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You can find some great food around Phuket Island and the beaches, but if you want to eat some of the best (and most affordable) dishes, leave the beaches behind and head to Phuket Town. This is a food lovers paradise!
Our list of top Phuket restaurants and places to eat has you covered.
I usually do a lot of research before eating my way around a new food city or country; I simply love to eat good food! I even wrote this post about the 10 Best Countries to Visit for Food Lovers.
In my search for the best restaurants in Phuket, I ate in many different Phuket restaurants, and family-run eateries on this island. Overall, my favourite places seem to be located in Phuket Town. So, I’ve focused this food guide on this specific area of Phuket.
If you’ve been searching online for the best restaurants in Phuket Town, this Phuket restaurants guide will be helpful.
Furthermore, if you’d like to eat one of the best beef massaman curries of your life, I’ve found it and listed it below for you.
This was a surprising little Phuket restaurant where I quickly became a regular.
The location is right on Thalang Rd, one of the busiest tourist streets in Phuket Old Town, so I would have expected the price and quality to have been just average.
I was wrong! This Chinese restaurant serves some outstanding and beautifully presented food. The crispy pork and steamed chicken dishes are excellent and the broth that is served alongside these dishes is delicious.
The best thing about this humble little Phuket restaurant is the homemade sauce (pictured below). A blend of fresh ginger, garlic, chili, and other zesty ingredients elevates any dish eaten here, particularly the steamed chicken over rice dish.
It’s not just the crispy pork and chicken that is exceptional, the pork wonton soup deserves some kind of award too.
Seriously, you need to stop by this Phuket restaurant for breakfast or lunch, as it closes mid afternoon (as most of the best Phuket restaurants on this list do).
Address: 51 Thalang Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, เมือง Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Crispy Pork & Steamed Chicken over rice, with soup
Price: THB 70
Phuket Town has multiple places to enjoy some of the best vegetarian food you’ll ever taste. From them all, this place was my favourite. This simple restaurant is very clean and it’s always busy with locals stopping by to enjoy a quick breakfast or lunch.
The menu is in Thai, however, the best deal here is rice with two curries for THB 30 ($0.85).
You can choose from a range of 15+ different vegetarian curries, coconut stews, and sauteed vegetables sitting in huge deep dishes in the window.
Don’t miss the crispy tofu, fried basil leaves, and vegetable fritters in the window to the right either. These sell for around THB 10 per piece and they’ll cut them up and serve with some chili dipping sauce for you.
This was my ‘go-to’ lunch place for an easy, affordable, and delicious lunch in Phuket Town. I’d often get a takeaway for dinner if I wasn’t planning to head out again for dinner.
Jia Chai is located on the same road as a bunch of other little vegetarian Phuket restaurants, so keep your eyes open for those as you make your way here.
My favourite dishes here are the jackfruit coconut curry, the green curry with eggplant and potato/sweet potato massaman curry.
Address: V9MM+F9M, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Choose any two curries with rice (or more if you wish)
Price: THB 30
If I had to choose just one of the Phuket restaurants on this list to take home and place in my home city of Melbourne, it would be this one. Aroon Po Chana or Aroon restaurant is a well-run little Halal restaurant with excellent food.
It’s one of those places that you could easily miss if you’re walking past, but you certainly don’t want to miss trying the food here.
Everything from freshly cooked roti, many different curries, crunchy rice salads, mixed chicken biryani with rice, or classic roti, curry, and fried egg for breakfast. It’s recommended to order a hot strong milk tea (teh terik) with this dish, it somehow makes it taste even better.
Oh, and Aroon Restaurant makes the BEST beef massaman curry I’ve ever tasted! Yes, it’s a big call; but it’s true.
The Massaman curry sauce is outstanding. the sauce is thick and luscious and the tender pieces of beef fall apart as you spoon it over your rice.
I enjoyed this dish too many times to count, I couldn’t get enough of it. And, for THB 60 (USD 1.70), it’s a great deal.
Address: เลขที่ 124-126 124 Thalang Rd, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Beef Massaman Curry with rice
Price: THB 60
The Phuket Old Town night markets happen every Sunday from 4.00 pm and they’re fantastic! I’m always fascinated at how well organised the Thai run events such as this, every detail has been taken care of to provide an enjoyable evening for all.
