Pad Mee Betong, or Stir Fried Betong Noodles by Zhang Jia Yi, Bangkok, Thailand (Ari)

Pad Mee Betong, or Stir Fried Betong Noodles

by Zhang Jia Yi, Bangkok, Thailand (Ari)

Zhang Jia Yi, a Chinese-Thai noodle dish in Bangkok's Ari neighborhood, serves up an amazing dish of hearty Betong noodles.

The dish takes its name from Betong, a small town in Yala Province tucked away in Thailand's far south, just a stone's throw from the Malaysian border. Betong is something of an outlier in southern Thailand, with a remarkably strong Chinese cultural influence dating back to the Chinese immigrants who settled here. Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese, and Teochew communities all contributed to the town's distinctive cuisine, creating a fascinating mixture of Chinese, Thai, and Malaysian influences.

Betong noodles by Zhang Jia Yi, Bangkok, Thailand

Mee Betong (หมี่เบตง), sometimes called Betong yellow noodles, is a Chinese-style wheat noodle traditionally made in Betong. Unlike the relatively thin yellow noodles commonly found in Thai noodle shops, these are thicker, springier, and wonderfully chewy, giving them plenty of substance when stir-fried. The noodles here were served with juicy shrimp, barbecued pork, mushrooms, and bean sprouts, and were served with a side of spicy and sour Thai chili sauce.

stir-fried noodles with shrimp and barbecued pork

Location

Zhang Jia Yi is located at 104, 106 Si Fa Alley, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400. It's a relatively short walk or a very short taxi drive from BTS Ari Station.