Best Restaurants in Phuket — Where to Eat Well on Any Budget

Food in Phuket is reason enough for a trip. Over years of living on the island, I've tried hundreds of places: from roadside stalls at 40 baht to sunset-view restaurants at 2,000+. In this guide I'm sharing the spots I keep going back to and where I take my friends. No "TripAdvisor top picks" — only places I've personally tested, with up-to-date 2026 prices.

Restaurants by Area

Phuket is a sizable island, and the dining scene varies dramatically from one area to the next. Some areas are packed with tourist traps at inflated prices, while others offer authentic Thai joints catering to locals.

Patong — For Party-Goers and Late-Night Foodies

Patong is the most touristy area, and prices reflect that. But if you know where to look, you can eat well without breaking the bank.

No.9 Restaurant (map) — an unassuming spot on a soi (side street) near Bangla Road. Thai food for locals: pad thai from 70 THB, tom yum from 90 THB, green curry from 80 THB. Generous portions, cooked right in front of you. No English menu with photos — that's how you know you're in the right place.

Patong Food Park (map) — an open-air food court near Jungceylon. Dozens of stalls: from Thai noodles to sushi, steaks, and Indian food. Average spend 150–300 THB per person. Open evenings, great atmosphere.

Baan Rim Pa (map) — for a special dinner. A cliffside restaurant overlooking Patong Bay. Royal Thai cuisine, wine list, sunsets. Average spend 1,500–3,000 THB per person. Book ahead, especially for a window table.

Karon and Kata — Calmer and Tastier

Karon and Kata have less noise and more family-friendly restaurants.

Pad Thai Shop Kata (map) — a legendary street stall where pad thai costs 60 THB and tastes better than at most restaurants. A line of locals is always a sure sign of quality.

The Boathouse (map) — one of the best restaurants on the island. Right on Kata Beach, French-Thai cuisine, an outstanding wine list. Average spend 2,000–4,000 THB, but the sunset and atmosphere are worth every baht.

Mama Restaurant Karon (map) — a family-run Thai place. Auntie Mama makes massaman curry that I consider the best on the west coast. Main dishes 80–150 THB.

Phuket Old Town — A Culinary Gem

Old Town is my favorite food zone on the entire island. It offers a unique blend of Thai, Chinese, and Peranakan (Sino-Portuguese) cuisine that you won't find anywhere else.

Lock Tien Food Court (map) — a food court in the heart of Old Town. Hokkien mee (Fujianese fried noodles), dim sum, O-Tao (oyster omelet). Everything from 40 to 100 THB. Open from morning until early afternoon, closed in the evening.

Raya Restaurant (map) — an institution. Operating for decades, famous for crab curry and yellow curry with crab. Set inside a vintage Sino-Portuguese house — the atmosphere is incredible. Main dishes 150–350 THB. Arrive at opening (11:00 AM), or expect a queue.

One Chun (map) — another Old Town legend. Local Phuket food with Hokkien and Malay influences. Must-try dishes: Moo Hong (braised pork belly) and Gaeng Som (sour fish soup). Average spend 200–400 THB.

Rawai — For Locals and Expats

Rawai is home to many foreigners, so there's an excellent mix of cuisines here.

Rawai Seafood Market (map) — a fish market on the Rawai waterfront. Buy fresh seafood at the market (shrimp, crabs, lobster, fish), carry it to any restaurant across the street, and they'll cook it for 100–200 THB. A kilo of tiger prawns goes for 400–600 THB, crab from 300 THB. A seafood dinner for two costs 800–1,500 THB. That's a fraction of any restaurant's price.

Nikita's (map) — a beachfront restaurant on Rawai Beach. Wood-fired pizza, pasta, burgers. Average spend 300–600 THB. Sunsets over the islands in the evening.

Rossovivo (map) — an Italian restaurant with authentic Neapolitan pizza. The owner is Italian and imports flour and mozzarella from Italy. Pizza 250–400 THB. One of the best Italian restaurants on the entire island.

Street Food — Thailand's Main Course

If you haven't had street food in Thailand, you haven't really eaten in Thailand. Seriously. Street food is the backbone of Thai cuisine, and this is where you'll find the most authentic dishes.

