Phuket - a popular Thai island that wins the heart's of many tourists globally for its beautiful beaches, clear Andaman water and cosmopolitan atmosphere. When it comes to food Phuket has everything from pizza to Indian to the obvious Thai fare, likely due to its mix of locals and ex-pats bringing an amalgamation of cultures and demands.
This article is going to focus on great local food - after all I didn't come to Thailand to eat like I would at home - where would be the fun in that? As this is a popular destination for holiday makers it can be easy to fall into tourist traps with inflated prices, poor quality dishes and inauthentic flavours. So to help you discover some of the best the island has to offer here are my top 5 Phuket eats, with an indication of budget.
£ = Less than 100 Baht Per Dish
££ = Less than 300 Baht Per Dish
£££ = Up to 600 Baht Per Dish
5. Nikitas - Rawai
This beach front bistro owned by a flamboyant Thai lady and now deceased German husband is one of the original bars to have graced the beach front of Rawai for over twenty years! With a mix of international and Thai food it's great for families, couples and those wanting to try a mix of tourist favourites such as Pad Thai or green curry alongside some more interesting dishes such as crispy noodle wrapped prawns. And let's not forget the seafood which is bought daily from the local markets. My favourite is the soft shell crab deep fried with pepper and garlic (Poo Nim Gratiem Phrik Thai). This is because soft shell crabs are a real delicacy, fished out of the water after shedding their exoskeletons, meaning their bodies are soft, perfect for absorbing flavours and delivering a soft meaty texture. Coat them in batter, deep fry whole and voilà you have the perfect soft, chewy, crispy textures that make this a classic Thai seafood dish. The real attraction here other than the specialities of Phuket sausage and freshly caught seafood is the incredible beach front views best enjoyed with a Singha or cocktail in hand at sunset. The bar is completely open air set in traditional huts with seats that almost kiss the clear blue Andaman sea!
Budget: £-£££
4. Som Chit - Phuket Town
There's nothing better then a big bowl of Hokkien Mee aka noods in broth! A dish created by Hokkien (South-Eastern Fujian) Chinese migrants who brought the noodle soup to Thailand (among many other parts of South East Asia). Each soup has its own unique variation due to the availability of local ingredients in the country of sale. At Som Chit it's more than just soup, it's a family tradition; with over 100 years of noodle-soup making experience across four generations cooking at this very site! The soup is made from broth, a likely mix of chicken and/or pork bones with prawn shells that are slowly simmered to offer the perfect combination of rich savoury flavours with a delicate sweetness. Then there's the noods! Take your pick from 6 kinds, from the classic Hokkien (thick yellow egg noodles) to the super thin glass noodles! And let's not forget the toppings, a meaty and mouth watering selection of tastes and textures. Topped with meat wantons, shredded meat (chicken and pork), prawns, bean sprouts, nuts, spring onions and chilli paste. Lastly, no soup would be complete without the Thai finishing touches aka a splash of fish sauce, a pinch of sugar, a dash of lime-chilli and a bonus extra of crispy pork scratchings. Try washing it down with an ice cold Longan Juice. Different soup flavours and broth-less versions are available ready for your second and third visit! And for 60-70฿ a bowl (that's less than a Starbucks coffee) what are you waiting for!?
Budget: £
3. Lock Tien - Phuket Town
A Thai food cafeteria nestled in the heart of Phuket old town. As you stroll amongst the brightly coloured Sino-Portuguese architecture, artful wall graffiti and quirky shops, Lock Tien is the place to go to find a tasty celebration of cheap Thai and Hokkien eats. With a number of vendors selling the top classics such as Tom Yum and Spring Rolls along side some more unique dishes like Mee Nam Tom Yam Kung, a meaty, spicy and sour Hokkien soup, or Po Pia Sod Hokkien - (Hokkien spring rolls). This is a great place to go for groups looking to sample some local delights. I recommend trying the more unique dishes mentioned above alongside grabbing the Oh Aew for dessert. For a measly 15฿ you get a dish filled with Kakigori style shaved ice coated in pink syrup with layers of coconut jelly, grass jelly and adzuki beans underneath. And if that doesn't quite hit the sweet spot then grab a pink milk. This iced beverage features mostly in dentists nightmares as its made from milk, red syrup and condensed milk.
Budget:£-££
2. Dee Jang Pad Thai Boran - Pa Tong
After six months of living in Thailand, this remains the best Pad Thai I have had! Now, I have eaten my fair share of Pad Thai's, globally, as this dish has grown in popularity. For me, the perfect recipe is all about consistency and nostalgia. I discovered this gloriously simple and hearty affair back in 2008 when I would find it made from a winning combination of tofu, prawns, bean sprouts, egg, cabbage or spring onion, flat rice noodles and the classic sauce (not the reddish overly sweet one) that was then topped with lime and peanuts. Now a days finding the winning combo isn't easy, as sauce recipes have been adjusted to be overly sweet, or more vegetables such as carrots have been thrown into the mix (why?!) and god forbid a place serve this without peanuts or lime! Located away from the tourist beach hub areas along the more local Pisit Koranee road this street vendor has captured the winning combination with a huge portion for a mere 70฿ (on Food Panda). With no page on TripAdvisor or Google this is a real hard to find local secret and was a regular takeaway option during our stay! So if you are in Patong and want to avoid the sleazy nightlife, place your order on the Food Panda app and tuck into this dish at home!
Budget: £
1. Piang Prai Resturant - Pa Klok
This is one of the best and most authentic Thai meals I have eaten during my time living in Phuket, Thailand. A local favourite hidden from tourists because of its remote location the restaurant is in an elevated wooden house overlooking picturesque scenery where a small lake blends into the foothills of the jungle. The menu is extensive with unique and original dishes that don't often feature on the usual menus. Here you will find beautifully presented dishes that are not only delicious but affordable with prices ranging from as little as 30 baht for a Hor Mok piece to 600 baht for a whole steamed fish, Thai style. The best way to eat here is to order a bit of everything and share with family or friends. An absolute must is the crab curry and blue noodles. Served in a large pan, perfectly cooked chunks (yes, chunks) of soft white crab meat is suspended in a spicy, fragrant and warming yellow curry sauce. This is complimented perfectly with cold blue rice noodles and a selection of vegetables for dipping. Other favourites included the regal appetiser of Rhoom made from minced pork, peanuts, vegetables and herbs encased in an egg net. Purposely bite-size and decorated with vibrant flowers due to its royal cuisine heritage. Another must is the creamy Ngob poo! A grilled Thai curry that is soft but set, similar to a consistency of a custard in a banana leaf (similar to the Cambodian amok) made with fish and crab. Its creamy texture is perfectly balanced with citrus aromatics and spiciness from the chillies. Overall if you are looking for authentic Thai food combined with a beautiful jungle setting this is the place to come!
Budget:££-£££
Bonus Bite - Roti Vendor - Kalim Beach Market
A popular street snack in Thailand is the Roti Pancake that can be eaten sweet or savoury! With Muslim origins likely to have made it here through influences from Malaysia and Indonesia. Made from ingredients such as flour, milk and eggs. Popular flavours are with condensed milk, banana, egg and Nutella. This tasty treat shouldn't cost more than 50 baht! Approx £1.25! Head just north of Patong to the Kalim Beach road for the sunset market where you combine tasty snacks with beautfiul views.
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Let me know what your favourite place to grab Thai food is, or what your favourite Thai dish is in the comments!
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