Phuket Restaurants

The fantastic Thai food is without doubt a major draw for visitors. Many restaurants in Phuket showcase the country’s wonderful cuisine, offering traditional dishes at exceptional prices. Eating is a big part of Thai life and culture; mealtimes are a time for family and friends, and an important social event.

Where to eat

Phuket is home to a number of restaurants that cater to different palates. The resorts house some top quality restaurants, serving both Thai and international cuisine. The local cuisine has been adapted to suit western palates, so you won’t come across any really spicy food unless you ask for it.

There are some excellent seafood restaurants all along the beaches, with Patong offering some impressive five-star restaurants. International food in Phuket comes from Italy, France, America, Germany, China, Japan and Britain. The further inland you go, you’ll find that the food becomes more suitable for locals, which is worth a try if you want to experience real Thai cuisine.

Phuket Town offers street stalls selling anything from grilled chicken to fish balls and noodle carts selling pad thai. There are also many local restaurants selling quality dishes at a fraction of the price found at many of the resorts.

Local cuisine

Popular Thai dishes include: tom yum gung, a spicy and sour shrimp soup; gaeng kiew wan, sweet and spicy green curry; gung tord gratiem prik, deep fried tiger prawns with garlic and pepper; masaman, a southern potato curry which can include chicken or beef and gai tord, deep fried chicken.

In addition to these regional Thai dishes, there are plenty of thick curries with a Malay influence and lots of fish and other seafood dishes. Southern Thai food is generally spicier than northern Thai dishes, so if you are eating at a local restaurant, be sure to order it not spicy if you don’t like chillies.