Try Some Real Phuket Dishes
What Phuket dishes should you try, and where to find them? We already shared our Best Local Restaurants and Best Classic Thai Dishes, so here are 10 really local specialities, or their popular Phuket variation. To make it easy for you, most of these specialities are around the intersection of Dibuk Road and Yaowarat Road, mainly at Lock Tien Food Court. There are many other places in town where those specialities can be found, but we tried to facilitate your experience: as you probably will explore Thalang road and its surroundings, you will be very near the ‘Phuket delicacy street’, so give it a try.
Por Pia
Por Pia, a speciality from Phuket, is a fresh spring roll featuring a soft rice or wheat wrapper filled with ingredients such as pork, shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, cucumber, and herbs. The roll is sliced into bite-sized pieces and topped with a sweet, sticky sauce made from soy and tamarind. This dish reflects Chinese-Thai culinary influences and is enjoyed as a light meal or snack, offering a balance of sweet, salty, and sour flavours with a crisp, fresh texture.
Price: 30 baht
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant
Mee Hokkien
Mee Hokkien Phuket is a well-known noodle dish featuring thick yellow egg noodles stir-fried with pork, squid, prawns, and leafy greens in a dark soy-based sauce. The noodles are typically topped with a soft-boiled or fried egg, and garnished with fried shallots and pickled shallots on the side. This dish, influenced by Chinese immigrants from Fujian province, is recognised for its rich, slightly smoky flavour, chewy texture, and the combination of seafood and pork, reflecting Phuket’s multicultural food heritage.
Price: 40 baht per plate
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant, Kopitiam by Wilai, Mee Ton Pho by the clock circle, Ko Yoon Restaurant at the fountain circle (not far from the city market)
Bee Hoon Kra Dook Moo
Dry vermicelli served with fried shallots and spring onion, served with a clear soup and pork ribs. Excellent.
Price: 30 baht
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant, at the intersection of Yaowarat Road and Dibuk Road.
Kiean
A deep-fried Phuket sausage made from pork and taro is served with a sweet sauce.
Price: 50 baht
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant.
Lo Ba
Lo Ba is a Phuket street food made from deep-fried pork giblets, including intestines, ears, and fat belly. The pieces are cleaned, seasoned, and fried until crisp, then served with a thick, sweet brown sauce and fresh cucumber. This dish reflects the Chinese-Thai heritage of the island and is commonly found at local markets and food stalls.
Price: 80 baht
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant
Chakachan Talay
Chakachan Talay, which means sea cicada, is a sea crustacean found on the northern beaches of Phuket, namely Mai Khao and Haad Sai Kaew and beached on the mainland past the Sarasin bridge. The sea cicadas are first peeled from their back shell and then deep-fried. It is crispy and goes well as appetizers or snacks with a beer.
Where to find Chakachan Talay in Phuket: Ta Tuay Restaurant, Thanoon Seafood, Rimpan Restaurant
Kanom Jeen Phuket
Rice noodles served with the curry of your choice. Then it’s up to you to add condiments, fresh or marinated veggies, thinly sliced banana leaves, morning glory, etc. Delicious for breakfast, best with local coffee or milk tea. Read more
Price: 25 baht per plate
Where to find it:
- Mae Ting (Phuket Town)
- Pa Mai Kanom Jeen (Phuket Town)
- Kanom Jeen Saphan Hin (Phuket Town)
Hormok Talay
A delicious spicy curry fish mousse steamed in Bai Cha-Ploo leaves (‘Piper sarmentosum Roxb’ if you ask!), wrapped in banana leaves. A must-try, but be aware, it might come spicy and occasionally with a strong fishy taste!
Price: Ranges from 15 baht in very local shops to 80 baht in some more sophisticated places
Where to find it: Almost any seafood restaurant serves it.
- Kan Eang @ Pier is an excellent place to try it.
- Piang Prai Restaurant – Bang Pae Waterfalls
Oh-Eaw
Jelly made from banana with shaved ice and syrup. Excellent to cool down the heat, AND after the spicy dishes mentioned above!
Price: around 12 baht
Where to find it: Lock Tien Restaurant, but also shops and carts around.
Tao Sor
Small cakes stuffed with a choice of ingredients: Sweet with preserved egg, salty with preserved egg, black sesame, pandanus flavour or for the brave: durian flavour.
Price: 40 baht
Where to find it: Opposite Lock Tien Restaurant
O Taw
Stir-fried small oysters with flour, crispy pork and taro. (Photo from Khun Praew!)
Where to find it: Yao Yentafo, not far from Ko Benz Restaurant
Phuket Specialities Map
The Real Phuket
