Phuket Town.Eat.Drink.

Po Cha Na

2012-10-09T02:12:00.001-07:00

A fantastic dim-sum restaurant on the edge of town is Po-Cha-Na. Set in a traditional building this looks great and oozes class matched with old world charm. The food here is quick clean and cheap and as such it makes for an ideal breakfast/lunch venue. Packed nearly everyday with discerning Thai's this little restaurant is a real gem. Priced at about 240 baht for lunch two people, although the menu is completely in Thai even the prices, it is cheap enough to be adventurous.

Ordering can be difficult but the menu has pictures so just keep pointing patiently or even better take a Thai national to guide you through the exotic cuisine on offer. Dim sum refers to a style of Chinese food prepared as small bite-sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. As such it's better to order 3 or 4 dishes for you table and share. They also do fried rice or noodle dishes for those searching for familiar ground. The 'Gyoza' come highly recommended as does the'Cafe Boran' a traditional Thai coffee that is offered (and copied poorly) in most newer coffee shops but served here with lashings of authenticity. Sipping one really transports you back as to how coffee used to be drunk. Po Cha Na is a worthy addition to any culinary tour of Phuket Town.

S & P

2012-10-08T20:11:00.002-07:00

Located upstairs in Central Festival are quite a few 'fast food' chains. S & P claim to be Thailand's leading bakery and restaurant chain. After trying a few of their bakery products (the brownie is delicious, ) I was persuaded to sit down and eat. I wish I hadn't. The food is plastic and far inferior to Cafe Nero located almost exactly opposite. Avoid it, One visit in five years is one too many.

The service is terrible, with about 15 minutes between mine and my girlfriends dishes arriving. The price is however pretty standard for this type of place. 300 baht for 2 people, but with the competition in the market place being so superior I can't see any reason for you to visit here and therefore find out just how bad it is.

Sea U

2012-10-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

An interesting choice in the center of town is Sea U , a small restaurant serving modern Thai cuisine. The prices are great, the food is tasty but the service is terrible! It's lucky it's always empty because a 30 minute wait for your meal is a standard and god help you if there are a couple of other tables. I have seen people ignored here for 10 minutes while the one waitress literally hides in the kitchen.

Located next to the backpacker hostel on Ranong Road I'm not quite sure who their target market is, I just know that it can't be the 'no-one' they currently appear to be aiming for. It's cheap but with quality ingredients ... surely a winning combination but it doesn't seem to have caught on.

The roti with curry (69 baht, top right) is a highlight as is the chicken with pepper (79 baht, above) but the rest of the menu is pretty appealing and at around 350 baht including a drink for 2 people the value for money of this place can't be questioned.

It is something of a running joke between me and by better half that they must be going out of business soon, seriously the prices are that cheap for the quality you get and my only advice is to visit it now, while you still can !!!!

Drinks and Snacks

2012-10-05T03:08:00.000-07:00

A great late night drinking spot located on Mae Luan Road right next to the Sino Inn Phuket is this place, a no name shack with rustic decor. Frequented mainly by Thai's but with the occasional westerner dropping by, this is the place to experience the real Thailand. Too many westerners in this country never really understand local culture and this place just acts as a metaphor ! The thumping pubs and clubs of the seaside resorts are not local style, here is where regular Thais hang out and so should you.

With outdoor seating, an extensive cocktail menu plus great live acoustic music this place ticks all my boxes. For a meal I don't recommend it but if you want to unwind in Phuket town you can't go far wrong. The staff here are really friendly and accommodating with a decent grasp of English, the Table service is refreshingly decent without being pushy. The snacks are quick, tasty and a nice mix of western and Thai (french fries to 'Moo-Manao'). By all accounts the cocktails are some of the best in town with an extensive menu and the beers are cold and cheap. It gets busy after 9 pm so you'll need to get there before if you want your choice of where to sit. This is the sort of place I'll miss the most whenever I'm back in England, go with a couple of friends and talk, drink then talk some more.

Noodles and More !

2012-10-03T05:29:00.000-07:00

Along Cho-Fa east (very near Suan Luang Park) there are loads of cheap Thai joints.This is my pick. It's easy to find (just look for the classiest looking place, read wooden tables,) and serves basic noodles or rice with _____ dishes but that's not what's great ... it's the extras that you can order. The spicy chicken salad (50 baht left) or the bite size home made fish cakes (30 baht below) are awesome, no exaggeration.

The waiters are helpful but you will need to have basic, basic Thai to order. The food is quick scrummy and a significant step up from the usual food stalls without an increase in price!

It's cheap, quick and delicious the only draw back being the lack of fresh chili that usually comes with 'Kao Mun Gai' (50 baht bottom left). The sauce however, is spicy enough for me if not for my discerning Thai girlfriend!

