A local food court with a Phuket heritage style
Punte Phuket (ศูนย์อาหารปุ๊นเต่ภูเก็ต) is a popular local food court serving street food in the old streets of Phuket Town, tucked in a dead-end street off Yaowarat Road. It is about 100 metres from Thalang Road, where the Sunday Walking Street Market takes place. Punte opened in late 2021 and has become increasingly popular since the iconic Lock Tien Food Court closed its original location. It is now one of the best spots to try local Thai food and Phuket specialities in one place during a walk around Old Phuket Town.
Atmosphere
The place is charming and spacious, decorated in a Sino-Portuguese Phuket heritage style that feels a bit like a traditional Chinese tea house. The seating area is in the centre, surrounded by about a dozen small stalls, each specialising in a dish and its variations. It is clean, well-lit and comfortable enough to sit for a while. Even the restrooms are well maintained, which is not always the case in food courts. It does not look like a typical food court at all, and there are some nice corners to take photos too.
About the Food
Food courts are common in Asia, but if you are not familiar with the concept, it is simple and fun. Walk around and look at the displays or food photos until something catches your eye. Order and pay at the stall, then pick any table and wait. In most food courts, you would wait for your dish before sitting down, but at Punte, the staff bring the food to your table, which is a nice touch.
The menu covers a wide range of Phuket specialities and Thai street food classics. You can find Hokkien fried noodles (mee pad Hokkien), mee hoon with pork bone soup, dim sum, khanom jeen with curry, chicken satay, o-taw (fried taro with oyster), lo-bah (deep-fried tripe in sweet and sour sauce), pad krapow, pad thai, som tam, fresh spring rolls, and more. Some of these stalls have been family-run for generations and have simply moved their recipes into this food court. There is also a breakfast set with soft-boiled eggs, toast and coffee. Drinks include traditional Phuket-style kopi and iced Thai tea.
I had Hokkien noodles and a few dim sum sets, and it was a perfect break during a long photo walk around Old Town.
Good to Know
Punte is open from early morning, so it works for breakfast, lunch or a late afternoon snack. It is a great option if you are exploring Old Phuket Town and want to try several local dishes without going from shop to shop. The entrance on Soi Soon Uthit is easy to miss, so look for the signboard on Yaowarat Road. Most stalls accept cash only, so bring enough baht with you.
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Punte Phuket Info
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 101/2,103 Soi Soon Uthit, Talat Nua, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Hours: 6 am – 6 pm
Phone: 098 671 4856
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puntephuket.localstreetfood/
Punte Phuket Map
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