Food · Phuket · Thailand
What to eat in Phuket
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Phuket, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bennypc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Phuket Hokkien noodles, Moo hong and Khanom jeen. Start with khanom jeen or dim sum and local coffee in Phuket Town, then walk off breakfast among the shophouses. Southern Thai food is often very spicy; ask for 'mai phet' (not spicy) or 'phet nit noi' (a little spicy).
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Phuket Hokkien noodles
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave about 20–50 baht…
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Phuket Hokkien noodles (Mee hokkien)
Thick yellow egg noodles stir-fried with pork, seafood and greens in a rich gravy, or served in broth — a legacy of the island's Hokkien Chinese settlers.
Where: Noodle shops in Phuket Town, especially around Thalang and Phang Nga roads.
Dish
2.Moo hong
Pork belly braised slowly with black pepper, garlic and dark soy until meltingly soft — a Phuket Peranakan home-style classic.
Where: Southern Thai and Peranakan restaurants in Phuket Town.
Breakfast
3.Khanom jeen
Fresh fermented rice noodles served with a choice of curries, such as fish curry or crab in coconut milk, plus a basket of free fresh herbs and vegetables — Phuket's favourite breakfast.
Where: Morning stalls and shops in Phuket Town and local markets.
Breakfast
4.Phuket dim sum
Steamed buns, dumplings and fried snacks eaten with tea or strong coffee at Chinese-style breakfast shops, reflecting Phuket's Hokkien heritage.
Where: Dim sum shops in Phuket Town, busiest from early morning.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Oh-aew
A Phuket shaved-ice dessert with a clear jelly made from banana-seed extract, topped with red beans and syrup — refreshing in the heat.
Where: Dessert shops and market stalls in Phuket Town.
Dish
6.Tom yum goong
Hot and sour soup with prawns, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and chilli, either clear or creamy with evaporated milk.
Where: Restaurants and seafood places island-wide.
Street food
7.Green papaya salad (Som tam)
Shredded green papaya pounded with chilli, lime, fish sauce, palm sugar, tomatoes and peanuts; ask for 'mai phet' if you prefer it mild.
Where: Street stalls and casual restaurants everywhere, often with grilled chicken and sticky rice.
Dish
8.Grilled seafood
Prawns, squid, fish and rock lobster grilled over charcoal and served with spicy seafood dipping sauce.
Where: Rawai Seafood Market, Nai Yang beach shacks and Chalong Bay restaurants.
Street food
9.Pad thai
Rice noodles stir-fried with egg, tofu, bean sprouts and prawns in a tamarind sauce, finished with peanuts and lime.
Where: Street stalls, night markets and restaurants across the island.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Mango sticky rice (Khao niao mamuang)
Sweet sticky rice with coconut cream and slices of ripe mango, best in the main mango season from about March to June.
Where: Night markets and dessert stalls, including Phuket's Sunday walking street.
Street food · Vegetarian
11.Roti
Pan-fried flatbread from southern Thailand's Muslim kitchens, served with curry for breakfast or folded with banana, egg and condensed milk as a sweet snack.
Where: Roti stalls in Phuket Town and on the beach roads in the evening.
Food experiences
Old Town breakfast
Start with khanom jeen or dim sum and local coffee in Phuket Town, then walk off breakfast among the shophouses.
Rawai market-to-table
Pick your seafood at Rawai's market and have it grilled, steamed or fried with garlic at a restaurant across the lane.
Sunday walking street
Thalang Road's Sunday-evening market has food stalls selling local snacks, desserts and grilled skewers.
Thai cooking class
Cooking schools in Phuket Town, Kata and Patong start with a market visit and cover curry pastes, soups and stir-fries.
Quick bites and street food
- Khanom jeen — Morning stalls and shops in Phuket Town and local markets.
- Phuket dim sum — Dim sum shops in Phuket Town, busiest from early morning.
- Green papaya salad — Street stalls and casual restaurants everywhere, often with grilled chicken and sticky rice.
- Pad thai — Street stalls, night markets and restaurants across the island.
- Roti — Roti stalls in Phuket Town and on the beach roads in the evening.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Oh-aew, Mango sticky rice and Roti. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Southern Thai food is often very spicy; ask for 'mai phet' (not spicy) or 'phet nit noi' (a little spicy).
- Beachfront restaurants in Patong charge far more than local places a few streets inland.
- Agree on the price per kilo before ordering seafood, and check the weight.
- Phuket Town has the best and most affordable local food on the island.
- Alcohol sales are restricted at certain hours and on some Buddhist holidays.
Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave about 20–50 baht for good restaurant service or a massage, and tip boat crews and guides on day trips.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sawasdee krap / ka | Hello (said by men / women) |
| Khop khun krap / ka | Thank you |
| Tao rai? | How much? |
| Mai phet | Not spicy |
| Check bin | The bill, please |
| Mai pen rai | No problem / never mind |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Phuket famous for?
Phuket Hokkien noodles, Moo hong, Khanom jeen and Phuket dim sum. Thick yellow egg noodles stir-fried with pork, seafood and greens in a rich gravy, or served in broth — a legacy of the island's Hokkien Chinese settlers.
+Is Phuket good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Oh-aew, Mango sticky rice and Roti.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Phuket?
Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave about 20–50 baht for good restaurant service or a massage, and tip boat crews and guides on day trips.