Thai Bites Festival
There is no dearth of Thai restaurants in Malaysia – but what many can’t offer is a bustling atmosphere that comes with upbeat music and loud chatter as the aroma of grilled meat wafts through the air. Immerse yourself in such an authentic Thai street food experience at the Thai Bites Festival in IOI Mall Puchong, happening now until 11th June 2023.
Featuring over 50 vendors, this Thai food festival might make it hard for you to decide what to eat. But fret not – we sorted out 16 foods that you should try during your visit, from giant cockles to fried crickets and oyster omelette.
Table of Contents
- Thai Bites Festival
- 1. Fried pork ears & anything pork
- 2. Crispy chashu pork
- 3. Giant fried chicken
- 4. Pork & chicken skewers
- 5. Fried crickets & silkworms
- 6. Pickled & grilled seafood
- 7. Giant cockles
- 8. Thai papaya salad
- 9. Thai-style grilled sausages
- 10. Fried Oyster Omelette
- 11. Pineapple fried rice & pad thai pork neck
- 12. Mango sticky rice
- 13. Thai milk tea
- 14. Coconut shakes
- 15. Coconut water
- 16. Ice Cream Kelapa Hatyai
- Dedicated dining spaces and other activities to check out
- Gorge on a range of Thai food at Thai Bites Festival in IOI Mall Puchong
1. Fried pork ears & anything pork
We are not kidding when we say you can get anything pork at this Thai food festival, including Fried Pork Ears. When cooked properly, this delicacy will have an intriguing chewy and crispy texture, leaving you wanting more.
Other than that, pork enthusiasts can also relish mouthwatering Stewed Pork Leg (from RM40), as well as Fried Pork Shoulder and Fried Pork Neck.
2. Crispy chashu pork
At first glance, you might mistake this Crispy Chashu Pork (RM15) for a peculiar-looking Beef Wellington. The pork belly is rolled into a sturdy log, securely tied, and fried till golden brown on the outside. As you bite through the crackling crunchy skin, the succulent meat inside will melt in your mouth, washing you over with an instant bliss.
3. Giant fried chicken
You can easily hide your face behind this Giant Fried Chicken (RM15) because it is non-jokingly huge. The chicken breast is cut butterfly-style and fully coated with breadcrumbs, giving the chicken skin an extra crispiness without sacrificing the juiciness.
4. Pork & chicken skewers
A trip to any Thai food fair – Thai Bites Festival included – will not be complete without getting the Moo Ping (pork skewers) and Satay Gai (chicken skewers) for RM5/stick. The soya-sauce marinated Moo Ping cuts right through the rich pork flavour, enveloping the meat in a sweet and savoury coating. Meanwhile, lemongrass stems are cleverly used as sticks for the Satay Gai, jazzing up the chicken with a hint of lemony tartness.
5. Fried crickets & silkworms
We know Fried Crickets and Silkworms don’t look or sound exactly appealing, if not scary – like something we will only eat as punishment. But rest assured, these fried insects won’t leave any unpleasant taste in your mouth, as they are well-seasoned with salt and a variety of spices, promising an adventurous yet enjoyable foodie experience.
When you pop one of these critters into your mouth and crush it between your teeth, it will quickly transition into a powdery texture with a bit of crunchiness. You’ll definitely want to try this on your visit for an authentic food tour of Thailand in Malaysia, as crickets are a popular delicacy in the Land Of Smiles.
6. Pickled & grilled seafood
This food fair is a heaven for seafood lovers, as it offers a plethora of seafood – including crabs, shrimps, squids, and clams – and you can choose to have them pickled or grilled.
Pickled Seafood (RM35) is immersed in a mixture of soya sauce, raw garlic, onions, and chillies. This combination of seasoning and aromatics infuses the seafood with a refreshing blend of sweetness and tanginess, along with a spicy kick to awaken the appetite.
On the other hand, Grilled Seafood (RM20 for 3 sticks) is brushed with various Thai sauces such as chilli sauce, soya sauce, and fish sauce, offering a good overlay of sweetness and spiciness that doesn’t overtake the fresh taste of the seafood.
7. Giant cockles
Cockles served in restaurants are usually the size of a Malaysian 20 sen coin, but get ready to be amazed by the cockles at this Thai market, which get about as big as the palm of your hand. At RM20, you can get three Giant Cockles and indulge in a mouthful of freshness and brininess.
8. Thai papaya salad
Thai Papaya Salad (RM15) is a famous dish that shows up in almost every Thai meal. A Thai papaya salad typically consists of green papayas, onions, carrots, and roasted peanuts, dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, and tamarind sauce.
