Phuket Best Seafood Restaurants (Updated)

The best seafood in Phuket is mostly found in local restaurants, sometimes hard to find and often away from tourist places. Of course the seafood you will find in Patong, Kata, Karon and other popular beaches is good too, but there is a little something more in local restaurants. It’s more authentic, more fresh, not to mention often cheaper. We are happy to share our 10 Best Local Seafood Restaurants in Phuket with you! We decided to stick as much as possible to the concept of really LOCAL seafood. We went around, ate a lot of seafood, then ate again and as we are now fat and broke, let’s reveal the results!

Note: We did not list any of the touristy places displaying their fishes on ice by the street, they are probably OK, but we want the real thing only.

1. Mor Mu Dong

One of the most local and talked about, hard to find seafood restaurant in the eastern mangrove of Phuket island. It’s great, fun and you get a full blast of the real local life. By now, everyone knows that Andrew Zimmern from ‘Bizarre Food’ tried it and so should you. (Read all about it here)

2. Kru Suwit Floating Restaurant

Unusual and fun, but a bit more pricey than other local seafood venues as it includes a very short boat trip. A longtail will take you for a nice 5 mn ride from the pier on the east coast and drop you on one of these giant rafts keeping their life stock in nets. A fun afternoon! (Read all about it here)

3. Kan Eang 2

One of the oldest but newly renovated seafood seafront restaurant in Chalong, also on the east coast. Setting is simple, shady and so relaxing. Seafood is as fresh and excellent as it gets, otherwise it wouldn’t even be listed here! (Read all about it here)

4. Bang Pae Seafood

Another of our great week end favourite. Bang Pae serves a large choice of delicious and really local dishes. Sit in a perfect nature setting made of huge mangrove trees growing right into the sea. (Read all about it here)

5. Laem Hin Seafood

A very large and very popular seafood restaurant at the pier leading to Koh Maphrao (Coconut Island) as well as the ‘Floating Restaurant‘ mentioned above. As there is no need for a boat ride, prices are cheaper. Read more

6. Thanoon Seafood

Right at the feet of Sarasin Bridge and therefore a bit far, Thanoon is just a bit more ‘sophisticated’ than most restaurants listed here. The beach setting is fabulous: you actually sit on the mainland with a view on… Phuket Island! Lots of specialties, including some unusual dishes you must absolutely try! Read more

7. Ko Ang Seafood

Ko Ang is a real local seafood restaurant located in the middle of Phuket town. No frills and no fancy decoration, but a lot of excellent specialties including some unusual dishes such as razor clams, horse shoe crab salad.  Read more

8. Chaiyo Seafood

A great seafood place on the banks of Phuket town river. Nice and peaceful setting with a view on the mangrove vegetation. Their livestock is kept in nets right in front of the restaurant. Read more

9. Palai Seafood

Palai Seafood is one of the best known seafood restaurants in Phuket. The restaurant is located near Chalong, past the zoo and before Mor Mu Dong. There are actually quite a few seafood restaurants in this area. While Palai Seafood serves quite a decent seafood, the clientele is mostly expats and Chinese tourists. Locals tend to go to Laem Hin or Mor Mu Dong. Service is known to be a little slow, but it’s still a good place to stop for seafood if you are around this area.

10. Rawai Seafood Market

Rawai Seafood Market started as a modest local fisherman village where you would buy some local catch to take home. The place was known as the Sea Gypsy Village and was a bit of an attraction. Year after year the small market grew and a restaurant offered to cook the fish you just bought across the street. Read more

Read the Thai version of Phuket Best Seafood Restaurants: ร้านซีฟู้ดยอดนิยมของภูเก็ต