Best restaurants in Phangnga

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

Bib Gourmand฿฿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.

Mun

Bib Gourmand฿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.

Roe Dang

Bib Gourmand฿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

Bib Gourmand฿฿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.

Krua Luang Ten

Bib Gourmand฿Southern Thai

Krua Luang Ten makes for an unusual setting with its tables arranged on sand-covered floors. Check the whiteboard for the specials, which often feature the catch of the day and seasonal ingredients. The dishes masterfully balance robust Southern Thai flavours for authentic spiciness, and the complimentary vegetables come with tai pla sauce. N.B. The restaurant is closed on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of the month.

Toh Daeng (Thalang)

Bib Gourmand฿฿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.

Hok Kee Lao

Bib Gourmand฿฿Thai-Chinese

For over 40 years, this heritage restaurant has been serving up delicious Thai, Chinese, and Southern flavours. It's an ideal spot for family gatherings, offering a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu includes Chinese favourites such as nicely moist chicken pae sa flavoured with seasoned soy sauce and paired with morning glory. If you are lucky, try the fried tofu with minced pork and shrimp.

Krua Baan Platong

Bib Gourmand฿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

Bib Gourmand฿฿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.

Kin-Kub-Ei

Bib Gourmand฿฿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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Juumpo

฿฿Southern Thai

The cuisine of the local Baba (Chinese-Thai) people lives on here. Named in honour of the owner’s grandfather, a 'Juumpo' or chef on a Chinese boat more than 80 years ago and the source of many unique recipes, the open-air restaurant is fitted out with décor that reflects Chino-Portuguese design and culture. Baba-style coconut milk soup with shrimps and Thai herbs, chilli dip with shrimp, and fried fish with sweet and sour sauce are all recommended.

Beach Grill and Bar

฿฿฿Mediterranean Cuisine

Offering a relaxing setting with indoor and outdoor seating perfect for enjoying cocktails and a delightful mix of Mediterranean dishes, against the backdrop of the evening sunset. Specialising in fresh seafood grilled over a wood-burning stove, the restaurant's standout dish is a seafood pizza with shrimp, squid, mussels, and mozzarella. Complete your dining experience with a delicious dessert like crispy fried bananas served with coconut milk ice cream.

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.

Lok-Un

฿Small eats

The signature pork leg, which is stewed for 6 hours, has a spicy, charcoal flavour – the tasty recipe comes from the chef-owner’s Chinese great grandfather. Photos of visiting royals confirm its prestige; one of the most popular places among the Sino-Portuguese buildings of the old town.

Bang Dean

฿Street Food

A local favourite in Takua Pa, popular for its flavoursome halal breakfast and beautifully aromatic and rich slow-cooked beef and goat curries. The clear beef soup made to order arrives piping hot. Dishes also come in smaller portions – perfect for sampling a variety of options.

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.

Khrua Nong

฿฿Thai

The husband-and-wife team go to market every day to select fresh, local ingredients and seafood and offer a wide selection of Thai dishes. Check the blackboard for the specials which change every day, but the crispy softshell crab with a peppery chilli sauce is unmissable.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.