This is a great night out for solo travellers, groups of friends, or the whole family. The market is formed along Thalang Rd, one of the prettiest roads in Phuket Old Town and this definitely adds to the charm of these markets.
There’s so much choice for street food here, from chicken biryani, Japanese grilled beef, mussel & oyster omelettes, Thai sausage, curries, sweet desserts, fruit smoothies and so much more!
There’s usually some live music, and entertainment to enjoy as you wander around; and of course lots of shopping too.
Address: V9MQ+W2J, Thalang Rd, Taladyai Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: So many choices! I’ll leave that to you.
I wandered past this little Phuket restaurant many times on my walk into town, and it was always busy with locals.
This is a very clean and organised family-run restaurant. They serve just one dish here, and it’s fantastic!
Beef noodle soup can change daily whether the beef is in the form of sliced beef, beef balls, or otherwise. The young girl (I’m assuming the daughter) speaks excellent English and she can help you order. You can choose from a regular or large size bowl of noodle soup and what kind of noodles you’d prefer. Thin, medium (like I chose in the picture above), or large flat noodles.
The broth is outstanding in this dish. Then, the noodles, the fresh beef balls, and the green vegetables come together to deliver a satisfying breakfast or lunch.
This little Phuket restaurant closes at 2.30 pm, so be sure to come by before then.
Address: 72/1 Yaowarad Rd, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: One dish is served here – Beef Noodle Soup
Price: THB 65 regular bowl OR THB 85 large bowl
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If you want the first choice from the huge range of freshly prepared Dim Sum steaming away here, come and enjoy breakfast nice and early. This place opens at 5.30 am and it’s always busy. The Dim Sum is excellent here and very affordable.
Many workers from the nearby markets stop by to enjoy radish cakes, pork dumplings, pillow buns filled with seasoned minced pork, sweet egg custard, spring rolls and so much more.
There is a menu on the wall, but unless you can read Thai, it won’t be of much use to you. You can however read prices for these little trays of Dim Sum which typically range from THB 18 – 25 ($0.50 – 0.70) per dish.
There was a young girl that spoke great English here, but all you really need to do is point at the dishes you’d like to order from the steamer and the girls will bring them over.
They provide you with some small dipping bowls to which you can add soy sauce/vinegar and another one for chili sauce.
You can order some hot Chinese tea if you wish. This is a fantastic Dim Sum Phuket restaurant that you shouldn’t miss.
Address: 26 41 Bangkok Rd, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Eat with your eyes! Choose any dish from the steamers.
Price: THB 18 – 25 per dish
This Burmese Coffee/Tea restaurant is a gem. It’s full of positive vibes and great food.
Located behind the Central Markets, this busy little eatery seems to have it all worked out. The first thing I noticed upon entering is a tandoor-style oven at the entrance and a huge slab of dough on the table.
There’s a guy making fresh naan to order for the non-stop succession of hungry diners and delivery drivers stopping by to sit and eat here in or pick up and take away.
In addition to that, there’s a table with a pile of crispy fried samosa, spring rolls, and long savoury donuts.
Next to that is a table with multiple curries, both meat and vegetarian options.
There is no menu, however, the owner and his young son speak fantastic English and can briefly explain what they serve here.
I ordered naan bread, chicken curry, samosa, and hot milk tea (teh terik) and it was delicious.
I returned a few more times for the fresh naan and bean curry and the donuts with the strong milk tea, I love this drink; it reminds me of travel.
Address: V9JP+XGM Unnamed Road Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000.
Located just behind Central Markets in Phuket Old Town
Order This Dish: Naan bread with chicken OR vegetarian bean curry. The samosa are fantastic at 10THB each and milk tea is a must for 15THB.
Price: THB 40 (naan bread with bean curry)
Located just one street up from Lock Tien Food Court, this is a brand-new food court. There are several vendors to choose from here.
You can order pad krapow, pad thai, fried rice, and more familiar dishes and foods in Phuket.
I feel that this place should be busier, given it’s super modern, clean and the great prices for meals.
