Good to know
Good to Know
- Thai cuisine relies on fresh ingredients, and price variations are mainly due to the level of service and ambiance; it's a good idea to inquire about the spiciness of a dish beforehand, as spices are a fundamental aspect of Thai cuisine
- Many Thai dishes are naturally vegetarian or can be made vegetarian-friendly by asking for tofu instead of meat
- Phuket Old Town is where you can experience the 'real' Phuket with amazing sense of history and Chinese-Malay-inspired culture through coloured shophouses and local fare; combined with modern street art and general cool vibe; totally manageable size-wise to get round on foot, making your local food crawl hella easy
- Dim Sum is a morning activity and all dim sum places of note will close at either 11am or by noon
- Grab Food has the widest restaurant selection and most reliable delivery times; Lineman is strong in Thai street food and often cheaper for local restaurants
Supermarkets
- Description
- Supermarkets within and near Phuket Old Town and central areas where nomads concentrate.
Venues
Central Food Hall
- Location
- Central Festival Phuket (basement)
- Description
- Cross between Villa Market and Tesco Lotus, with plenty of local products available (though at slightly higher prices) along with imported foods
Tesco Lotus
- Location
- Just outside Phuket Town
- Description
- Largest store with fresh produce, a meat section, dry goods and other kitchen staples and also has a kids' section and offers electronics
Big C
- Location
- Jungceylon mall, Patong; also near Central Festival
- Description
- Well-known supermarket conveniently located at Jungceylon mall in Patong, well-stocked with a great prepared foods counter where you can easily pick up a meal to go
Tops Supermarket
- Location
- Central Festival Phuket; Central Patong
- Description
- Offers all the staples you'll need, including fresh produce, snacks and drinks, toiletries and more; also has a good selection of organic fruit, veggies and other products
Villa Market
- Location
- Multiple locations across Phuket
- Description
- Though pricier than other supermarkets, great choice for those craving familiar flavours from back home; carries imported products like Heinz baked beans and Branston Pickle from the UK, and Vegemite from Australia
Budget
Go Benz Rice Porridge
- Price Range
- THB 80
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Rice porridge (jok), local Phuket specialty, signature dry rice porridge with aromatic soup
Lock Tien Food Court
- Price Range
- THB 120
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town (corner of Dibuk and Yaowarat Roads)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Hokkien mee (yellow noodles fried with egg), local Phuket classics, multi-vendor food court
Raya House
- Price Range
- THB 150
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Crab curry with rice vermicelli, authentic southern Thai food, Peranakan-influenced
One Chun Cafe
- Price Range
- THB 140
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Khanom jeen kang poo (crab curry with rice noodles), authentic southern Thai, family-run
High End
Blue Elephant
- Price Range
- THB 1,200
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town (Phra Pitak Chinpracha House)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Royal Thai cuisine, heritage recipes in colonial mansion, Perenakan and voyage menus
PRU at Trisara
- Price Range
- THB 2,500
- Neighborhood
- Bang Tao
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Farm-to-table, organic farm on premises, seasonal menu, sustainable fine dining
SōL Phuket
- Price Range
- THB 850
- Neighborhood
- Bang Tao (Boat Avenue Lake Front)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern Thai by Chef Top Russell, all-day dining, fresh local focus, hometown project
Acqua Restaurant
- Price Range
- THB 1,500
- Neighborhood
- Kalim
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Upscale Italian, chef Alessandro Frau (Best 20 Chefs Asia), extensive wine list, luxurious ambiance
Mid Range
No. 6 Restaurant
- Price Range
- THB 300
- Neighborhood
- Patong
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Thai staples—fried rice, curries, stir-fries, local favorite with large portions
Baan Rim Pa
- Price Range
- THB 350
- Neighborhood
- Patong
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Authentic Thai dishes with sea views overlooking Patong Beach
Black Ginger
- Price Range
- THB 380
- Neighborhood
- Nai Yang Beach (Slate Resort)
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Thai cuisine, Phuket specialities, pom tam, tom yum, Panaeng curry, crispy prawns
Laem Hin Seafood
- Price Range
- THB 400
- Neighborhood
- Laem Hin Pier, east coast
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh local seafood, grilled prawns, deep-fried fish with mango salad, crab curry
Michelin Restaurants
PRU at Trisara
- Cuisine
- Contemporary Thai, farm-to-table
- Distinction
- Michelin-starred; sustainable fine dining with own organic farm
Samutr
- Cuisine
- Modern Thai, seafood-focused
- Distinction
- Chef Ton (Le Du Bangkok); located in Chivitr Hotel, Nai Harn
Go Benz Rice Porridge
- Cuisine
- Local street food, rice porridge
- Distinction
- Michelin Bib Gourmand, 8 consecutive years (2019–2026)
Mor Mu Dong
- Cuisine
- Steamed pork belly, local Phuket dishes
- Distinction
- Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026; about 30 minutes by car from Phuket Old Town
Local Must Try Dishes
Khanom Jeen (Fermented Rice Noodles)
- Description
- Fermented rice noodles with a unique texture and subtle tang that pairs beautifully with various curry sauces, accompanied by an array of fresh herbs, vegetables, and sometimes a crispy omelet.
Hokkien Mee (Yellow Noodles, Phuket-style)
- Description
- A dish unique to Phuket—stir-fried yellow noodles with seafood, often served with a fried egg on top.
Moo Hong (Stewed Pork Belly)
- Description
- Slowly braised pork belly that transforms simple ingredients into something extraordinary through patient cooking and careful seasoning, braised for hours in dark soy sauce, palm sugar, garlic, white pepper, and fresh coriander roots until impossibly tender.
