As a first-timer to Hat Yai, I did my research and I realised, to my horrors, that….. there is nothing much to do in Hat Yai. My advice is not to plan a long trip, because you really only need a maximum of 4D3N in Hat Yai to cover everything you need to see there. Thankfully, the trip turned out fun nonetheless and even though Hat Yai is incredibly small, there is still some charm to it. If you are planning your first trip to Hat Yai as well, make sure you include all these into your itinerary!
Disclaimer: I did not travel out of Hat Yai city to visit the Samila Beach because people travel more than an hour out there just to see an olright beach and a mermaid statue. I was seriously not interested. I did consider travelling an hour out of the city to take the cable car to see the Municipal Park but all they have there are gigantic Buddha statues which again, I was not interested at all.
1. Breakfast At Chok Dee Dim Sum
This is a must-do especially for first-timers to Hat Yai because dim sum here is freshly steamed on-the-spot, very affordable and yummy. Just hop onto a Tuk Tuk and tell them Chok Dee, and you will be there in no time at all. Try to go early though because it can get quite crowded.
So, what’s so interesting about Chok Dee Dim Sum? The whole experience is very pleasant and fun. Upon reaching the shop, you’ll see this mountain of steam baskets filled with all kinds of raw dim sum. All you need to do is to get a table number, point to whatever you want to order and the dim sum will be steamed right away for you. After you are seated down at your table, fresh and piping hot dim sum are served!
Every portion is small, so you can really go ahead and order to your heart’s content to try different ones.
Look at our table full of food! This sight made us very happy indeed. How I wish every breakfast is like this. =P
Besides dim sum, you can also order a pot of Bak Kut Teh to share. Please order it because it is super delicious and very hearty! It would definitely complete your experience at Chok Dee. :)
2. Visit Kim Yong Local Market
I always try to visit the local market whenever I visit a country because that is the best way to experience and see how locals live their daily lives. The Kim Yong local market is the largest in Hat Yai and about 10 minutes’ walk from my hotel. Plus, my mom had a long list of things to buy from there, so we visited every morning when we were there. Just in case you are wondering, dried seafood such as dried scallops, dried longan, ikan bilis etc are all very fresh and cheap there. Make sure you buy the dumplings as well because Thailand is famous for their good quality rice, so their dumplings are heavenly! They come in plain or with red bean, hay bee hiam fillings, and in mini sizes, so it is very convenient to eat them as a snack.
3. Authentic Thai Food At Kan Eng Restaurant
Kan Eng Restaurant is a well-known restaurant in Hat Yai and many tourists and locals flock there for meals everyday. They serve pretty good Thai food and at reasonable prices as well. You may want to take note though that they add salted fish into many of their dishes, so if you don’t take salted fish, make sure you tell them. I personally find that salted fish adds a unique fragrance and saltiness to the dishes, so I like it.
4. Buffet Dinner At Lee Gardens Hotel
This is possibly the cheapest buffet you will ever eat at less than $7 per pax. For that price, you cannot expect great dishes but the spread is not too bad in my opinion. Think of it as paying for a unlimited serving of zap cai beng (mixed economy rice), with desserts and drinks free flow as well.
The main reason why people go for this buffet in Hat Yai is because the restaurant is located on the 31st floor of Lee Gardens Hotel and so from there, you can get a pretty good night scenery of Hat Yai.
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