The best Thai Food in Phuket and other Phuket, Thailand Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: The Hilltop Restaurant/Tunk Ka

The first thing that will strike you about this restaurant is the beautiful location on top of a large hill in a lush, National Park overlooking Phuket town, Cape Panwa, Phuket Harbour and Sire Island. The drive up the hill is very scenic and enjoyable. The views are stunning! If you go for lunch, it is not as busy as dinner and you can see the great views on a clear day. The walkway to the restaurant is almost as enjoyable as you step through lush green gardens. Make sure you go to the right restaurant. This restaurant is right at the top of the hill, not halfway down. If it's raining, make sure you take your umbrella as it is a bit of a walk to the restaurant.

The menu is extensive with the best Thai food in Phuket, prices are reasonable and service is good.

The restaurant was started in 1973 by Ko Liang who still owns it, his daughter runs it. He found the spot whilst on a romantic interlude in his bachelor days and, modelling it on Swiss styled cafes up mountains overlooking city and water, began with just two tables. The restaurant has just been extended to three main dining areas. It turns out we were the very first guests to use the new dining platform! The toilets are a great novelty with lovely views. : )

Favorite Dish: All the food is sensational and this restaurant is highly recommended. It is highly popular with both visiting Bangkokian Thais and expats/tourists.

If you like Iced Tea or Coffee, they're a must-try here. I have the Iced Tea with milk and really enjoy it.

The cashew and peppercorn appetiser is always highly enjoyed by any guests we bring to this restaurant. Fresh cashews are stirfried with garlic, fresh green peppercorns and dried shrimp, but you can have it without the shrimp. Very tasty! The Spring Rolls here are great, along with Gaeng Som (if you like sour fish curry), in fact everything is great. The Tamarind Prawns and Chicken in Pandanus leaves usually get everyone's attention, as do any of the steamed fish. Crispy Sandfish Salad or White Fungus Salad are also very popular. Don't miss the crab, they have some amazing crab dishes too - actually I can't stop recommending dishes, everything is delicious! People we've taken there for meals have always been very impressed. If you like green vegetables, please don't miss out on the Pak Liang, the best green vegetable I've ever eaten. My favourite style is stir-fried with oyster sauce and a little garlic.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 211500
Address: Top of Rang Hill, Korsimbee Road, A. Muang
Directions: At the very top of the hill. Do not stop at the one on the way up!
Other Contact: tunkkacafe@phuketinternet.co.th

Restaurant Name: Les Anges Patisserie

Ambience? You want ambience? Well, this is the first patisserie with such ambience that I've ever encountered. So much effort has gone into the design and decoration of this patisserie/bakery/restaurant, it looks more like a lounge. And well, it is that too. This bakery is licensed and can serve you any kind of alcoholic beverage through to fine champagnes with your choice of fare from the menu. Les Anges is owned by Peter Webber formerly Executive Patissiere Chef at Bangkok’s Oriental Hotel and earlier at The Savoy in London. He is very particular about the quality of everything he serves.

The food on offer is quite varied and prices are very reasonable for what you get too. It's not often you get complementary warm bread rolls with your meal and the bread is delicious. Peter also makes up the best hampers for a romantic getaway or group day out.

Now, the bit that most people will love. This restaurant is also a chocolatiery. Hand made chocolates abound and are extremely popular as are the special desserts. Les Anges also does a lot of catering for functions and makes wedding cakes for the hotels on the island.

Opening hours are; 7.00am - 11.00pm. Happy Hour(s) run every day from 5.00-8.00pm. Free wireless internet access also available.

The bakery is located on the marina's edge, across the boardwalk from the marina.

Favorite Dish: I have many favourite dishes here, one of my latest favourites is the linguine with mushrooms, but everything is very good and the daily specials give the choice of the best fresh produce available at the time.

Les Anges serves bottles of wine at very reasonable prices. Their Chilean wines are very good. Veuve Clicquot at about the best price in Phuket too.

UPDATE: This tip was written very early on, when the Patisserie first opened. We have returned since and it gets even better! The bakery now runs periodic special wine and dinner evenings that are out of this world! We attended one in September 2007 and it was a sensational evening of 7 divine courses of foods and Chilean wines to match each course. If you get the chance, you must try it!

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 36 0802
Address: Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkassatri Road, Phuket
Directions: The Royal Phuket Marina is located right next door to the Boat Lagoon Marina.
Website: http://www.royalphuketmarina.com/htm/shop/les.htm

Restaurant Name: Into the Med

This restaurant doesn't just have wonderful ambience and views, the food is sensational, as is the staff. We were very impressed by this restaurant and actually had some of the best food we've had in a very long time here.

