Ao Luk 最佳餐厅

Aulis

★ Michelin฿฿฿฿Creative

(The restaurant is temporarily closed.) Opened in December 2023, Simon Rogan's first Thailand venture, Aulis, is based on a 'chef's table' concept. The multi-course tasting menu presents native ingredients, many sourced from Thailand and local grower collaborations. Begin with an amuse-bouche over drinks in the lounge, then take a seat in front of the open kitchen to watch the chefs precisely plate farm-to-table fare imbued with Rogan's signature flair. The non-alcoholic pairing is also worth trying.

PRU

★ Michelin฿฿฿฿Modern Cuisine, Contemporary

This striking, solar-panelled restaurant by the sea embodies its 'Plant, Raise, Understand' ethos with a culinary journey showcasing seasonal, local foods. Chef Jimmy introduces diners to Thailand's unique produce, using rare ingredients in a menu that focuses on seafood, plants, and home-made preserves and fermented foods. The Japanese Kappo-style counter lends views into the open kitchen, against the backdrop of the ocean.

Tonfon Bistro

必比登฿฿Southern Thai

Since opening its doors in 1995, the chef-owner has consistently cooked flavoursome, well presented southern fare with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and authentic recipes. Daily deliveries of fresh seafood and organic produce come from nearby farms. Savour dishes like stir-fried pork with shrimp paste and bitter bean or curry with crab legs and betel leaves. While the menu may be concise, each dish reflects the chef's passion. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

Toh Daeng (Thalang)

必比登฿฿Thai

‘Toh-daeng’ translates as ‘red dining table’ – and you will find one here, running the length of the kitchen wing at this renovated manor house which serves as a window into Phuket’s past. The restaurant is surrounded by farmland, where they grow ingredients including mulberry and coconut. Well-balanced dishes allow the natural flavours of the produce to shine; rambutan red curry with grilled pork neck is a highlight, with the rambutan adding a natural sweetness.

Krua Baan Platong

必比登฿Southern Thai

Popular with Thai celebrities and prominent politicians, this eatery tucked away in a tiny alley in Thalang deserves its excellent reputation. The chefs source quality local ingredients to produce intensely flavoured dishes that encapsulate the essence of Phuket. Highlights include stir-fried banana stalk with plump shrimps and shrimp paste, and melt-in-your-mouth steamed pork belly with their signature southern Thai budu dipping sauce. Booking and ordering in advance are a must.

Krua Praya

必比登฿฿Southern Thai

Krua Praya showcases Southern Thai, especially Phuket, cuisine. The menu features skilfully prepared dishes with bold flavours and enticing aromas. The standout pork belly dishes include the signature fried pork belly with curry paste and young coconut shoots, delivering a crispy, spicy delight. Alternatively, the Phuket-style stew offers a rich non-spicy option, served in a satisfying gravy. The food is cooked to order, so please expect to wait.

Mun

必比登฿Southern Thai

Established for over 35 years, the restaurant has fostered a close connection with local fishermen, ensuring the delivery of a diverse selection of fresh seafood. The open-air main dining area exudes the charm of an old Thai-Chinese eatery. Popular among divers returning from Mu Ko Similan, the intense flavours authentically represent local cuisine, with generously sized dishes. Standouts include the stir-fried crab with lime and the southern curry featuring river snails and wild betel leaves.

Kin-Kub-Ei

必比登฿฿Southern Thai

With its shaded garden, recently renovated Kin-Kub-Ei retains its inviting charm, while debuting a casual yet warm new dining area. Chef Tipsuda 'Tubtim' Khanchaijatuwit and Ei prepare southern Thai specialties passed down through the generations, nicely balancing flavours and prioritising quality. The menu ensures affordability without sacrificing taste. The crispy golden-brown local fish with tangy curry paste epitomises their commitment to flavour and tradition.

Roe Dang

必比登฿Southern Thai

Basic furnishings and modest dish presentations belie the skill behind their precisely cooked recipes, which are made to order. Specialising in authentic Southern Thai seafood, they source the day's catch for dishes such as red grouper with bitter melon, and simple stir-fried melinjo leaves with fresh prawns. Their home-made curries use local Phang-nga ingredients. The wall of celebrity photos attests to its popularity.

Krachang Khao Lak

必比登฿฿Seafood, Thai

At a breezy, rustic location with a laid-back tropical atmosphere and modern edge, this seafood-forward restaurant serves fresh, mostly live catch in à la carte dishes that showcase natural flavours. The daily specials board highlights the day's top picks. Don't miss the aromatic shrimp-coconut soup with melinjo leaves or the turmeric-marinated grilled giant trevally, a rare local fish. Honest, warm service rounds off this relaxed, seaside-style experience.

