10 Best Restaurants in Phuket and the Andaman Coast, Thailand

This roadside shack has a sign in Thai that says "Southern food is supposed to be spicy"---so you can be assured that there is no toning the spice down here. There are also tamer Thai dishes for the faint of heart, but this is where to try authentically fiery po taek (clear seafood soup), a turmeric-and-chili-heavy dry curry called kua kling, and the homemade chili dips.

Phuket’s first Michelin-starred restaurant has a buzzy open kitchen that sends out unusual Thai ingredients presented in very un-Thai ways, like a cured squid pastrami. Chefs are chatty, service is flawless, and the culinary experience is unlike any other on the island. Arrive before sunset to enjoy a welcome drink in the sitting rooms downstairs before taking in the uninterrupted view of the sea through the kitchen windows.

There is a young generation of chefs in Phuket looking at ways to give the food they grew up with a modern spin, and Mond Kunghae is one of those who is leading the way. In a renovated shophouse around the corner from where he went to school, the chef—who also has a loyal following from a turn he did on a popular TV cooking show—sends out dishes like squid ink gaeng som (sour curry) that capture authentic southern flavors in innovative ways. Sit at the bar to take in the action.

Pick your fresh seafood live or order lon (coconut seafood dip) and hor mok (curried seafood steamed in banana leaves) from the extensive menu at this restaurant nestled under a wooden canopy. You can sit right on the water's edge, but larger parties might prefer booking the upstairs terrace. Keep in mind that there is no air-conditioning here.

From the outside, this restaurant looks like a standard, wooden Thai beach restaurant, but the creative cooking elevates it from the ordinary. Sizzling "hot pan" dishes of seafood in coconut cream, stir-fried morning glory, and sweet-and-sour shrimp are delicious. Specials, such as duck curry served in a hollowed-out pineapple, change daily and augment the already extensive menu.

Located on the edge of a farm built on what was once an open-air tin quarry, Jampa is a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on using every part of every ingredient in delicious creative ways. Look for grilled fruits, vegetables, and meats with homemade chutneys and sambals, all locally sourced. You can even take a jar of their own pesto home with you.

The walls of this unique restaurant--café in the heart of the architecturally quaint Old Town are lined with vintage black-and-white images of Phuket, which pretty much reflect the kind of food served here—old-school Thai-Chinese fare. Signature dishes are inspired by family recipes, and include bak kut teh (a pungent pork-bone broth), mee sua pad (noodles with seafood and spices), and the crispy noodle and egg salad. Ice teas like Butterfly Pea Flower and lime are especially good for cooling your insides on a hot day, while a variety of smoothies and good coffee strained in a cloth bag are also worth a try.

For a delicious snack, buy some of the creamy homemade pepper cookies or crunchy caramel peanuts to take with you.

At this cozy casual restaurant, two chefs churn out their personal spins on southern Thai dishes. The atmosphere and the offerings are youthful and fun, with craft beers and Massaman curry simmered with a splash of wine—but most importantly, it’s deliciously true to the flavor of the south.

In the heart of Phuket's Old Town, this beloved restaurant is in a historical Sino-Thai mansion, built in the early 20th century by a rich tin-mining family. Authentic Phuket dishes are the specialty here; try the yellow crab curry with rice noodles or the whole red snapper with roasted garlic. The charming decor is traditional Thai, with a nod to Phuket's multicultural influences, and the atmosphere is as much part of the experience as the outstanding food. 

At the top of the cape, overlooking the isolated bay, Taste is one of Phuket’s finest restaurants, with a romantic al fresco setting. Chef Martin and his team pride themselves on preparing classic international dishes with a local twist, like the soft-shell crab burger, lamb tenderloin, and Thai twice-cooked pork cheek.