Phuket Local Food: Dishes to Try and Where to Eat Them

Phuket local food is a mix of Hokkien-Chinese, Sino-Portuguese, Muslim-Thai and southern Thai cooking. If you only try a few things, make them Phuket Hokkien noodles, moo hong (braised pork belly), o-tao (oyster omelette), kanom jeen nam ya and Phuket-style dim sum. Most of the best eating is in and around Phuket Old Town, and most of it happens in the morning.

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Phuket local food at a glance

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Dish	What it is	Where to try it
Mee hokkien	Yellow egg noodles with pork, prawn and squid in a clear oyster-sauce broth	Mee Ton Poe, Lock Tien (Phuket Town)
Moo hong	Pork belly braised in dark soy, black pepper and garlic	Raya, One Chun (Old Town)
O-tao	Oyster, taro and egg omelette, crisp at the edges	O-Tao Bang Niao, Talad Nuea food court
Kanom jeen nam ya	Rice noodles with a turmeric fish curry and raw vegetables	Kanom Jeen Pa Mai, Khanom Jeen Mae Ped
Phuket dim sum	Small pork-heavy steamed dishes, best before 10am	Sam Kong, Chokchai Dim Sum (Mae Luan Road)
Gaeng gari pla / yam Phuket	Malay-style fish curry and a mango, coconut and dried fish salad	Krua Charifa (opposite Talad Kaset)
Roti tao and aa pong	Crisp coconut crepes, sweet and light	Sunday Walking Street; Ahpong Mae Sunee
Lo bah	Fried five-spice pork belly and tofu with tamarind-chilli sauce	Sunday Walking Street, Lock Tien
Rawai seafood	Pick fresh fish and shellfish by the kilo and have it cooked	Rawai seafront

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Noodles and braised pork: mee hokkien and moo hong

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Mee hokkien is the dish most locals will point you to first. It is thick yellow egg noodles with pork, prawn and squid in a clear, lightly sweet oyster-sauce broth, lighter than the Malaysian version. Mee Ton Poe has been serving the same broth since 1946, and Lock Tien in Phuket Town is the other name to know, famous for Hokkien fried noodles with an egg on top. Check each place's current hours before you go, as they have changed in recent years.

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Moo hong is the Old Town signature: pork belly braised for hours in dark soy, black pepper, garlic and palm sugar. Raya, in a restored Sino-Portuguese house on Dibuk Road, is the best-known place to eat it. One Chun, near the Thai Hua Museum, is a leaner, less sweet version. The rest of Old Town's architecture is worth a look too; see our guide to where to stay in Phuket.

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Close-up of Phuket-style Hokkien noodles with pork, vegetables, fish balls, and a soft-boiled egg in a savory sauce. — Mee Hokkien with an egg on top photo by Mark Wiens

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Breakfast like a local: dim sum, kanom jeen and kopi

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Phuket dim sum is simpler and pork-heavier than the Hong Kong style, and it sells out early. Sam Kong on Mae Luan Road opens at 6am, and Chokchai Dim Sum nearby is known for its spicy dipping sauce. Both are best before 10am.

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Kanom jeen nam ya is fermented rice noodles with a turmeric-heavy fish curry, served with a plate of raw vegetables and eggs. Kanom Jeen Pa Mai serves it from about 7am until it sells out. Finish with kopi (thick Hokkien-style coffee) or cha yen (Thai iced tea) at a cafe such as On On on Phang Nga Road. For the full market experience, walk through Talad Yai on Ranong Road before 8am, where the stalls sell jok (congee) and roti mataba.

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Khanom jeen Thai rice noodles served with rich curry sauce, fresh vegetables, herbs, bean sprouts, and dried chilies. — Kanom Jeen served with rich curry sauce photo by Learn Thai with Mod

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Southern Thai curries and Muslim-Thai dishes

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Southern Thai food is hotter and more sour than the central Thai dishes most visitors know. Gaeng som is a sour orange fish or prawn curry, found at Yoy Pochana on Rassada Road. Kua kling, minced meat stir-fried with curry paste and lots of chilli, is very hot. Moo phad kati kling is the mild, fragrant alternative.

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Krua Charifa, across from Talad Kaset, serves halal Thai and Malay rice-and-curry dishes, including gaeng gari pla (Malay fish curry) and yam Phuket (a salad with green mango, coconut and dried fish). It is also the easiest answer if you are looking for halal food in Phuket Town.

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Phuket-style roti served with curry, fried eggs, chicken, dipping sauces, and hot tea on a stainless steel table. — A traditional Phuket breakfast spread featuring crispy roti, rich curry, fried eggs, chicken, dipping sauces, and tea photo by Mark Wiens

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Street food and sweets

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On Sundays, from about 4pm to 10pm, Thalang Road becomes the Sunday Walking Street. Look for lo bah (fried five-spice pork belly and tofu), roti tao (crisp charcoal-grilled coconut crepes), kanom jak (banana-leaf parcels of sticky rice and coconut) and o-aew (shaved ice with red beans and grass jelly).