It's quite an expensive restaurant. A bottle of Veuve Cliquot is 9,000 baht here. The usual price is around 4,500-5,000 baht. Luckily I had a Privileges Discount card which saves 25% off the total bill at several restaurants in Phuket, including this one.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a photo of the ocean views from this restaurant at night, so the picture is just of the restaurant.

Into the Med is open from 6.00-11.00pm nightly, but closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Favorite Dish: There is one dish which I think outdoes everything else anywhere, and that is the Wagyu lamb, served with sumac spices and pomegranite syrup. The lamb positively melted in my mouth and the balance of flavours was superb. I ordered this both times we went to this restaurant.

The staff are friendly and amongst the most professional I've seen in Thailand. Attentive, but not in your face.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Evason Resort, 100 Viset Road
Website: http://www.sixsenses.com/evason-phuket/dining.php

Restaurant Name: Chumchon Restaurant

This is a very peaceful and pretty spot to have lunch. The restaurant is built over the canal at Bangrong and has a fish cage in the floor into the water. The fish, crabs etc are kept here until you place an order for lunch when they will scoop it out and take it off to the kitchen.

The views encompass the mangroves, canal, small fishing shacks, boats and out to the sea. Some children had hired a canoe and were paddling around while we were there which really added to the charm of the place.

Service is quite good and the food is nice, but it's best asset is certainly the view/atmosphere. This is a Halal restaurant.

Favorite Dish: Steamed fish of course!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 260351
Address: Bangrong Canal

Restaurant Name: Limoncello Restaurant

Limoncello Restaurant is fresh, vibrant and new. The lemon and white decor is clean and modern. You can either dine indoors or outside, by the marina's edge. Service is good and the food is fantastic.

The menus are unusual, in that they are also the placemats. The menu is not particularly extensive, but the range of fare on offer is good. Prices are very reasonable, but wines are quite expensive and the range is a little limited, but I believe it will be further developed.

Limoncello is also a pizzeria.

The restaurant is open from 10.00am til midnight.

They have a 3 course lunch menu for only 330 baht, which we haven't tried as yet, but definitely will.

Favorite Dish: My very favourite dish on the menu is the Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni, I always ask for it with tomato as well as Bechamel sauce, which makes it even better. For only 290 baht, it is good value.

I have tried the Salmon dish and the other Fish with Potatoes (Branzino al Forno, 420 baht) and they were both delicious.

Overall rating; 9/10

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 360869
Address: Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkassattri Road, Koakeaw
Directions: Dockside at the marina.
Website: http://www.limoncello.co.th/

Restaurant Name: Meng Rai Restaurant

This restaurant is really just a few tables in a laneway off Soi Bangla. It is in the same arcade/alleyway/lane as the Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Restaurants. Apparently all the restaurants are owned by members of one family. It's just the usual grotty looking white plastic chairs and tables but the food is absolutely sensational!!! It is about the best dining we've experienced in Patong.

Favorite Dish: You can order from the menu or just request your own choice but to do so you need to know what to ask for in Thai as they're not great at speaking English.

We ordered Pad Het (fried mushrooms with oyster sauce and garlic) which is not on the menu. We got straw mushrooms which are one of my favourites and they were absolutely delicious. Pad Kah Nah (fried Chinese Kale with oyster sauce and garlic) which was also fantastic. We also ordered a Pad Thai here as I was in the mood for noodles and I would have to say it's the best I've ever eaten. The rest was ordered from the menu and everything was fresh and perfectly cooked.

Not fancy and not the cheapest, but certainly extremely good. Highly recommended!!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Off Soi Bangla
Directions: As you enter a long thin arcade off Soi Bangla on the left hand side (facing Patong Beach), it is the first restaurant on your left.

Restaurant Name: Chiang Rai Restaurant

The seafood and vegetables are on display at the front of the kitchen for you to choose what you want cooked.

We have eaten here a few times and find it very good. It is a little more expensive than some of the Thai restaurants, but is still well priced for the quality of food.

There are two other restaurants in this little laneway, all three restaurants are owned by one family. Chiang Rai is the third restaurant in the laneway.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Off Soi Bangla
Directions: There is a small lane off Soi Bangla filled with restaurants. It is on the left hand side as you face Patong Beach. The sign is very visible from the front of the lane.

