Where Do Michelin Chefs Eat When in Phuket?
For more than 30 years, we have been lucky to call Thailand home, and our passion for food has taken us everywhere, from the simple street stalls to fine dining addresses run by Michelin-star chefs. Along the way, we started building friendships with some of these top chefs. Out of curiosity, we asked a few of them to share their own favourite places to eat in Phuket. Their answers brought us a mix of hidden gems and well-known kitchens. We will keep asking more chefs as we meet them, so check back once in a while for new recommendations.
Chef Ton โ ThiTid Tassanakajohn
Some of Chef Tonโs Restaurants:
Chef Ton, or ThiTid Tassanakajohn, is one of Thailandโs most influential chefs of his generation. We met him when he opened Le Du in Bangkok back in November 2013. Even then, he was already bringing fresh ideas to Thai food, focusing on local, seasonal ingredientsโa concept many doubted at the time. Chef Ton originally studied Economics at Chulalongkorn University before shifting gears to train at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. He worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park and Jean Georges, later becoming a Certified Sommelier.
After returning to Thailand, Chef Ton made his mark with Le Du, which quickly climbed Asiaโs Best Restaurants rankings, taking the no.1 spot in 2023. Heโs also behind other top venues like Nusara and Samut in Phuket. Beyond his restaurants, Chef Ton is now a judge on several Thai TV cooking shows and actively works to boost Thai cuisineโs profile worldwide. Watching his journey from our first meeting to becoming a true culinary celebrity has been inspiring.
Chef Tonโs Recommended Restaurants When in Phuket:
Ton Mayom Restaurant (เธเนเธเธกเธฐเธขเธก)
HEH Restaurant
Royd Restaurant
Kluay Mai Thai Restaurant
Chef Luca Mascolo
Chef Luca Mascolo is an award-winning Italian chef from Puglia who founded The Smokaccia Laboratory in Surin Beach. We know him as a multiple Michelin Guide-recognised chef who earned the โCulinary Scientistโ award in Bangkok for inventing his signature sourdough bread called โSmokacciaโ. His culinary journey began at age eight in Italyโs farmlands, where his grandparentsโ farm and local market visits with his father sparked his passion for fresh ingredients.
By sixteen, he placed third in an international culinary competition against much older chefs. His global experience includes working at Michelin-starred restaurants and Aman resorts worldwide, serving as head chef at Amanpuri in Thailand. The Smokaccia Laboratory, located in Surin Beach, offers its innovative 18-course molecular gastronomy tasting menu featuring zero-waste philosophy and healthy cuisine.
Chef Lucaโs Favourite Restaurants
Raya Restaurant
Khun Hua and Khun Aood: Ton Mayomโs Sisters
Khun Hua and her sister Khun Aood are the long-time owners of Ton Mayom, a Southern Thai restaurant in Phuket that earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2024. For decades, we knew them as the friendly sisters running a quiet roadside restaurant popular with locals.
Despite their newfound international fame following Michelin recognition, they remain as welcoming as ever, continuing to serve authentic Southern Thai cuisine with bold, spicy flavours. The sisters maintain their family-friendly atmosphere while preserving traditional recipes, transforming their once-local secret into one of Phuketโs most celebrated dining establishments.
Chef Aoodโs Favourite Restaurants
Nam Yoi Restaurant
Mee Ko Lan