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For something sweeter, Ahpong Mae Sunee in Old Town is known as the original home of khanom ahpong, a thin, crispy rolled crepe, and expect a queue. If you are in Phuket in October, the street food scene changes completely during the Vegetarian Festival.

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Street food market in Phuket Old Town with local vendors, colorful umbrellas, and visitors along a historic Sino-Portuguese street. — A lively street food scene in Phuket Old Town, where local vendors serve Thai specialties beneath colorful umbrellas and heritage architecture photo from The Happy Jetlagger

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Don’t forget to check for local festivals and events, as they may affect restaurant opening hours. Read more on our Phuket Festivals 2026 Guide.

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Seafood: Rawai

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Rawai, on the south coast about 30 minutes from Old Town, works differently from a normal restaurant. You choose seafood by the kilo from the stalls and a nearby restaurant cooks it for a cooking fee. Agree all prices first, and go before sunset.

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Thai seafood feast with steamed crabs, oysters, shellfish, fish, curry, vegetables, rice, and dipping sauces served family-style. — Thai Fresh Seafood Feast served family-style photo by Mark Wiens

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Where to eat

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Raya: moo hong in a Sino-Portuguese house

Dibuk Road, Phuket Old Town. Go early to avoid a queue.

Mee Ton Poe: Hokkien noodles since 1946

Phuket Town. Cash only. Go at lunch.

Sam Kong: dim sum from 6am

Mae Luan Road. Cash only. Items sell out by mid-morning.

Krua Charifa: halal Muslim-Thai curries

Opposite Talad Kaset market, Phuket Town.

Talad Yai: the morning market

Ranong Road. Best before 8am for congee and roti mataba.

Rawai: seafood by the kilo

South Phuket. Go before sunset and agree the cooking fee first.

Venues are recommendations from published food guides and local knowledge; check opening hours before you go.

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Eating on your Phi Phi tour

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Food does not stop when you leave the island. Our Phi Phi Island and Bamboo Island speed catamaran tour includes a light breakfast, a buffet-style lunch with local dishes, fresh fruit and soft drinks. The tour is 8 hours, and it costs 3,900 baht for adults and 2,900 baht for children aged 4 to 11. Our guests rate us 5.0 from 607 Tripadvisor reviews. See the Phi Phi Island and Bamboo Island tour or book now. If you have halal, vegetarian or allergy needs, contact us before you book. Read why guests choose us in the best boat tour company in Phuket.

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Pad Thai with shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, and garlic chives served in a large tray. — Pad Thai with shrimp included in Andaman Surprise Phi Phi Islands Tours

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Tips for eating well in Phuket

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Go early: dim sum, kanom jeen and market breakfasts sell out by mid-morning.
Carry cash: many of the best small places do not take cards.
Ask for less chilli if you are not used to southern Thai heat.
Combine eating with sightseeing: Old Town pairs well with the history at Wat Chalong, and with a beach day at one of the best family beaches in Phuket.

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Phuket local food: frequently asked questions

What is Phuket famous food?

Phuket is best known for Hokkien-style noodles (mee hokkien), moo hong braised pork belly, o-tao oyster omelette, kanom jeen nam ya and Phuket-style dim sum. Fresh seafood at Rawai and Muslim-Thai curries are also local favourites.

What is moo hong?

Moo hong is pork belly braised for hours in dark soy sauce, black pepper, garlic and palm sugar. It is a Phuket Hokkien dish with a strong pepper flavour, and it is usually eaten with rice.

Where can I eat Phuket Hokkien noodles?

Mee Ton Poe and Lock Tien, both in Phuket Town, are two of the best known places for mee hokkien. Mee Ton Poe is cash only and is best visited at lunch.

When is the best time to eat in Phuket Old Town?

Go in the morning for dim sum, kanom jeen and market breakfasts, because the best items sell out by about 10am. The Sunday Walking Street on Thalang Road runs on Sunday evenings for street food.

Is Phuket food very spicy?

Some dishes are, especially southern curries and kua kling, which is very hot. Hokkien noodles, moo hong, dim sum and o-tao are mild, and you can ask for less chilli at most places.

Are there halal and vegetarian options in Phuket?

Yes. Krua Charifa near Talad Kaset serves halal Muslim-Thai food, and vegetarian rice-and-curry shops operate near the Jui Tui shrine. During the Vegetarian Festival in October, vegetarian food is available across the island.

Where is the best seafood in Phuket?

Rawai, on the south coast, is the classic choice: you pick seafood by the kilo and the restaurant cooks it for a cooking fee. Agree prices before ordering and go before sunset.

How much does Phuket street food cost?

Most street snacks such as roti tao and aa pong cost only a few tens of baht per portion, while sit-down moo hong in a restored shophouse costs several hundred baht, according to recent food guides. Prices vary by venue, so check the menu.

Is lunch included on the Andaman Surprise Phi Phi tour?

Yes. The Phi Phi Island and Bamboo Island speed catamaran tour includes a light breakfast, a buffet-style lunch with local dishes, fresh fruit and soft drinks. For halal, vegetarian or allergy needs, contact the team before booking. Alcohol is not allowed on the trip.

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