A legendary taste from Napadu to the southernmost city of Siam: coconut ice cream with mango sticky rice, priced at just 50 baht.
The evening atmosphere at Betong Night Bazaar Walking Street near the Betong municipal clock tower in Yala province buzzes with excitement, as food lovers queue to buy fresh coconut ice cream and mango sticky rice from the cart of Mrs. Utsaphan Direkwattanasarn, the heir to a more than 50-year-old traditional Thai dessert recipe from Napadu District, Pattani Province. She brings this legendary flavor for locals and tourists in Betong to enjoy and cool down during this season.
Mrs. Utsaphan revealed that the key to winning the hearts of both Thai and Malaysian customers lies in the meticulous care at every step, following her grandmother’s original recipe—especially the sticky rice. The signature sticky rice requires selecting high-quality rice varieties, soaking and steaming them for precise times, then cooking them in pure fresh coconut cream without dilution. The mixture is flavored with premium sugar and salt, resulting in sticky rice that is fragrant, rich, mildly sweet, glossy, and soft to the palate.
Another special touch is choosing only ripe seasonal mangoes. The shop handpicks fully mature, naturally ripened mangoes—whether Nam Dok Mai, Kaew Khamin, Fah Lan, or Chok Anan—to deliver a sweet aroma reminiscent of the traditional Ok Rong mango. Served alongside the smooth fresh coconut ice cream sprinkled with crunchy golden peanuts, it becomes a perfect refreshing dessert.
However, this delicious treat is available only for a short season each year. The shop operates for just five months—from January through May—aligned with the ripe mango season. The Nam Dok Mai mango sticky rice set sells for 50 baht, and the coconut ice cream with mango sticky rice cup is also 50 baht.
For those wishing to experience this 50-year-old legendary flavor, you can visitBetong Night BazaarOpen daily from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. or until sold out. Additionally, free delivery is available within Betong municipality in the afternoons.