Due to its location which is just off the busy section of the Old Town, it may take a little time before word gets out that this is a great little spot to eat!
Address: 101/2,103 Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Order This Dish: Pad Krapow Moo
Price: THB 60
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This food court has been around for 50+ years and it’s easy to locate, sitting on the corner of Dibuk and Yoawarat Roads. This place is a bit of an institution in Phuket, popular with both locals and tourists.
They offer classic dishes here, ranging from Hokkien noodles, popiah sod (fresh spring rolls), Pork Satay, Tom Yum noodles, and desserts such as mango with sticky rice and Oh Aew.
Oh Aew is a shaved ice dessert designed to cool down the body on hot and humid days, and it works like a charm!
Ingredients include black grass jelly (containing Chinese herbs), softened red kidney beans, and palm seeds, all covered with freshly shaved ice and a drizzle of syrup.
Oh Aew is rare to find outside of Phuket, so you should take the opportunity to eat one while you’re here. This is a very affordable dessert, only 15 THB per bowl.
Address: 173 Yaowarad Rd, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Oh Aew THB 15 OR Hokkien Noodles THB 50
I’m a big fan of joining food tours and culinary experiences when I travel. I highly recommend this Food Tour of Phuket Old Town.
This traditional market is definitely worth visiting. I’d say that you can find some of the best street food snacks and desserts in Phuket Old Town. There’s a lady right on the far end/corner of this market that sells the BEST glutinous rice sesame balls with delicious fillings. Don’t miss them!
I especially love the busy little shop making Popiah Sod (fresh Chinese spring rolls) to order.
Wafer-thin crepes are filled with a shredded omelette, thinly sliced cured Chinese sausage, crisp bean sprouts, tofu, and usually preserved radish. Some vendors add crispy pork skin or roasted peanuts for crunch and texture.
The best part is the deliciously sweet and sticky sauce (soy and hoi sin) that is drizzled over the ingredients before they roll them up, cut and serve.
Address: V9MJ+FC9, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: popiah sod
Price: THB 15 THB each
This place is a Phuket Old Town institution. Sitting down for their signature dish of Hokkien noodles (either dry or with soup) feels like you’re sitting in their living room.
It’s a small, somewhat cluttered space with trinkets and photographs of family hanging from the walls.
The owner speaks great English and it’s clear that he’s been serving locals and tourists for a long time here in Phuket Town. I’d recommend it if you’re eating solo or with one other person, but the space doesn’t cater to small groups of friends or small families.
In saying that, you’re not here for the ambiance – you’re here to eat one of the most honest, homemade bowls of Hokkien noodle dishes in Phuket. The noodles are homemade, fresh, and chewy.
Order it with the lot and I recommend taking it with soup, it’s really tasty.
The most convenient thing about this small eatery is the location for Phuket Town Day Trippers.
The local town bus that transports visitors between Patong, Kata, or Karon Beaches drops right in front of this place, so it’s easy to walk in and enjoy this dish before exploring the rest of town.
Address: V9MP+8VR, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Hokkien noodle Soup
Price: THB 50
You may have noticed that most of the Phuket restaurants on the list so far have been very budget-friendly. Raya Restaurant isn’t in the ‘budget’ price category of the other restaurants previously mentioned, but I couldn’t put this list of best Phuket restaurants together without including it.
Raya Restaurant has perfected dishes that deliver all the flavours of the island with Southern Chinese cuisine.
The star dishes here are sweet, sticky & savoury, the kind of food that each mouthful is heavenly. They do some incredible things with fatty cuts of pork belly, perfectly braising them in the most delicious combination of ingredients.
Their signature dish is Moo Hong, a pork belly stew that will make you weak at the knees. It’s such a beautiful dish, I’d love this exact recipe for how they get this pork to be so gelatinous, soft, and flavourful; but I’m sure it’s the secret to their success.
Address: 48/1 Dibuk Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Moo Hong (Pork Belly Stew)
Price: THB 350 per serve
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This family-run restaurant feels like a little Hawker-style food court. They’ve got some great dishes on the menu, with very fair prices.