Naam Yoi

必比登฿฿Southern Thai

Beyond an entrance surrounded by lush foliage, the modest yet inviting space has just a handful of tables, contributing to a relaxed vibe. Dishes are made to order using produce bought at dawn – think rich, fiercely aromatic Southern Thai curries. Spice levels can be dialled down upon request. There's no English menu, but the welcome is warm and the authentic Phuket food speaks for itself, which explains the queues of loyal locals and savvy travellers!

Ton Mayom

必比登฿Southern Thai

Honouring Phuket town classics beneath the leafy canopy of an old mayom tree, this humble eatery focus on quality. From the short menu, we recommend the local fish, deep fried and topped with a fragrant curry paste. A nice spot for authentic local cuisine.

Pitak

฿฿Southern Thai, Thai

Popular with locals and domestic tourists, this simple, time-honoured restaurant serves bold Southern Thai dishes with unwavering authenticity. Recipes handed down the generations are brought to life using fresh ingredients from Phang-Nga, and each dish is made to order and perfected with spice, herbs and house-made pastes. Highlights include vibrant yellow curry with grouper and pineapple, and punchy stir-fried pork with bitter beans.

Khun Thip's Satay

฿Street Food

Serving satay, and only satay, since 1975 – it’s now Phang-Nga’s iconic food. The 2-day marinated sauce smothers charcoal-grilled chicken, pork, pork intestine or shrimp. Our favourite is the tender pork satay with coconut aroma, rich peanut flavour and fresh cucumber relish.

Khanom Chin Pa Son

฿Noodles

Across from a Chinese shrine, this self-service buffet has been drawing devotees for over 30 years with its tasty khanom chin and four curry options to mix and match. Pick from a wide range of condiments, fresh vegetables, boiled egg and crispy anchovies. Lunchtime is always busy, so arrive early.

Khanom Jeen Baan Bang Kan

฿Noodles

A no-frills canteen-style eatery that draws in locals for its khanom chin (fermented rice noodles) with fragrant, freshly made curries – pair with vegetables or steamed fish cakes in banana leaves. Seating is limited and it gets busy at lunchtime.

Nern Khao View Talay

฿฿Thai

Nern Khao View Talay offers stunning views of mountains and sea from up high on a hill. Serving Thai and southern cuisine, the stir-fried pork with shrimp paste is a highlight. The aromatic paste mixes nicely with herbal notes and deep-fried shallot, while the thick sour curry soup with shrimp has a deep orange colour, tasty acacia omelette and plump shrimps. What about tackling that steep slope? There’s a shuttle service from the car park at the foot of the hill.

Khok Kloi Tom Yam Noodles with Eggs

฿Street Food

A humble street stall in Khok Kloi known for its tasty tom yam noodles with soft-boiled egg and a gentle kick. The pad thai wrapped in omelette has a nice balance of sweet and savoury. The vegetarian option comes with tofu from Songkhla. Seating is limited and lunchtimes are busy.

Thian Leng Bak Kut Teh

฿Thai-Chinese

Using heavenly recipes from Kedah, Malaysian Bak Kut Teh is a divine pork rib soup with Chinese herbs, served in a clay pot. The succulent slow-cooked meat simply slips off the bone. The chef is so confident about its tastiness, there’s a money-back guarantee for those who disagree!

Baan Rearn Mai

฿฿Seafood

Operating for 25 years, this small eatery offers an à la carte menu focused on seafood. The freshly prepared meals are light, allowing the natural umami of the seafood to shine. In addition to their signature yellow curry crab, the steamed sea bass with soy sauce is a must-try.

Peang-Prai

฿฿Thai

In the depths of the forest at the entrance to Bang Pae waterfall, two wooden pavilions stand connected by a terrace walkway. Here, a family-run restaurant faces a lagoon and a verdant wall of forest, while diners are accompanied by the welcoming calls of birds and gibbons. The tranquil ambiance is joined by traditional Thai and Southern Thai cooking, with local Phuket dishes standing out. Seasonal local clams are delicious and can be cooked many ways, including stir-fried with chilli paste.

🕐 Mo-Su 10:00-20:00

Tiffin by La Sala

฿฿Indian

Al fresco dining by a tranquil lagoon is the big draw at this restaurant located in Anantara Mai Khao Villas. The chef, from Maharashtra, takes diners on a journey through authentic Indian cuisine via an extensive à la carte featuring curries, a tiffin chaat platter and dishes from the tandoor oven. The cooking is flavoursome and well-spiced, with their signature lamb vindaloo a stand-out and the freshly baked naan well worth trying. Indoor dining with a view of the open kitchen is also available.

Phi Sao

฿฿Thai

For over 45 years, this relaxed roadside favourite not far from the beach has been serving bold Southern Thai seafood – generous, shareable portions make it a perfect spot for groups. Cooked to order, the dishes arrive together and hot. The spicy stir-fried shrimp and squid with petais is well executed, but if you're not a fan of petais beans, you can ask for them to be left out. They will also happily adjust the heat of dishes. Book ahead in peak season.