The interplay of all these ingredients gives this dish a zesty and mildly sweet taste and also a crunchy texture, making it ideal as both an appetiser and a side to knock out any greasiness from the heavy mains.
9. Thai-style grilled sausages
Indulge in Thai-style Grilled Sausages (from RM5), which are generously coated in sweet and sour Thai sauce for a robust flavour. Each bite ignites a firework of smoky, savoury, and spicy tastes in the mouth.
The grilled sausages at this food festival are available in chicken, pork, and beef options, and in mostly two forms: the typical cylindrical shape like a hotdog, or a round shape that makes the sausages look like mini dragon balls.
10. Fried Oyster Omelette
This Fried Oyster Omelette (from RM15) is a decadent street food that can send you straight to comfort food paradise in just one bite. A generous amount of oysters are added to the pool of eggs and both ingredients are stir-fried together over a sizzling hot pan.
The result is a flavour-packed omelette with an oceanic taste from the oysters, complemented by a fluffy texture with a subtle crust.
11. Pineapple fried rice & pad thai pork neck
For carb-laden goodness, tuck into Pineapple Fried Rice (RM18), Pineapple Fried Noodles (RM18), and Pad Thai Pork Neck (RM20) – the staple foods among Thais. Each dish emits a wok hay smokiness as they get stir-fried over high heat. Furthermore, the slices of pork neck in the pad thai takes the dish up a notch with its crispy juiciness.
12. Mango sticky rice
It is a no-brainer to order Mango Sticky Rice (RM15) at a Thai food festival. This dessert turns basic ingredients – mango, sticky rice, and coconut milk – into something so delicious that it has become the cornerstone of Thai dessert.
The dessert harmoniously combines the creamy flavour of sticky rice – as it is cooked in coconut milk – with the tropical sweetness of mango. The sticky rice is also slightly salted to achieve a salty-sweet balance.
13. Thai milk tea
Thai Milk Tea (RM10) is not hard to find in Malaysia – considering it is such a popular Thai beverage. But this one stands out from the crowd due to its sophisticated crafting process.
Instead of being poured from a jug, the milk tea is “brewed” from a golden tap, which reminds us of the classic beer tap. Then, a dollop of condensed milk is added to the drink for a boost of sweetness. But that’s not all. Before getting served, the drink will go under a frother that creates an extra foamy top layer that is similar to the one on our beloved teh tarik.
14. Coconut shakes
Coconuts have this distinct sweet taste that works like a charm in making any drink extra luscious – and this magical “coconut effect” is even more apparent in the Coconut Shake (RM10). The coconut shake boasts a creamy and velvety texture, with just the right amount of sweetness that won’t overwhelm you after you finish the whole cup.
15. Coconut water
You can’t go wrong with Coconut Water (RM8) to quench your thirst. Coconut might look “boring” on the outside, but a sip of coconut water can transport you to a Thailand beach with sandy shores and windy weather. Plus, the coconut water is guaranteed fresh as you will be sipping straight out of real coconuts.
16. Ice Cream Kelapa Hatyai
There is always room for desserts and this Ice Cream Kelapa Hatyai (RM10) is the perfect sweet treat to end your meal with. Ice cream is served in a coconut shell, and you can pick from pandan jellies – similar to what we see in Malaysian cendol – as well as red beans, glass jellies, peanut chunks, corn, and colourful cupcake sprinkles to decorate your dessert.
Dedicated dining spaces and other activities to check out
Unlike the usual food markets where you typically run out of hands to hold your food, there are tables and chairs available at Thai Bites Festival so that you can enjoy your food more comfortably.
Beyond food, there are also exciting fishing games and live music performances.
Gorge on a range of Thai food at Thai Bites Festival in IOI Mall Puchong
As Thai Bites Festival only runs until 11th June 2023, you’ll want to drop by this exciting food fair before it ends so that you won’t miss out on all these delectable Thai street foods. But if you couldn’t make it this time, there is another one to join – Penang International Food Festival (PIFF) 2023 – over in Penang, which runs throughout the month of June.
Watch our video feature here:
Address: (Outdoor) IOI Mall Puchong, Batu 9, Jalan Puchong, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47170 Puchong, Selangor
Opening hours: 12pm-12am
For more things to do this weekend, check out this massive BookFest taking place at KLCC and L’Occitane’s hotel-concept pop-up store at Pavilion Bukit Jalil.
Photography by Xinyeegoh.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia