Phuket flavors
Mee Hokkien (Phuket Hokkien Noodles)
Phuket's most famous noodle — thick yellow Hokkien egg noodles stir-fried in a dark soy gravy with pork, prawns, squid, and greens, bound by egg and finished with crispy pork. The dish that made Mee Ton Poe an institution since 1946.
About this dish
Mee Hokkien is the noodle that defines Phuket, a direct legacy of the Hokkien Chinese who migrated to the island in the 19th century to work its booming tin mines and stayed to shape its food, architecture, and Peranakan (Baba) culture. Thick, springy yellow egg noodles are stir-fried over a fierce flame in a dark, savoury sauce of soy and stock, tangled with pork, prawns, squid, and Chinese greens, then bound with egg and crowned with crisp pork — a 'mee hokkien hang' (dry) version, with a soupier 'nam' version also common. It is hearty, smoky, and deeply Chinese-Thai rather than fiery. The dish became a Phuket icon largely thanks to Mee Ton Poe, the restaurant by the Surin Circle clock tower that has served its signature Hokkien noodles since 1946, and it remains the first thing many visitors eat in the Old Town.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.
Where to try
Mee Ton Poe (Surin Circle, Phuket Town — since 1946); Lock Tien food court (Old Town)