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Oh Tao | Traditional Street Food From Phuket, Thailand | TasteAtlas

Oh tao

(O tao)

A Phuket specialty that is thought to be of Hokkien Chinese origin, oh tao is typically made by combining boiled taro root, oysters, eggs, flour, garlic, onions, dried chilis, crispy pork rind, bean sprouts, and soy sauce. The mixture is fried until thoroughly blended, and it is typically served accompanied by extra bean sprouts, deep-fried pork rinds on top, and a sweet and spicy dipping sauce on the side.


Oh tao is also a common street food item sold by numerous street food vendors who often serve it wrapped in a banana leaf. There are variations on this dish that call for using different types of seafood such as squids or prawns instead of oysters.


In Thailand, people have a tradition of consuming this dish on Chinese New Year, believing that this will bring them good luck, while at funerals, the dish is thought to bring families closer together and ease their loss.