Thai cuisine is famous throughout the world for its distinctive and spicy flavours, a fusion of both Chinese and European historical influences; it now sits with Indian, French, Italian and Chinese as one of the world’s five most popular foods. Thai food has its own unique blend of sweet and sour, bitter, salty, and spicy and with Phuket being Thailand’s largest island, there is a full range of locally caught seafood. Local dishes include the popular breakfast dish Khanom Jeen, Mee Hokkien noodles, the spicy Tom Yum Goong soup and, of course, the green chicken curry (Geng Kheaw Wan Gai). We’ll look at the best eateries in stylish Karon and Phuket’s best restaurants in other areas such as Patong and Bang Tao.
At The Top End
Phuket’s cuisine reached new heights in 2019 with the introduction of a Michelin guide to its restaurants, only the PRU restaurant in Naithon beach has a Michelin star and is obviously pricey, but other eateries have also been awarded Bib Gourmand status as an affordable quality place to eat. These include the Tu Kab Khao, One Chun, and Raya restaurants in Phuket town, away from the capital Mor Mu Dong in Chalong and Kha Mu Boran in Kathu. Take a look at Phuket’s Michelin guide for full details and a listing of great places to eat.
The Wealth of Choice
Phuket is blessed with a colourful and vast range of restaurants and dining experiences to suit every taste, with quality outlets dotted throughout the island. Eateries that constantly feature highly on consumer rating websites include –
- Mom Tri’s at Kata Noi beach offers great food in a superb location.
- La Gritta in Patong is a fine dining experience in a contemporary setting.
- Kan Eang@Pier in Chalong Bay specialises in seafood and local cuisine.
- CUT Grill in Bangtao is a high-quality steakhouse with a lounge bar.
The list could go on and on; there really is a choice for everyone, do some research and find what suits your tastes; you won’t have far to travel to find an excellent culinary experience.
Don’t Forget the Street food.
A great way to sample authentic Thai food is to visit the numerous street food vendors dotted throughout the island. They offer simple, cheap dishes such as Pad Thai (Stir-Fried Noodles), Som Tum (Papaya Salad) and Kai Yang (Grilled Chicken). Don’t be put off as hygiene standards are normally high and the food tasty and affordable. Great street food outlets are the local street food markets in Phuket town and Four Praya on the Yaowarat Road also in Phuket.
During your holiday in Phuket, you’ll find an exceptional range of eateries; it’s a superb place to immerse yourself in Thai cuisine, enjoy!
