Thai cuisine is one of those cuisines that is really popular all over the world and in Phuket, a famous island in the south of Thailand, you can enjoy a true culinary experience, a journey of flavours and an experience that involves all the senses.
This is because here in the dishes, in addition to Thai cuisine recipes, you will find various influences from Arabic, Chinese and Malay culinary traditions. In every single dish, you will find a concentration of more or less common flavours, smells, spices and ingredients.
So let yourself be tempted by this ranking of the 10 things you absolutely must eat in Phuket.
1 - Pad Thai
Surely during your stay on the island you cannot miss eating this delicious traditional dish of the country and perhaps also the best known abroad. You will really find it everywhere: restaurants, markets and street carts.
There are several variations of it, such as vegetarian, but the traditional one consists of rice noodles seasoned with soy sauce and fish sauce, tamarind (the fruit of the evergreen tropical tree of the same name, which has great beneficial effects), sautéed shrimp, peanuts, omelette, crispy tofu, garlic and chilli peppers galore. A real treat for the palate.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €1.50
Main ingredients: rice noddles, tamarind, fish sauce, peanuts
2 - Tom Yang Goong
Another well-known dish , this is in fact the national soup. Originally from Thailand, you can also find it, either the same or with slight variations, in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia. It can be eaten as a single dish, as it is accompanied with rice on the side.
Again, there are several variations, but the traditional and most popular one is served with prawns as the main ingredient. The broth is instead composed of lemongrass, lime juice, combava leaves, galanda rhizome, fish sauce and fresh chilli. In fact, this dish has a spicy sour taste and is served with steamed rice, usually Thai jasmin rice, which helps to dilute the spiciness.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €2.00
Main ingredients: prawns, lime juice, fish sauce and chilli
3 - Roti Nam Geang
As we have already mentioned, some dishes have been influenced by other cultures, like this dish. It is different from the classic, relatively sweet roti, which you can also find in other parts of Thailand, in that different spices of Arabic origin are used to make it more spicy.
It is a type of bread made from different flours and the dough is composed only of the flours, hot water and oil, so no yeast. A special griddle is used to cook it. It is accompanied by a very hot and spicy curry, which can be made from chicken, beef or fish.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €1.50
Main ingredients: bread, curry, spices
4 - Kuay Tiew
This is the Thai name for noddles, so this dish, as you can imagine, will have noodles as the main ingredient. There are so many variations, with different ingredients, and everywhere in Thailand and Phuket you will find stalls that will prepare it for you in no time. This, together with Pad Thai, is one of the most popular dishes among the locals.
As already mentioned, there are many versions, with some using one ingredient rather than another, but the most commonly used Kuay Tiew is rice noodles, garlic, coriander seeds, white pepper and meatballs, usually pork. A recipe with fish balls is also popular. It is generally not a spicy dish, but can be accompanied by chilli and other spices.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €1.50
Main ingredients: rice noodles, pork, garlic, coriander seeds, white pepper
5 - Gai Med Ma Moung
Photo by Takeaway. In this dish, the protagonists are not rice noodles or fish, as seen in the previous dishes, but chicken. It is in fact a cashew chicken recipe. Cashew nuts are grown in the surrounding areas and are considered among the best in the world.
The chicken is accompanied by cashew nuts sautéed in oil in a wok, oil in which the chicken itself is then cooked. The sauce, on the other hand, is made with soy sauce, garlic, honey, salt, pepper and chilli, now a staple ingredient in almost every Thai recipe.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €2.00
Main ingredients: chicken, cashew nuts
6 - Massaman Curry
Photo by Guilhem Vellut. Like Roti Nam Geang, this is a dish that comes from the Muslim culinary tradition. Despite its Arabic origins, this is one of the most popular dishes in Thai cuisine. In the 19th century, it was called Muslim curry, which in Thai is called moot salim. It is believed that the latter word gave rise to the actual name, massaman.
One of the main ingredients is massaman pesto, which is prepared by crushing seeds and roots of cilantro, lemongrass, galanda, white pepper, shrimp paste, shallot, salt, oil and dried chilli in a mortar. The pesto is first simmered alone and then the coconut milk is added.
There are several variations, but the most popular are chicken and beef. There is also a vegetarian version. Like other dishes, it is generally served with steamed rice on the side.
Recommended: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €2.00
Main ingredients: massaman curry pesto, coconut milk, beef or chicken, potatoes
7 - Oh Eaw
We can't help but dedicate a few positions to desserts! In fact, we recommend you try this, a dessert that you will hardly find outside Phuket. It is especially popular in the summer, as it is very refreshing and suitable to combat the hot and humid Thai days.