Where to Find It

• Night markets — Naka Weekend Market (map, Sat–Sun), Chillva Market (map, Tue–Sat), Malin Plaza Patong (daily). Dozens of food stalls: pork skewers (10 THB each), mango sticky rice (60 THB), fried rice (50 THB), roti pancakes (40 THB).
• Roadside food carts — mobile food carts along the roads. Signs of a good cart: a line of Thai locals, it's been there a long time (faded signage), and they cook in front of you.
• 7-Eleven — yes, seriously. Toasted sandwiches for 35 THB, rice balls, onigiri, milk, coffee. When you're too lazy to go out — it saves the day.

Street Food Prices (2026)

• Pad Thai — 50–80 THB
• Rice with chicken / pork — 50–70 THB
• Noodle soup (Kuay Teow) — 50–70 THB
• Som Tam (papaya salad) — 40–60 THB
• Pork / chicken skewers — 10–20 THB each
• Roti with banana — 40–60 THB
• Mango Sticky Rice — 60–100 THB
• Fresh coconut — 40–60 THB
• Fresh fruit smoothie — 40–80 THB

Thai vs. International Cuisine

In Phuket you can eat literally anything: Italian, Japanese, Indian, Russian, Georgian, Mexican. But there are some things to keep in mind.

Thai cuisine — always the best value. An average lunch at a local Thai joint: 60–150 THB. At a restaurant with an English menu: 150–400 THB. Quality is often better at the cheaper places, because they've been perfecting the same dish for decades.

Japanese cuisine — surprisingly good in Phuket. Plenty of Japanese restaurants with reasonable prices: sushi set from 200 THB, ramen from 150 THB. I recommend Kinza Sushi in Chalong and Fujiyama in Phuket Town.

Italian — as I mentioned, Rossovivo in Rawai and several solid spots in Bang Tao. Pizza/pasta 200–500 THB.

Indian — concentrated around Patong and Bangla Road. Several excellent Indian restaurants with naan from a tandoor, butter chicken, and biryani. Average spend 200–500 THB.

Average Restaurant Prices (2026)

Must-Try Dishes in Phuket

My personal list of dishes you should try at least once.

• Tom Yum Kung — a spicy-sour soup with shrimp. The signature dish of Thai cuisine. Go for the coconut milk version (Nam Khon) — it's milder and creamier.
• Massaman Curry — a rich curry with potatoes, peanuts, and meat. Muslim influence, a unique flavor — sweet and spicy at the same time.
• Som Tam — green papaya salad. There's a regular version (Thai) and a Lao version (Pla Ra) — the latter is intensely salty and fermented, for the adventurous.
• Khao Pad Pu — fried rice with crab. Sounds simple, but in Phuket the crab is fresh, and this dish is on another level here.
• Mango Sticky Rice — sticky rice with mango and coconut cream. The best dessert in Thailand, no debate.
• O-Tao (Hoy Tod) — oyster omelet. A Phuket specialty. Find it at markets and at Lock Tien.
• Mee Hokkien — Fujianese fried egg noodles. Another signature Phuket recipe with Chinese roots.
• Roti — a Thai-style pancake with fillings. Banana + chocolate + condensed milk — the perfect snack for 50 THB.

Dining Tips for Phuket

• Eat where the Thais eat. If a place has only foreigners, prices are inflated and the taste is toned down. If Thais are eating there, it's delicious and honest.
• "No spicy" still means spicy. If you're not used to heat, say "Mai pet" (not spicy) and add "nid noi" (just a tiny bit). For children — "Pet mai dai" (can't eat spicy at all).
• Only drink bottled water. Don't drink tap water — even for brushing your teeth, bottled is safer. Ice in restaurants is usually made from filtered water and is safe.
• Buy fruit at the market. Mango, mangosteen, rambutan, dragonfruit, durian — buy them at local markets, not tourist stalls. The price difference is 2–3 times.
• Use delivery apps. Grab Food, LINE MAN, Food Panda — food delivery from any restaurant straight to your condo or villa. Delivery fee 20–60 THB.
• Daily food budget. If you stick to street food and local Thai cafes, you can easily spend just 300–500 THB per day. A mix of street food + one restaurant meal: 600–1,200 THB. Restaurants only: from 1,500 THB/day.

Want more recommendations on life in Phuket? Follow my Telegram channel @mitya_phuket — I share new finds in real time. And if you're planning a trip, check out the Phuket excursions in our catalog.