Surat Thani's Signature Dish: Khao Siao Po with Nakhon Pathom Recipe, a Century-Old Culinary Tradition
Surat Thani's celebrated khao siao po, prepared with a traditional Nakhon Pathom recipe over 100 years old, is featured as a must-try local dish. The restaurant, now run by third-generation owner Khun Jeng, serves crispy-outside, tender-inside meat with a secret spice sauce and rotating daily curry soups at affordable prices from 50-150 baht.
Surat Thani's featured dish is khao siao po with the traditional Nakhon Pathom recipe, a culinary treasure passed down for over a century. The dish boasts a crispy exterior with tender, juicy meat inside, paired with a signature secret sauce infused with aromatic spices that tantalize the senses and leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied.
Reporter Thanapat Chirajint from Surat Thani province invites you to experience this iconic dish, emphasizing that visitors to Surat Thani must stop by Khao Siao Po Old Recipe restaurant, branch 2, which has maintained its traditional formula for over 100 years. The restaurant evolved from a street cart operation into a comfortable sit-down establishment.
The restaurant is managed by "Khun Jeng," Ms. Kanjana Ratchathan Paisalakitti, 40, the third-generation owner. She explains that the khao siao po recipe has been served for over a century, inherited from her grandmother's generation. All ingredients are prepared fresh daily according to the original formula, including red pork, crispy pork, roasted duck, and Chinese sausage.
All ingredients are marinated with the restaurant's proprietary recipe, then grilled over charcoal. The crispy pork is grilled in 5-kilogram portions to achieve the perfect crispiness outside while remaining tender inside. The roasted duck features crispy skin and tender meat, topped with a special secret sauce made from a unique blend of spices. When eaten, the aromatic spices rise to your nose, creating a refreshing sensation.
It's best enjoyed with mild curry soup, which changes daily. Different curries are served on different days: pumpkin and pork bone curry (Sunday-Monday), glass noodle and minced pork curry (Tuesday-Friday), pickled mustard greens and pork bone curry (Wednesday-Saturday), and turnip and pork bone curry (Thursday).
Prices: khao siao po is 50 baht per plate or 60 baht for the special portion. Full meal sets range from 100-150 baht. The restaurant is located at 140/18 Moo 2, Makham Tia Subdistrict, Muang District, Surat Thani Province. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. For directions, call 083-142-6642.