It has shaved ice, syrup, jelly cubes, banana starch and red beans as a base. That's right, red beans. This choice may surprise you, but here in Thailand these beans are considered a sweet ingredient. Definitely a dessert that must be tried!
Recommended for: snacking
Average cost: from €1.00
Main ingredients: crushed ice, syrup, jelly cubes, banana starch, red beans
8 - Mok Plaa
Its name comes from amol, which is a certain process of steaming, and in some cases baking, spicy food wrapped in a banana leaf. So, once the dish arrives at the table, you will find it served in a banana leaf that serves as a plate.
Also called Thai Curried Fish Custard, it consists of small cakes assembled inside the banana leaf and then steamed. There are several variations, but the most famous one consists of fish, spices and vegetables. There are also variations with meat, mainly chicken, with eggs, usually accompanied by minced meat, or vegetarian.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €2.00
Main ingredients: fish, spices, vegetables
9 - Kaeng Khiao Wan
Photo by Takeaway. Literally means'sweet green curry'. Also more simply called Green Curry, as you can already imagine, it is named after its green colour, due to the presence of green chillies, Thai basil and green aubergines. This dish is very common in central and southern Thailand. Moreover, it is to be considered a one-pot dish, as it is accompanied by boiled rice and makes for a hearty meal.
Themain ingredient of the dish is green curry pesto, which is prepared by pounding various ingredients in a mortar, including fresh green Thai chillies, fish or soy sauce, galanda, lemongrass, chilli leaves, garlic, combava, shallots, coriander and shrimp paste. The pesto is then added to coconut milk, another key ingredient. There are meat, fish and vegetarian variants.
Recommended for: lunch, dinner
Average cost: from €2.00
Main ingredients: green curry pesto, coconut milk, fish sauce, basil, Thai aubergine
10 - Roti Banana Pancake
Photo by Christina Chan. One of Thailand's most famous and loved desserts. You will find it almost exclusively on the streets, in street stalls. It is in fact a typical street food. Nowadays, you can really find them with all kinds of fillings, such as chocolate sauce, apples and others.
But theone we absolutely recommend is theclassic and traditional one: made with bananas and condensed milk. The roti dough is worked by hand on an aluminium plate, is then filled with bananas (or any other filling) and then cooked on the hot plate together with butter. It may not be one of the healthiest dishes, as there is a lot of butter used, but we assure you that it is a delight.
Recommended for: breakfast, snack
Average cost: from €1.00
Main ingredients: banana, condensed milk, butter
Where to eat in Phuket: best markets, street food and restaurants
Phuket's culinary tradition is a perfect blend of Thai cuisine with'outside' cuisines such as Arabic, Chinese and Malaysian. The dishes are rich in flavours and aromas and will take you on a real journey. And, another plus point, as you may have already noticed, you will pay very little here to enjoy good, hearty dishes. Absolutely forget the prices we are used to.
The best way to embark on this journey of flavours is to eat at the markets and Thai street food, especially at lunchtime when you may be busy sightseeing. In the evening, however, sit down at one of the many small tables in the street restaurants and enjoy a good dinner.
1 - Go Benz
Description: one of the most famous places for street food in Phuket; open from 7pm to 3.30am, always crowded, a meeting point for locals and tourists alike.
Speciality: street Thai food, including Khao Tom Haeng
Average price: 60 to 120 BHT (about €1.80 to €3.60)
Address: 163 Krabi Road, Phuket - Get directions
2 - Street food Market
Description: one of the best places to taste Thai street food, with a wide selection and cheap prices; located on the west coast of Phuket; open every day from 10am to midnight
Speciality: Thai food
Average price: 60 to 120 BHT (about €1.80 to €3.60)
Address: 4233, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket - Get directions
3 - Malin Plaza
Description: one of the most popular night markets, with a huge variety of food; meeting place for both locals and tourists; also suitable to visit with children; open daily from 14:00 to 24:00
Speciality: Thai food
Average price: 60 to 120 BHT (approx. €1.80 to €3.60)
Address: 162/51-52 ภก.4055 Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket - Get directions
4 - Mor Mu Dong
Description: hidden place, not very easy to find, unique; created in the middle of the mangrove, you can eat in the small huts built above the water
Speciality: Thai food and fish
Average price: 150 to 170 THB per plate (about €4.40 to €5.00)
Address: 32/9 Soi Mu Dong, Chao Fah East, Chalong, Phuket - Get directions
5 - Kan Eang 2
Description: considered one of the best seafood restaurants in town, prices are a little higher than average; located right on the beach, incredible sea view; recently renovated
Speciality: fish
Average price: 100 to 150 BHT per plate (about €3.00 to €4.50)
Address: 9/3 Moo 9 Chao Fah Tawan Aok Road, Ao Chalong, Phuket - Get directions