The location of this Phuket restaurant is a little further out from Phuket Old Town, around 20 mins walking time from the heart of the Old Town. If you have your own scooter, even better!
I’m a fan of the satay sticks and the Popiah Sod (fresh spring rolls) are fantastic too.
Address: 82-84 Soi Saksit, Tambon Talat Yai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Popiah Sod
Price: THB 30
Kanom Jeen is a tasty dish that showcases sticky rice noodles, intricately bundled together, which acts as the bed to lay an array of flavourful curries and crunchy vegetables on top.
This popular breakfast option in Phuket is commonly found at food carts, bustling stalls, and restaurants such as this one.
The ingredients that make up these flavourful curries include beef, chicken, fish, and crab, accompanied by radishes, bean sprouts, and green beans.
Kanom Jeen is all about textures and flavours, and the fresh bundled noodles paired with tasty curries is comforting. Once you bite into the tender meat and crisp vegetable curries, you’ll understand why the locals love Kanom Jeen so much.
Address: V9PP+J4J, Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: kanom jeen nam ya
Price: THB 50
This restaurant has the same owners as the super popular Raya restaurant. Both restaurants are highly recommended if you want to taste some of the best food in town.
One Chun Cafe & Restaurant is the more affordable of the two, so if the budget is a little tighter; come here to enjoy some delicious dishes.
The yellow crab curry is unbeatable! Fresh delicately cooked crab in a bowl of mouthwatering curry, a dish you won’t soon forget.
Address: 48/1 ถนน เทพกษัตรี ตำบล ตลาดใหญ่ อำเภอ เมืองภูเก็ต Phuket 83000
Order This Dish: Yellow Crab Curry
Price: THB 370 per order
If you’re planning to stay in Phuket Town for a few days or even a few weeks, I’d suggest choosing accommodation that is near to the Old Town. This makes it easy to walk to most of the Phuket restaurants listed in our Food Guide.
Here are some recommended hotels in Phuket Old Town for every budget.
BUDGET HOTEL: Siri Hotel
A very clean and comfortable hotel in an excellent location. The room has a fridge and a small desk to work at if you need it. Rooms are priced at THB 500 per night.
An easy 5-10 minute walk into the heart of the Old Town Town, and very near to many of the best Phuket restaurants. Staff are very friendly, good wifi and rooms are serviced daily. This is a great budget to mid-range option for hotels in Phuket Old Town. CHECK PRICE & AVAILABILITY
MID-RANGE HOTEL: Hop Inn Old Town Phuket
A modern, clean, and well-maintained hotel in Phuket Old Town. The beds are super comfortable here.
The rooms are clean and spacious, including a small fridge, desk area with chair, and excellent wifi. There’s also a convenient area in the lobby with a microwave, kettle, and coffee machine. CHECK PRICE & AVAILABILITY
BONUS: Another convenient thing about staying at the Hop Inn is the SPIN laundromat across the road. The ladies here will do a huge load of washing for you for THB 40. And they’ll dry it and have it packed and ready for pick up, usually by the end of the day for an extra THB 40.
You can buy washing powder & softener sachets from them for THB 5 each.
MID-RANGE HOTEL: Ritsurin Boutique Hotel
A clean & modern hotel room with incredibly comfortable beds, amazing bedding, and pillow, and every room has a small balcony with chairs and a small table. This boutique hotel is a 10 min walk into the heart of the Old Town.
The hotel has an elevator and they offer snacks (toast, bananas) plus tea/coffee in the lobby. Drinking water is also available in the lobby. I loved my stay at this hotel. Highly recommended. CHECK PRICE & AVAILABILITY
LUXURY HOTEL: Hotel Verdigris
A gorgeous boutique hotel with thoughtful touches everywhere. All rooms include a fridge, a minibar, a coffee machine, toiletries, and a desk.
The staff offers outstanding service here. This is an excellent choice if you have the budget for a very comfortable stay in Phuket Town. CHECK PRICE & AVAILABILITY
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of my recommended restaurants in Phuket Old Town. Most importantly, I hope you use our Phuket Restaurants Food Guide to eat around this delicious city. Does your favourite Phuket restaurant appear here? Let us know what it is in the comments below.
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