Restaurant Name: The Natural Restaurant

We were surprised at how quaint, interesting and enjoyable this restaurant was. The owners have gone to great lengths to create intimate dining areas in a setting which is unlike any other I have been to.

I think the name "Natural Restaurant" relates to the decor which includes lots of plants. There is even a model railway running through one of the interior gardens downstairs. The restaurant seems family friendly both in atmosphere and in price.

Music playing away in the background is pretty much 70's, which we found a pleasant change.

There were quite a few 'farangs' at the restaurant. Apparently it is very popular with tourists.

The restaurant is open daily from 10.30am - 11.30pm

Favorite Dish: We tried a huge range of meals as we were there with a group for a friend's birthday. For about 10 of us the bill, including alcoholic drinks for some of us (and a bottle of Thai whiskey) came to about 2,700 baht.

The food ranged from excellent to average. Service was good.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 224 287
Address: 62/5 Soi Phutorn, Bangkok Rd, Muang, Phuket

Restaurant Name: Floyd's Brasserie

When I saw Keith Floyd's new restaurant, I just had to try it. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

We started off with cocktails at the bar. They have 2 for one cocktails during happy hours (6.00pm - 8.00pm). The night we went, they had all martinis on special. We tried a variety, but found that we most enjoyed the Bald Eagle and White Lilly. Even at full price they're only 180 baht each. The live entertainment is excellent. Bill Padley, singer/songwriter who wrote many famous songs delivers a brilliant night's entertainment. Well worth an audience with him.

The ambience is relaxed and a little elegant in both the bar and restaurant. The restaurant is cosy and comfortable. Service is fabulous at both places.

Prices were lower than we'd anticipated, it was a very reasonably priced night out. The champagne is cheaper than Molly Malones on Patong Beach!

Favorite Dish: As much as we enjoyed our experience, we found that we would only rate the food at about 7 - 7.5/10. The dishes seemed to contain all the right ingredients, just not in the right ratios. I don't know whether it's a lack of supervision of chefs cooking another cuisine or not.

2 of the 3 of us had the aromatic crispy duck (main picture). We found the duck lovely, but the raspberry dressing was somewhat overpowering. I had the trio of seafood with saffron and lemon butter sauce (800 baht) for main, it was a small serve and was drowned in oily butter. The vegetables were delicious. Steve and our guest had the North Sea salmon, stuffed with ginger and raisins, wrapped in filo (750baht). They both enjoyed it, but felt it was overpowered by too much ginger. Even though the individual prices seem a little high for Phuket, there is a set menu price of 950 baht for 3 courses. All of our choices were included in the available selections.

Nevertheless, we shall return, it was an enjoyable experience.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 370 000
Address: 18/110 Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong
Directions: At the Burasari Hotel.
Website: http://www.burasari.com/en/experience_floyd.shtml

Restaurant Name: The Tin Mine, Indigo Pearl

Interestingly, brunch does not mean brunch in Phuket, it means a Sunday lunch. Brunching seems to be the new thing to do in Phuket these days, and why not? Such a pleasant way to spend a relaxing Sunday after a hectic week.

I've "brunched" in Phuket before, but none so enjoyable as the brunch at the Tin Mine Restaurant at Indigo Pearl Resort.

They have a band playing some great music, a mix of jazz style and laid back classics. The food array is impressive, including ice sculptures to hold the champagnes and jumping marlins presenting the seafood buffet. You can choose from sushi, sashimi, fresh prawns, bugs, mussels and oysters, there's even fresh naan bread cooked at the Indian food stand, a huge selection of salads and vegetables, along with duck pancakes, curries and plenty of dessert choices.

They also display different local artists' work each week, which are available for sale. The resort does not take any commission, which is quite generous of them.

Favorite Dish: I enjoyed everything, but most especially the Veuve Clicquot. There is a special price on champagnes at brunch. The Veuve was 3,890 baht per bottle, which isn't too bad at all.

The cost of lunch (brunch) is; 1,190 baht without alcohol and 1,450 with unlimited wines, but don't forget the ++

The Indigo Pearl actually have day rooms you can use, if you'd like to make a day of it. I guess that's so you can enjoy the pool, have lunch, then relax some more. The rooms are available from 10am-5pm for 1,000 baht.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 076 327 006
Address: Nai Yang Beach
Website: http://www.indigo-pearl.com/dining.php?id=tin
Other Contact: info@indigo-pearl.com