Lertrod

฿฿Thai

Across from the airport, this bright air-conditioned restaurant flies under the radar but lands simple, satisfying central and southern Thai fare. The skilled chef sources quality ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. The deep-fried seabass with fish sauce never disappoints. For the spicy southern-Thai sour curry, choose from pickled bamboo, coconut shoots or pineapple. The photo-filled menu, written in Thai, English and Chinese, makes it easy for everyone.

Jampa

฿฿฿European Contemporary

Jampa continues its dialogue with nature through ingredients grown and gathered close to home. À la carte is available throughout the day, but the exquisitely prepared Jampa Experience at lunchtime is highly recommended, featuring complex natural flavours that evolve with the seasons. For a unique lakeside experience on Saturdays, Hideaway’s four-course lunch, cooked over a wood fire, both tantalises the taste buds and educates diners on mindful practices. A plant-forward menu is also offered as a thoughtful vegetarian option.

Kruvit Raft (Ban Laem Hin)

฿฿Seafood

To reach this floating restaurant near Ko Maphrao, take a 5-min boat ride across sparkling waters reflecting the sunshine. Onboard, panoramic views, a gentle breeze and uber-fresh seafood await. The distance from sea to plate couldn’t be shorter. Start with a freshly picked coconut before tucking into delicious southern and central Thai seafood. The grouper soup with Chinese soybean paste and stir-fried black tiger prawns with salt and chilli are highlights.

Meesapam Khun Yai Chian

฿฿Thai-Chinese

Grandma Chian opened this Hokkien restaurant in 1952. Her great-great grandchildren have stayed loyal to her recipes and proudly exhibit her cooking utensils. Serving Phuket favourites, the Mee Sapam, stir-fried Hokkien noodles with seafood, is great. The stir-fried oysters with crispy egg roll are beautifully crafted with beansprouts, kale and a tasty chilli sauce.

Suay (Choeng Thale)

฿฿Thai contemporary

The acronym of ‘sassy, unique, authentic and yummy’ may sound kitsch, but the airy and bright interior with its Portuguese-tiled floor is anything but. Outdoor seating with garden and live music is equally pleasant. Owner-chef Tammasak skilfully updates Thai food with modern techniques and artsy presentation. Dishes, including the signature grilled lemongrass lamb chops with papaya salsa, are seasoned with bold but well-judged spicing. Also try the crab cakes with Sriracha chili aioli and mango chutney.

Nitan

฿฿฿Southern Thai, Contemporary

Nitan, or ’determination’ in Thai, may refer to the chef’s aim of creating a real gastronomic experience. This is most evident in the tasting menu and wine pairing, where quality seasonal and local ingredients inform the cooking. Contemporary techniques are used to prepare classic Southern Thai dishes, with well-balanced flavours and a dash of creativity. The restaurant has a warm vibe and is minimally decorated, with wooden furniture and a window into the kitchen.

Five Olives

฿฿Italian, Pizza

The Thai chef-owner draws superb flavour from a wood-fired oven, turning out Neapolitan pies with puffy, char-flecked Canotto rims and airy bases. The menu ranges from homemade pasta and creamy risotto to prime grilled meats, seafood and crisp salads, including green bowls. The braised seabass with clams is light, fresh and aromatic. Dine in the cool, air-conditioned room or on the leafy terrace; both suit laid-back gatherings among friends or family.

Thai Library

฿฿฿Thai, Southern

Rooted in tradition, Thai Library presents a refined Southern Thai menu shaped by local recipes and ingredients. The pu phat phrik lueang – Phang-Nga mud crab sautéed with yellow chilli – delivers a slow-building heat that is balanced by the crab's natural sweetness and a savoury finish. Begin the evening outdoors, cocktail in hand, as you take in the sunset over the hotel's private beach – an unforgettable prelude to dinner.

Chom Chan

฿฿Southern Thai

Set in a charming white house with a leafy façade, Chom Chan blends modern Sino-Portuguese design with antique touches. The traditional Phuket-style Southern Thai cuisine drawn from family recipes is perfect for sharing. Standout dishes, such as orange curry soup with barramundi belly and green taro stems, deliver tangy, tamarind-led sourness balanced by gentle sweetness. Bold, playful flavours shine in this cosy setting, where a meal is easy on the wallet.

Sang Ka Si

฿Thai

This outlet with a red-brown zinc roof offers a menu of both individual and sharing dishes, with nicely balanced flavours. Despite its humble guise, Sang Ka Sri attracts a crowd, so be prepared to wait for a table before enjoying the fresh squid with herbs and tangy dressing.