Top 5 Best Places for Traditional Thai Food in Phuket

The Legendary Icon

Raya is not just a restaurant; it is an institution. Housed in a beautifully preserved 100-year-old Sino-Portuguese mansion with mosaic tile floors, it feels like dining in a museum. It is famous across Thailand for serving the Best Crab Meat Curry with Betel Leaves (Gaeng Pu Bai Cha Plu). The chunks of crab are massive, and the spice level is authentic but manageable. Even Bangkok celebrities fly down just to eat here.

Opening Time: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00.

Location: 48 Dibuk Road, Phuket Old Town.

How to get there:

Taxi: Tell the driver "Raya Restaurant, Dibuk Road". It is a major landmark in Phuket Old Town.

The Grand Dining Experience

Located in a stunning, grand colonial building in the heart of Old Town, Tu Kab Khao is easily the most photogenic restaurant on this list. A giant lobster hangs on the outside wall, making it impossible to miss. Inside, it is elegant and royal. The food is Michelin-rated Southern Thai cuisine. Their Moo Hong (Phuket-style Stewed Pork Belly) is melt-in-your-mouth perfection and widely considered the benchmark for the dish.

Opening Time: Daily, 11:30 – 22:00.

Location: 8 Phang Nga Road, Phuket Old Town.

How to get there:

Taxi: Tell the driver "Tu Kab Khao" or "Phang Nga Road" (Near the Kasikorn Bank).

Book a Table: Official Facebook

The Vintage Local Favorite

If Raya and Tu Kab Khao feel too formal, One Chun ("Monday" in Thai) is the cool, hipster younger sister. The decor is vintage retro, think old clocks, televisions, and brick walls. It has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for years because of its incredible value. The flavors here are bold and uncompromising. Try the Nam Prik Goong Siap (Shrimp Paste Dip with Smoked Prawns) for a true taste of Phuket fire.

Opening Time: Daily, 10:00 – 22:00.

Location: 48/1 Thepkasattri Road, Phuket Old Town.

How to get there:

Taxi: Tell the driver, "One Chun, Old Town". It is located at the intersection of Thepkasattri and Dibuk roads.

Book a Table: Walk-ins are standard.

The Rustic Mangrove Adventure

This is for the adventurous foodies. Mor Mu Dong is hidden deep in the mangroves of East Phuket. There is no fancy decor here—you eat in bamboo huts (salas) built over the mudflats. It is raw, local, and incredibly spicy. Their signature dish is Pla Tu Yat Sai (Stuffed Mackerel), where they debone the fish, mix the meat with curry paste, stuff it back in, and fry it. It’s a flavor bomb you won’t find anywhere else.

Opening Time: Daily, 10:00 – 21:30.

Location: Soi Palai, Chalong (East Phuket).

Google Map: Link to Map

How to get there:

Taxi: This is hard to find. You must take a taxi or Grab. Tell the driver "Mor Mu Dong, Soi Palai" (near Phuket Zoo area).

Book a Table: Walk-in only.

The Royal Thai Fine Dining

For a special occasion, Blue Elephant is unmatched. It is located in the Phraya Chin Pracha House, a spectacular 105-year-old governor's mansion. While the other spots on this list focus on "local" food, Blue Elephant specializes in Royal Thai Cuisine, ancient palace recipes that are beautifully presented. It is pricey, but the service, history, and complexity of the curries make it a world-class experience.

Opening Time: Daily, 11:30 – 22:00.

Location: 96 Krabi Road, Phuket Old Town.

How to get there:

Taxi: Tell the driver "Blue Elephant" or "Governor's Mansion".