Je T'aime

2012-10-02T03:11:00.002-07:00

One of the more interesting food destinations in Phuket is Je T'aime a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant located next to the bus station (round the back off the main road). The food here is not unique but it is done better than all the other Vietnamese places I have tried, especially the 'pork skewers'(top right).

The fun of course comes in rolling your own and filling the lettuce provided with any mix of the sauces, vegetables or tidbits given to you.Ordering these are a must any time you visit here! The fresh spring rolls (right) are worthwhile but a little flowery for my tastes. Other than that the menu can become a bit of a lottery with us usually ordering 4 dishes, loving 2 and feeling underwhelmed by the other 2.

The air-con in here is unnecessarily cold ... to the point of freezing and a meal here often turns into an endurance test with no real desire to sit around and chat after it has finished. It is also noticeably less busy than when I first started going there 4 years ago and now is never more than half full. The recent introduction of a 'western menu' offering steaks etc. is a very worrying sign. Once a place starts shooting for the tourist crowd it looses a lot of it authenticity. The cooking style changes and the restaurant suffers for it.

There is an outside seating area (4 tables ish) that is nicer and more comfortable but you will often be out there on your own or with smokers so they are not that appealing.

The price is however pretty good with about 800 baht covering a meal for 2 including a couple of drinks. Most dishes are in the 140-180 baht price range and value for money isn't a complaint. The service is efficient but unfriendly and staffed by what seemed like 12 year olds on my last visit.

While I can't put my finger on why this place is declining in popularity I can tell you that I don't come here as regularly as I used to. I don't know why but it seems I am no longer in love with Je T'aime.

Kopi de Phuket

2012-09-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

KOPI DE PHUKET,is an old fashioned coffee shop on Phuket road in between 'The Books' and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This branch is in fact the second Kopi. The first is located in the On-On hotel and has been operating since 1999.

OK so lets cut to the chase. I wasn't blown away by the food, cooked in a traditional style and (due to the fact I was running a charity 10k the next day) was really glad I plumped for the chicken steak (240baht).

The only western dish on the menu and it was just about the only thing I could have eaten without pulling a face. For some reason they turned the 'kana bacon (140baht)' into a bland soup and they also managed to turn wild mushrooms into the most unappetising looking dish ever.

On the plus side they serve great cheap coffee(45baht) and cakes, seriously the banoffee pie (70baht) is delicious and the coffee 'boran' a strong traditional Thai coffee (pictured above) rocks !

However neither the decor or the service stands out and the food is of a local style that doesn't suit many western taste buds. Overall I'll drop in for coffee from time to time but this is one local Phuket restaurant I wont be frequenting with any regularity.

Phuket Food Fair

2012-09-18T07:24:00.001-07:00

PHUKET FOOD FESTIVAL, running until the 22nd of October on Sappanhin the 15th annual Phuket food festival does pretty much what it says on the tin. 100 stalls, all types of food but no alcohol as this year it's a booze free zone.

I walked around for a bit and settled on some BBQ king prawns, a Saba fish, a rack of pork ribs and sticky rice. Total cost about 500 baht and it was well worth it. I love eating great, fresh food and they really make an effort here to only allow the quality vendors in. You can see by the price that it's street food for the business class (fresh oysters!!!). However the lack of decent, clean seating and a really annoying PA system that seemed to be turned up to max volume detracted somewhat from the enjoyment of what is just simple good food.

There is also a large selection of 'take home' food as in cakes, biscuits, nuts and nibbles that mean you probably wont just eat there but then spend the best part of the next hour persuading your good lady friend that she has bought enough treats to sink an armada and it's time to leave.

Farang

2012-09-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

FARANG RESTAURANT literally translates as foreign food and this by my estimation means some really successful western grub :)

Located on the by-pass next to Index living mall and just past Big-C and Central festival this treat serves a range of western food at Thai prices.The owner didn't put a single baht into the decoration of this place but he does give you an indoor(air-con) or outside eating area in what only can be described as a breeze block shack.

The spaghetti is particularly good. In fact I don't think you can find a better carbonara(90 baht, above right) on the island but there's plenty more to choose from such as the Teriyaki salmon steak with green noodle (140baht, below) or the grilled vegetable salad (amazing). In fact the whole menu is pretty appealing, the only real let down are the pizzas. They use frozen bases but when the rest of the menu is so great you can't really complain.

The service here is lightning fast making it a great lunch spot also but rather unfriendly. The English of the waitresses is also limited so it can become a bit of a point and order process that I find particularly annoying. If I can learn to order basic Thai dishes in Thai how can you not understand me when I order a western dish in English and you work in a western restaurant ... it's like they are completely unfamiliar with their own menu! These however are regular gripes in 'the land of smiles' but with time and perseverance you can get there in the end. Be warned the portion size is also small, don't expect a giant bowl of pasta, they go for quality not quantity here.

