Phuket flavors
O-Tao (Oyster & Taro Omelette)
A uniquely Phuket street dish — fresh oysters and soft taro cubes fried into a sticky, crispy-edged egg-and-batter omelette on a hot griddle, served with sweet chilli dip and bean sprouts. Richer and more textured than the mainland Thai oyster omelette.
About this dish
O-tao is one of Phuket's most distinctive Hokkien street foods, and its inclusion of taro sets it apart from the oyster omelettes (hoy tod) found elsewhere in Thailand. On a wide, blazing-hot flat griddle, a cook ladles a batter of tapioca and rice flour around plump fresh oysters and soft, pre-steamed cubes of taro, cracks in eggs, and fries the whole mass while constantly chopping and turning it so that parts crisp and caramelise while others stay soft and sticky. The finished tangle of crunchy, chewy, and creamy textures is piled up and served with a side of sweet-and-spicy chilli sauce and a handful of raw bean sprouts for freshness. Smoky from the griddle and rich with egg and oyster, o-tao is best eaten where it is cooked — at the food stalls and the famous Lock Tien food court in Phuket's Old Town.
Allergen information
Preparation methods may vary by restaurant. Always confirm with staff if you have severe allergies.
Where to try
Lock Tien food court and stalls around Patipat / Talad Nuea Road (Phuket Old Town)