Phuket’s Traditional Desserts That You Should Try

Written by Team Expique
Published: February 10, 2021

Dubbed a ‘City of Gastronomy’ by UNESCO, Phuket is an island rich in culinary history and unique cuisine. While the island itself offers up a large variety of creative cuisine, Phuket’s famous and traditional desserts should not be missed.

In this article, we explore unique dessert specialities of Phuket. Whether you enjoy them after a meal, munch on them with coffee or tea or grab them as a snack on the go, you’re sure to be amazed by the flavors of these delicacies. Below are our picks for Phuket’s traditional desserts that you should try.

Red Tortoise Cake (ขนมเต่า)

A highlight of Phuket’s annual Por Tor Festival (เทศกาลพ้อต่อ) is the red tortoise cake. Known locally as Ang Ku Kui, the red tortoise cake is made from glutinous rice flour and sweet potato. Steeped in local Chinese traditions, the cake is deemed as an auspicious pastry that is served during Chinese festivals and offered to deities.

During the Por Tor Festival, generally late August or early September, the cake is sold commercially and often shared amongst family members or put on altars to feed the hungry ghosts.

A traditional coffee and dessert shop in the northern Thalang neighborhood of Phuket, Ang Ku Tea House specializes in the red tortoise cake as well as other Peranakan delicacies. Enjoy these with a cup of traditional tea for an authentic Phuket dessert experience.

Location: 135 Naiyang Soi 2, Naiyang beach, Thalang Phuket 83110

Ahpong (อาโป๊ง)

A traditional Phuket dessert not to be missed is A-pong. Extremely sweet, this deep-fried crepe is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Most locals in Phuket indulge in A-pong with their coffee or tea in the morning.

Made from a wide range of ingredients including rice flour, coconut milk, water and sugar, A-pong is fried in a thin layer of oil until completely cooked.

A popular street stall called ‘A-Pong Mae Sunee’ is the best place in Phuket Town to try this delicious dessert. Located just off of Yaowarat Road on Soi Soon Uthit, ‘A-Pong Mae Sunee’ has been opened for over thirty years.

A-pong is a sweet, affordable dessert. Grab an authentic, local crepe or two before heading out to explore the Phuket Old Town district. A bundle of A-pong generally costs less than 20 baht.

Location: Soi Soon Utis, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000

O-Aew (โอเอ๋ว)

O-Aew is a classic, well-loved Phuket dessert. While popular any time of the year, most people enjoy eating O-Aew during the height of Phuket’s hot season as the dessert is both sweet and refreshing.

O-Aew is made from a mix of Chinese herbs, banana, O-Aew seeds, and shaved ice. A sweet syrup tops the dessert while the Chinese herbs add a nice cooling effect. This is an excellent Phuket dessert to snack on if you are feeling dehydrated or exhausted from the heat.

O-Aew is served with no fixed combination. Often times, vendors offer up a variety of topping selections, condiments and syrups. The great thing about O-Aew is that you can construct it to suit your tastes.

The charming Café’in, located adjacent to the Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road in Phuket Old Town, has put a modern spin on this classic dessert. Drop in to try their O-Aew specialities featuring the flavors of pineapple, honey lemon, lychee and even coffee.

Location: 24 Krabi, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000

Bee Pang (บี้พ้าง)

Bee Pang is a local delicacy and a favorite Phuket dessert. Essentially a popped rice snack, Bee Pang takes on the shape of a granola bar. Most Thai households keep this snack on hand, as it has a long shelf life and goes perfectly with coffee or tea.

It is possible to find Bee Pang nearly everywhere in Phuket, from street stalls to small mom & pop shops to souvenir stands. Bee Pang is often bought by tourists looking to take a delicious piece of Phuket back to their homelands.

For a completely authentic Bee Pang experience, head to Kengtin on Phuket Road. This traditional sweet shop specializes in Bee Pang as well as other Thai-Chinese classic dessert favorites.

Location: 342, 344 Phuket Rd, Taladyai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000

Bee Go Moi (บีโกหมอย)

A traditional Phuket dessert, Bee Go Moi is made by boiling black sticky rice until the texture becomes tender. Once ready to serve, Bee Go Moi is usually accompanied by salty coconut milk and served with local coconut or taro ice cream. The end result is a luscious mix of sweet and salty flavors which combine for an enticing dessert.

The perfect setting to indulge in Bee Go Moi is Torry’s Ice Cream. Located on Soi Rommani, the ice cream shop is decorated in vintage, Peranakan style and displays various family heirlooms. The ice cream shop is a popular stop on a Phuket Old Town tour and often has a queue, but standing in line is worth it to sample the best Bee Go Moi in all of Phuket.

Location: 16 Soi Rommani, Tumbon Talad Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000

Are you Hungry to Check Out Phuket’s Dessert Scene?

Well hopefully you now know what desserts to try in Phuket and that there is a lot more to Thai desserts than mango sticky rice and coconut ice cream! So go check out local restaurants, street vendors and local markets, to see what you can find.

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