8 restaurants putting Phuket on the culinary map

Once an anomaly in a country renowned for its superb food, Phuket’s dining scene has seen an elevation in quality (and price) since the arrival of the Michelin Guide in 2019. However, there are plenty of terrific, yet still affordable places to eat, with many of them in Phuket Town. Now visitors to the island will find a wealth of acclaimed Thai restaurants that harness Phuket’s bounty of local ingredients.

1. Pru

If one restaurant put Phuket on the culinary map, it’s Pru , the island’s first and only Michelin-starred establishment. Located at the ultra-luxurious Trisara resort, Pru celebrates Thailand’s diverse ecosystems, with all produce sourced from its land and waters. Dutch head chef Jimmy Ophorst works closely with farmers, fishermen and suppliers to uncover unusual ingredients for an exquisite seasonal tasting menu on which aged duck is a staple.

2. Jampa

Sustainability is at the core of Jampa , a locavore zero-waste farmhouse restaurant within a sprawling wellness community surrounded by tropical jungle. Related to but very different from Pru, Jampa is rustic and less expensive: think wood-fired baby corn with sambal, squid with green harissa and avocado, or river prawn with baby heirloom tomatoes and pomegranate. The restaurant is one of only three in Thailand to have earned a Michelin green star for sustainable practices. 

3. Laad

Co-founders and chefs Tan Kosiyabong and Steve Doucakis describe Laad as “fun, fresh and funky”. It’s also authentic yet approachable, stylish yet welcoming, striking the right notes for those wanting to enjoy southern Thai food. Quality local produce is procured for their stir fries, grills, curries and more. Recommended are the pomelo jungle salad, barbecued pork belly, black sticky rice cake with whipped coconut cream, and anything from the weekly specials board. Wash it down with a mezcal margarita or a natural wine.

4. Hom

The InterContinental Phuket Resort has serious culinary chops. First came Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant Jaras. Now there’s Hom – Thai for “fragrant” – ambitious fine dining housed within a grandiose white pavilion. Portuguese executive chef Ricardo Nunes, previously of hotspots Ikoyi in London and Gaggan in Bangkok, presents a creative 10-course tasting menu with fermented elements in each dish. You’ll try young coconut marinated in fish garum, with smoked caviar and salted macadamia sauce, and a sunflower seed amazake parfait with bee pollen. 

5. Royd

Phuket native Suwijak “Mond” Kunghae is a talent to watch, a champion of contemporary southern Thai cuisine at his restaurant Royd (slang for “cool”). Book a seat at the counter, where Mond and his team serve a procession of 18 tantalising courses, half of them small bites. Previous highlights include a black and white sour curry with grilled squid and smoked pineapple gel, and Hokkien char noodles. Accompany it with the cocktail pairing menu devised by Phongsathorn “Wynn” Chaokitiwut of acclaimed Phuket bar Dibuk House.

6. Samut

Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn is a star among Thai chefs. Two of his Bangkok venues, Le Du and Nusara, were voted number one and three respectively on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list. His Phuket outpost, Samut , which means “ocean”, combines local seafood and the fiery flavours of southern Thai cuisine to delectable effect. Guests are treated to an eight-course dinner of 16 dishes: such as blue crab with kua kling espuma, stink bean emulsion and white turmeric, which tastes much better than it might sound.

7. One Chun

Housed within a 19th-century Sino-Portuguese shophouse in Phuket Town, One Chun is a beacon of southern Thai cuisine. Expect to dine elbow-to-jowl with strangers tucking into spicy, hearty fare made to family recipes. Favourites include gaeng poo (yellow crab curry with rice vermicelli), moo hong (braised pork belly in a peppery sauce), and sataw (stink bean) with shrimp. Delicious food at fair prices have earned One Chun a Michelin Bib Gourmand.  

8. Mor Mu Dong

Hidden among mangroves, no-frills Mor Mu Dong (9/4 Mu 3 Soi Pa Lai, Chao Fa Road, Chalong, Phuket) comprises a series of thatched salas with plastic chairs and wallpapered ceilings. Ignore the décor: you’re here for regional dishes that pack a punch.

The fried mackerel is wonderfully moist and stuffed with fish mousse. Sour yellow fish curry is a balance of savoury, sweet and spicy. And stir-fried melinjo leaves balance all that heat. Dress down, order up.