp skin and tender meat, and locals buy it by the kilo to take home. Come before 9am if you don't want to be disappointed.
Ban Bua Bok Roast Pork
On Phetkasem Road in the Na Ta Luang area, open from 5:30am. This one leans toward thin, crisp skin with sweet, fragrant meat. It's been going for over ten years and ships nationwide too, so it's a good one to pick up as a gift to take back.
Ko Sui Roast Pork
An old shop going on 40 years on Phetkasem Road, working from a marinade recipe passed down the family. Crisp skin, firm meat, with dim sum and sausage sold alongside. Closed Tuesdays.
Ko Kae Roast Pork
Out in Huai Yot district, a bit outside the city, but people are willing to drive there for a secret recipe handed down for nearly a hundred years. Sweet, well-rounded meat and crisp skin. Closed Sundays, and it sells out quickly in the afternoon.
Tha Do Roast Pork
The most wallet-friendly on the list, over in the Na Wong area of Huai Yot. Golden skin, soft and fragrant meat, and the people around there eat it regularly. Opens very early, from 5:30am.
Ko Kuang Roast Pork
Over in Wang Khiri, Huai Yot, this one opens later and runs into the evening — handy if you can't make it out in time for the in-town vendors. Its own marinade recipe; worth reserving ahead if you want a lot. Closed Wednesdays.
Pong O-Cha
A dim sum and roast pork shop Trang locals know well, with branches that open long and close later than the others. Good if you want roast pork with dim sum mid-morning or for an evening meal. Order the roast pork by the plate with tea or coffee.
Sin Jiu (in front of Chaloem Trang Cinema)
A decades-old coffee and dim sum shop with an old-school feel. The roast pork is sold alongside tea, coffee, dim sum and noodles. A nice spot to sit and soak in a real Trang-style breakfast.
Want the best ones? Get up early
Market vendors like Ko Phao and Ko Jiu selling out before 10am is completely normal. If you're serious about eating there, go before 8am to be safe. Can't face the early start? Aim for the later-closing shops like Ko Kuang or Pong O-Cha instead.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Trang 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.
How to Eat Trang Roast Pork Like a Local
Trang locals don't eat roast pork on its own — they eat it as a full breakfast set. Here's how to order so it feels like you're sitting down with a friend from Trang.
- Roast pork with the dipping sauce — the heart of it is each shop's own sauce, sweet and savory and balanced. Chop the pork into small pieces and dip one bite at a time.
- A few small baskets of dim sum — order har gow, pork siu mai and bao to share; they're the inseparable partner to the roast pork.
- Old-style coffee or hot tea — Trang dim sum shops brew strong coffee that cuts the richness of the roast pork nicely.
- Dim sum with a cracked egg / shrimp siu mai — if you find a shop making it fresh, ordering more won't let you down.
Which Areas Have the Roast Pork Shops
Trang Municipal Fresh Market (in town)
Right in the center of Thap Thiang, home to the famous market vendors like Ko Phao and Ko Jiu. Buy it fresh and carry it out. Come as early as you can.
Phetkasem Road / Na Ta Luang
A run of dine-in roast pork shops like Ban Bua Bok and Ko Sui. They open early, and parking is easier than in the market.
Huai Yot District
Outside town toward Huai Yot you'll find old-recipe vendors like Ko Kae, Tha Do and Ko Kuang. People are happy to drive out for the traditional recipes.
Taking It Home as a Gift
Trang roast pork travels well — many shops vacuum-pack it and ship nationwide. If you're taking it a long way, tell the shop you want the ship-ready pack and they'll sort it for you. The classic local pairing to bring back is Chinese pastry (the Soi 9 maker is well known), to eat with tea or coffee at home.
Straight talk
Trang roast pork is rich — eat a lot of it and it gets heavy, which is exactly why locals have it with dim sum and strong coffee. The famous shops don't all taste the same either: some lean sweet, some lean savory. Try a few and you'll find the one that suits you.
Plan a full eating-and-sightseeing trip around Trang
See the Trang travel guide →