Phuket restaurants serve all kinds of cuisine but finding real Thai food can be a little challenging. The large majority of the restaurants in the island’s tourist areas, such as Patong Beach, Kata or Karon, have been adjusting their tastes to accommodate first-timers. You probably would never see Thai people eating in those places, and it’s usually a sign. Real Thai food is often found in more modest areas of Phuket, and we list some great Local Thai Restaurants here. Phuket Seafood is also famous, and you should try the real thing without paying a fortune by checking out our Best Local Seafood Restaurants list.
Chef Gautam’s two-decade journey across eleven countries finds its natural conclusion at Ember Steakhouse in Bangtao. With a wood-fired kitchen below and a rooftop open to the Andaman Sea, Ember is defined by elemental contrasts: smoke and salt air, fire and breeze.
Project Artisan is located on a quiet road between Bang Tao and Layan, away from the beach crowds. I visited late afternoon when the place was still empty. The garden was glowing in that golden hour light, and I had time to walk around and explore before dinner.
Central Phuket has become one of the best places to eat on the island, and that’s not something we’d normally say about a mall. The two connected wings offer completely different dining experiences.
Soul Vegan Cafe is the first fully plant-based restaurant in Karon, and we’ve been back several times since it opened. The food is genuinely good, and even if you’re not vegan, it’s worth a stop.
Churchill Bar and Restaurant sits just off Karon’s main road, below the Rattana Beach Hotel. It’s only a few metres from Patak Road, but most people walk right past without noticing. That’s a mistake.
Tian Tian Phuket Dessert Cafe offers Thai and Chinese-style desserts in Phuket Old Town, almost opposite the well-known Shrine of the Serene Light and On On Hotel on Phang Nga Road.
M&M’s Pizzeria remains Phuket’s most consistently popular pizza restaurant nearly two decades after opening. The name stands for Maggie and Mario, the Italian owners who built this place into a landmark by doing one thing exceptionally well: authentic wood-fired pizza.
Baanrai I Talay Cafe, which is pronounced bâan-rai-ai-ta-le and means ‘countryside house with sea breeze’, is a rustic hillside cafe perched high above Kamala Beach,
Haidilao is a popular Chinese hot pot restaurant located on the 7th Floor at Central Festival Phuket, specialising in traditional charcoal hot pot dining.
FARANG ICE CREAM is a cozy café on Kata Beach with an atmosphere of endless summer. Here, guests can enjoy unlimited ice cream (30+ unique flavors), a stylish interior, and a friendly atmosphere. We have a mascot, Skupik, a symbol of endless summer.
Rawai Wonderland Food Court, a tropical-style food court designed for everyone who loves good food, good vibes, and good company.
Coffee Talk Cafe on Ratsada Road in Phuket town is easy to miss if you walk by, but it is also easy to spot because of the unusual and beautiful vintage black car ornamenting the front door, as it serves as the entrance of the Thavorn Museum in Phuket Old Town.
Chuan Heang is a locally famous dim sum restaurant located in Phuket Town that has been serving traditional breakfast fare for over 100 years. This historic establishment represents one of Phuket’s most enduring culinary traditions and is considered arguably the oldest breakfast restaurant on the island.
THYME Cafe & Brunch, which has earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, brings Northern Thai halal cooking traditions to the island’s heritage district, replicating the success of Sanae’s original Chiang Mai location on the Ping River.
Prawn Noodle Ao Ke in Phuket Town serves Hokkien-style prawn noodles that have kept locals and visitors coming back for more than a decade. The restaurant earned recognition from the Michelin Guide for consistently delivering simple, well-executed bowls built around one thing: prawn broth.
Juicy Lucy Burger and Bar on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Old Town is set in a vintage Sino-Portuguese shophouse typical of the area, giving it a unique historic feel, and a perfect spot to end the day after exploring the historical street of Phuket Town. The bar, which is also a restaurant, is known for burgers, generous portions, and reasonably priced drinks and cocktails.
MARNI is located on Montri Road in Phuket Town, not far from the Clock Circle and a bit tucked away from the main tourist areas. The restaurant earned recognition in the 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific rankings, placing 36th in 2025.
Pink Boat is a small seaside restaurant on Phuket’s east coast, located just before the well-known Laem Hin Seafood restaurant. This casual spot offers southern Thai kanom jeen noodles with generous portions of fresh veggies and a panoramic sea view, all at wallet-friendly prices.
My Front Yard is a new community mall located not far from the famous Wat Chalong, bringing a fresh retail and dining concept to the island’s Chalong district. The open-air design features outdoor spaces with plenty of greenery, creating a neighbourhood atmosphere rather than a traditional shopping centre layout.
Phuket Old Town is surprisingly packed with great local Thai food. The best places cluster along Thalang, Dibuk, Phang Nga and Yaowarat roads, but you will find hiddhen gems in almost ever street around.