The 74-year-old recipe at Mee Ton Poe is a heavily guarded secret

In Phuket, you can find local Hokkien-style cuisine. ‘Mee Ton Poe’ is very popular with locals and is situated right in the centre of Phuket’s Old Town, near the clock tower. 

 

‘Mee Hokkien’ is a local dish that features a special kind of noodles mixed with seafood and eggs that you must try! 

 

The restaurant was opened in 1946 and now, the business is run by the third generation of the family.

 

The secret recipe that has been passed down since the first generation is the fact that the noodles need to be fried in a steel wok over a charcoal stove. This way, the great smell from the hot charcoal comes out.

 

They even top the noodles with a sunny side up egg, making the texture and the taste unique and even better. I recommend adding red onions to the noodles as they add some crunchiness and spiciness.

 

Other must-try dishes include ‘Pork Satay’. In Thailand, turmeric is used for grilling satay, so the satay comes out yellow. Another mouth-watering dish is ‘Ho Mok’ or Spicy Steamed Fish Cake Wrapped in Banana Leaf, and an authentic Thai taste is guaranteed.

 

As the restaurant is near Phuket’s Old Town, you can plan to have breakfast somewhere in the old town, then hang out in a café, before walking to Mee Ton Poe for lunch. Or you can have lunch here first and spend the whole afternoon exploring the old town. Both options will surely ensure your time is well-spent.

 

Tip: Weekend lunches are mostly crowded, so please plan in advance.