Phuket Food: 28 hand-picked places

A Thai seafood restaurant where you choose seafood displayed on ice and order by weight. The garlic prawns are rich and savory, the black pepper crab has a bold peppery aroma, and the seafood tom yum is tangy and spicy. The back of the indoor dining area is air-conditioned and quieter, making it a comfortable place to eat.

A Peranakan restaurant and café in a restored Sino-Portuguese shophouse. Its Hokkien noodles feature Andaman seafood, with shrimp and squid coated in a rich, gently sweet sauce. The tiled interior and high ceilings make it a lovely place to dine.

A family-run Thai home-style restaurant with covered, open-air seating overlooking Phuket’s west coast. The panang chicken curry is rich with coconut and gently flavored; pad kra pao and pad Thai are also favorites.

A restaurant giving southern Phuket cuisine a modern twist, with curries and wok dishes at its heart. The spicy Moo Yang Trang with sataw (stink beans) and curry paste is richly aromatic and well balanced, and goes beautifully with rice. A good spot to enjoy the bold flavors of the South with wine.

A Southern Thai restaurant in a renovated 100-year-old Phuket house. Moo Sam Chan Pad Sapparot (pork stir-fried with pineapple) is sweet and savory, while the cha-om leaf omelet is crisp around the edges. The air-conditioned dining room is comfortable, and the front terrace looks out onto a garden.

A small restaurant serving Phuket and Peranakan dishes made from family recipes. The crispy noodles topped with prawns are sweet and tangy, and the red interior is filled with vintage pieces and family photos.

An air-conditioned Thai restaurant serving seafood as well. The tom yum goong has a tangy, spicy broth, and the mango sticky rice comes in a generous portion. Choose between indoor and outdoor seating.

A casual Thai restaurant tucked down an alley. The basil chicken is a fragrant basil stir-fry, while mango sticky rice pairs sweet mango with glutinous rice. Dine outdoors in the open-air seating area.

Enjoy seafood dishes and Southern Thai curries by the pond. Oysters from Surat Thani are sweet and juicy, and live music plays in the evenings.

An open-air restaurant and bar overlooking Kata Beach and the sea. Its som tam pairs crisp papaya with tangy, spicy flavors, and the menu of Thai dishes and cocktails is a great choice for a sunset meal by the water.

A family-run restaurant serving Phuket-style southern Thai home cooking from family recipes. Moo hong is tender, slowly braised pork, while the orange curry with sea bass and green taro stems balances tamarind’s tang with a gentle sweetness. Dine on the shaded veranda of an old white house tucked behind the garden.

A restaurant serving Taiwanese and Thai home-style dishes. The braised pork belly is tender and falls apart easily, and you can adjust the heat of the Tainan noodles.

A rooftop restaurant serving contemporary Indian charcoal-grilled cuisine in a Mughal-inspired tent setting. Signature dishes include charcoal-kissed lamb chops and butter garlic lobster. It’s a lovely spot for dinner with views of the hills and the Andaman Sea.

A hilltop restaurant serving Thai and European dishes. The menu includes tom yum goong with shrimp and barbecued pork ribs, and the terrace overlooks Patong Beach and the bay.

A Thai restaurant in the resort, serving Southern Thai and regional dishes made with local ingredients. The kaeng som with Phuket pineapple is a tangy, spicy curry served with sea bass. Choose from indoor and outdoor seating.

A restaurant and café across from Patong Beach, serving Thai dishes alongside pizza. The green curry is fresh and bright, while the tom kha gai is light and easy to enjoy.

A casual grill serving Thai dishes alongside steaks, with grilled meats and seafood at the heart of the menu.

A casual restaurant focused on Thai food, with Japanese dishes and pizza also on the menu. The green curry has a rich coconut aroma, while the pad thai stands out for its sweet-and-sour flavor. Choose between air-conditioned indoor seating and an outdoor area, with music playing.

A family-run Thai restaurant in a cozy, hut-like space. Pad Thai makes for a familiar, satisfying meal, while the fried bananas are crisp outside and soft and sweet inside.

A seafood restaurant by the pier, serving fish brought in each day by local fishermen. Charcoal-grilled tiger prawns pair beautifully with seafood sauce, while crab curry is served with rice noodles. Shaded seaside tables beneath the trees offer lovely views over Chalong Bay.

A small Japanese-style sushi restaurant that makes each order fresh. Fresh sushi pairs especially well with the lemon iced tea.

A seafood restaurant on a floating fish farm where you can also experience aquaculture. Try the spicy black salmon pad cha, sea grape salad, or fried fish with fish sauce. Kayak trips through the mangroves are also available.

A hillside café and restaurant serving both Thai and Italian dishes. The fish curry is fragrant, and choosing your own pizza dough and toppings is part of the fun. Dine on the covered outdoor deck with views over Chalong Bay and the surrounding islands.

A seafood restaurant with outdoor seating by the shore. Fish and prawns are cooked to order; the garlic butter prawns are rich and savory, while the tamarind sauce prawns are sweet and tangy.

A halal restaurant serving steak and seafood alongside Thai and Pakistani dishes. Tomahawk and T-bone steaks are mentioned, and generous portions and live music make it a good fit for dinner.

A garden restaurant serving Phuket specialties and seafood, set in a striking forest-themed space with an artificial waterfall. The crab coconut curry has a rich coconut milk flavor and comes with khanom jeen rice noodles and fresh vegetables. Live music plays every night.

A seaside Thai seafood restaurant overlooking Chalong Bay. Fish grilled over coconut-shell charcoal has a gentle smoky aroma and natural sweetness. The breezy outdoor seating makes for a peaceful meal by the water.

Enjoy southern Thai seafood on a wooden terrace over the water. The salt-crusted grilled fish is tender and juicy, and the views of Coconut Island make this a lovely spot for a meal.