A small local restaurant that you should not miss in Phuket old town
After introducing the high-end restaurant Siam Supper Club in Phuket last time, it’s the turn of the civilian shop this time. Let’s invite the main character to come on stage—Xinfa Noodle Shop located in Old Phuket Town.
The location of this small store is easy to find, because it is on the street next to the old king’s graffiti. When you see this graffiti, go in the direction it is facing, and turn left at the first intersection for 50 meters.
This store is said to have a lot of delicious food, right?
To be honest, the options here are pretty poor. Because as a guest, you can only choose fish balls or pork balls, “noodles” or egg noodles… But this does not prevent it from becoming a good restaurant that people will never forget!
What is the charm of this bowl of unremarkable fish ball noodles?
First of all, let’s talk about the essence of a bowl of fish ball noodles – fish balls. More than 70% of the local residents in Phuket are of the Chinese generation, and most of their ancestors were immigrants from Chaoshan or Hainan. Chaoshan fish balls, known as “no fish balls, no dinner”, were introduced to Phuket Island. In Phuket, it is not difficult to eat fish ball noodles, and there are a bunch of small shops on the roadside selling them. But the noodle restaurant that makes good fish balls, I only recognize this one.
Xinfa’s boss is also a Chinese generation, but apart from the signboard which is also written in Chinese, the family does not know a word of Chinese or half a Chinese character. Although people have been almost completely Thaiized, occasionally some remnants of Chinese tradition can still be found. For example, the craftsmanship of making Chaoshan fish balls is very authentic. The fish balls here are like porcelain in color, just right in elasticity, delicious in the mouth, crisp but not greasy.
Of course, the fish balls alone are not enough to dominate Phuket. They have a secret weapon, and that is their homemade fish sauce! Not sold outside.
Although I like fresh food, I hate fish sauce very much, and I always feel that it has a strong fishy smell. But this kind of fish sauce not only has no fishy smell, but the umami taste is more prominent after the fish balls are dipped in it.
Of course, a good bowl of fish ball noodles can’t be just about the fish balls, otherwise, the food cats (a Cantonese synonym for “foodie”) would have already thrown their chopsticks and turned away.
The so-called vermicelli is actually kway teow. Let’s popularize science here. Kuey Teow is a specialty of the Chaoshan region. To some extent, it can be said to be an evolutionary and improved version of rice noodles. The taste is more elastic and thicker than rice noodles. The reason why it has been called “noodles” is mainly for the convenience of everyone’s memory. After all, not many people know and understand Kuey Teow.
As for whether the protagonist of the fish ball kway teow is the fish ball or the kway teow, it is up to you to fight, and I will fill myself up silently.
Hey, what is this bottle of red and purple drink? It looks poisonous.
This is Roselle (Luo Shenhua), scientific name Roselle, also known as mountain eggplant. Calyx cup-shaped, lavender, flowers yellow, inner base dark red. Roselle is a tropical short-day crop, popular in the royal families of the oriental countries, and the royal family of Thailand has a super-quality beauty drink made of roselle flower.
Roselle is very common in Thailand. Basically, the Welcome Drink sent to the hotel Check-in will be ice roselle juice. The taste is sour and sweet, a bit like hawthorn juice. It can be regarded as an artifact to dispel heat in the tropics. Everyone who comes to Thailand may wish to try it.
The environment of the restaurant is very simple, but the time-honored brands are usually not too particular, after all, it is more market-like. The street style should retain its original appearance, and if it is forced to be pushed into the elegant hall, it will appear “acclimatized”.
In the end, the boss’s family is actually very traditional. At least the habit of worshiping gods is very Chinese.
Recommended degree: ★★★★
Reason for recommendation: Traditional Teochew snacks located in Phuket Old Town at an affordable price. It is suitable for friends who are hungry and need to replenish their physical strength after visiting the old city. It is recommended to play together with the street graffiti in Old Phuket Town (see my past articles).
Business Hours: Open during daytime
Address: Around the location marked in red on the map