Crab Curry with Khanom Jeen (Kang Poo Khanom Jeen)
- Description
- Crab yellow curry served with balls of khanom jeen noodles; you ladle spoonfuls of the crab curry onto the sticky noodle balls and enjoy them with an assortment of crunchy raw vegetables.
Hor Mok Talay (Fish Curry Mousse in Banana Leaf)
- Description
- Made of coconut milk, chili paste, and fish wrapped in a banana leaf and then steamed, the mousse tends to have a strong flavor and is often spicy.
Thai Roti
- Description
- Cheap and filling, tracing its history back to Phuket's Muslim Indian immigrant community; savory versions make an excellent accompaniment to Phuket's curries, while sweet iterations come sizzled with margarine and topped with sliced bananas and condensed milk.
Oh Tao (Oyster Stir-fry Pancake)
- Description
- Fresh local oysters combined with taro flour, creating a crispy-edged pancake dotted with plump oysters, bean sprouts, and eggs; the contrast between crispy exterior and tender oysters makes every bite interesting.
Khao Man Gai (Hainanese Chicken Rice)
- Description
- Taken very seriously in Phuket with queues out the door; poached chicken served on rice cooked in chicken fat and broth with clear soup on the side, where the best shops have fragrant, slightly oily rice infused with garlic.
Food Delivery Services
GrabFood
- Notes
- Widest restaurant selection and most reliable delivery times; most used delivery app among Phuket expats with biggest restaurant network and most consistent delivery times, covering all major expat areas including Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Kamala, Patong, Kata, Karon, Rawai, Chalong and Phuket Town
Foodpanda
- Notes
- Wide range of street food options with array of voucher codes, discounts, and promotions; you can pay both by cash and credit card; menu is in both English and Thai
LINE Man
- Notes
- Aims to be the top on-demand delivery service for Thai customers; created by Thai people for Thai people and has become the fastest growing food delivery service in Phuket
WESERVE
- Notes
- Set up in Phuket in 2016, popular food delivery service operating in many cities around southern Thailand; helps you get delicious food delivered from your favourite local restaurants
AROI DEE
- Notes
- Local Thai food delivery service that locals often prefer; offers a selection of authentic Thai food and has gained popularity among Thai residents
Vegan And Vegetarian Dining
- Overview
- While famous for its stunning beaches, Phuket is a destination for vegan foodies best known for hosting the world's most impressive vegan food celebration, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival; beyond this incredible event, you'll find a thriving year-round vegan scene from high-quality international restaurants in the charming Old Town to luxurious plant-based resorts near the beach.
- Note Phuket Vegetarian Festival
- If you can time your visit for October, the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a spiritual event where the streets fill with yellow flags (the sign for 'Jay' or vegan/veg food); for one week, the whole island turns extremely vegan-friendly, with one of the biggest street food markets in the world selling everything from plant-based meats to desserts
Venues
The Vegan Table
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town
- Description
- Award-winning restaurant offering an extensive array of dishes and beverages served with coconut, soy or almond milk; well-known for vegan cheesecake, smoked tofu summer rolls and sourdough toasts with toppings like avocado and mushrooms in balsamic reduction
Pure Vegan Heaven
- Neighborhood
- Multiple locations across Phuket (Soi Saiyuan)
- Description
- Two locations across Phuket; open-air restaurant allows you to eat vegan food in the garden under Phuket's tropical sky
Jiya Chai (Jay Restaurant)
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town (near Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Road)
- Description
- Jay restaurant with utilitarian feel and genuinely low prices; fried goodies like spring rolls, plenty of snacks, and cooked-to-order dishes such as pad Thai; best place to eat authentic southern Thai food when you're in the south that's vegan
Ubuntu
- Neighborhood
- Phuket Old Town
- Description
- Stunning restaurant in heart of Phuket Town; vibe is friendly and welcoming with amazing staff that make you feel like part of their family the moment you step inside
Soul Phuket (SOUL Vegan Cafe)
- Neighborhood
- Karon Beach
- Description
- Located just a few metres from Karon Beach; multi-faceted heaven for plant-based food and holistic experiences where making nutritional, delicious, and colourful vegan food is an art form; menu is designed to suit gluten-free and low-glycemic-index diets
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Phuket is a magnet for tourists from around the world, offering a delightful array of Thai cuisine and a diverse range of restaurants serving international cuisines.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.kohtourphuket.com
- 2.phuket101.net
- 3.en.tripmydream.com
- 4.guide.michelin.com
- 5.marionskitchen.com
- 6.willflyforfood.net
- 7.thaitrav.com
- 8.tripadvisor.com
- 9.eatingthaifood.com
- 10.thavornbeachvillage.com
- 11.notquitenigella.com
- 12.phuket101.net
- 13.pizzagrillphuket.com
- 14.phuket101.net
- 15.veggiesabroad.com
- 16.veganfoodquest.com
- 17.itravelforveganfood.com
- 18.happycow.net
- 19.holidify.com
- 20.thethaiger.com
- 21.villa-phuket.com
- 22.thaiholidayguide.com
- 23.hotels.com
- 24.jamiesphuketblog.com
- 25.phuket.net
- 26.ministryofvillas.com
- 27.phuketspace.com
- 28.phuket101.net
- 29.phuket-insider.com
- 30.sarayahphuketvillas.com
- 31.phuket.net
- 32.phuketexpatguide.com
- 33.theluxuryeditor.com
- 34.tripadvisor.com
More About Phuket
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.