This home-bound, family-run stall in the southern Thai town of Pattani specializes in one dish and one dish only: nasi dagae.
The dish, whose name means “trader’s rice” in the local Malay dialect, has its roots in Malaysia. It takes the form of rice served with a rich fish curry and sides, and although a handful of Muslim-influenced dishes have spread to various parts of Thailand, this is one that’s only available here, in the country’s Muslim-leaning deep south.
The eponymous centerpiece here is three types of rice—long-grained white and red, and sticky rice—made rich and fragrant from coconut milk and aromatics such as ginger, shallots and fenugreek. This is paired with a pleasantly oily longfin tuna curry, and sides that include a mild, tender braised chili, a hard-boiled egg and a dollop of saman, minced shrimp simmered with coconut milk and palm sugar until nearly caramelized. The whole package is rich, slightly sweet, aromatic and utterly delicious.
Nasi Dagae is one of the most popular eateries in Pattani, and it typically sells out before 9am; get there early.