These small grumbles can be put aside however when your food is as good as it is here, as cheap as it is here (300baht for 2 pastas and a salad and drinks) and quick as it is here. A friend of mine once said to me "if only we could transport this restaurant to England, we would make a fortune" and he was right. This place is busy with a mix of Thais and Foreigners for a reason .... it's truly great.

Green Curry Restaurant

2012-09-14T05:24:00.001-07:00

Green Curry Restaurant, Located On Wirat Hong Yok (the road that connects Chao Fa East and West) a little bit further down from the weekend market ( keep an eye out for the Brainy house language school it's next door.)

Ok don't get confused by the name , this isn't a curry place it's actually a really scrummy lunch or breakfast place. Open from 6am to 3pm daily this friendly husband and wife team knock out quality dishes at low prices. I highly recommend the chicken with cashew nuts (bottom).

The portions are small but often because of the heat it's all you need and at these price (50-60baht) you can afford to try a few dishes off their menu.There are only three foreigners who have ever eaten there and all three are regulars (at least twice a week). In fact it got to a point last year when I was eating there just about every day ... worrying !
You will need transport to get there as it's unwalkable but if your hungry and driving past you won't be disappointed.

'The' Roxy

2012-09-14T02:05:00.003-07:00

Roxy Bar, a small well run establishment on Phang-nga road, is a real treat. Populated almost exclusively by ex-pats, this place ticks all the boxes and more. The reason why I love Phuket town so much more than the rest of the island (and a huge reason why I started this blog) is the lack of complacency shown by the small business owners. Unfortunately in Thailand you can feel like a walking ATM with peoples eyes lighting up at the unsuspecting tourist whenever you walk past their establishment ( or worse taxi ). There is none of this here, this place has to serve the pickiest crown around and does it with ease. Cold drinks, cheap pool, big screen TVs and AMAZING food means Roxy is not just a bar, it's a second home.

Sometime in a previous life I was watching an American football game and saw Ray Lewis the most dominant middle linebacker of his generation introduce himself as coming from 'The U'. It started me thinking as to what his university must have meant to him to call it that. Well, now I know .... 'The Roxy' means the same to me, it's not just a place ... it's 'The Place'. It's also centrally located so is used as a great point of reference .... " you know the barber shop just around the corner from Roxy" or "the next street over from Roxy etc. ."

The pub quiz on a Wednesday night is great fun (and occasional hosted by yours truly). Get yourself down there and you could find yourself walking away with some free beers, a free meal or the Jackpot in cash! The drinks menu is ample and nicely priced whilst the food menu is extensive. The fajitas (160baht) are perfection whilst the outstanding cheeseburger (also 160baht) destroys not just local competitors but almost any burger I have ever eaten.

Anywhere else I go for 'home comfort' food I constantly compare to here and it is always unfavourable. But I'm missing the key ingredient of this place and it's one that I can't put into words. Put your name up on the pool board (10 baht, winner stays on,) or stumble in alone on a quiz night and you will be accepted with open arms. Welcomed into the fold and as one drink turns to a few new friends are met, new tales told and lasting memories made.

Rockin' Angels

2012-09-10T08:16:00.001-07:00

Rockin' Angels, A live music venue with a touch of class. From the Rassada traffic circle heading up Yaowarat Road, Rockin’Angels is on the left-hand side before the first traffic light. Beer is slightly on the expensive side (Heineken 80baht)and the cocktails seem professionally made but also expensive (from 160baht). The live music is inoffensive bordering on quiet and the tables are crammed in too close for anyone over 5foot 5 to sit at comfortably. That being said, especially on weekend nights, it's a great place for an after dinner drink. The conversation can flow, the lights are appropriately dim and the intimacy resonates long after you have left. They serve food from Rider Cafe (just across the road) and it's closed on Mondays.

Lotus

2012-09-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

Lotus, Located on Phang-nga road just down from Roxy and The On-On hotel this foreigner friendly eatery seems to be restoring some of it's former glory.
Previously a teeming open air Thai restaurant. About 2 years ago the owner got some ideas about gentrification, air-conned it and turned the place into a mid-level steakhouse decorated in a quaint bistro style. With a Menu that seems to have come straight from Sizzler but perhaps with better ingredients.
Recently however things have been looking up, the Thai food is returning to the menu ( even if the customers aren't) and their truly splendid 'massaman gai' chicken curry complete with whole onion and potato is back and still the best in town.
The lack of atmosphere caused by frequently being the only table in there is a little disconcerting but the chicken steak (120baht), whole ribs (190baht) and aforementioned chicken curry (125 baht) make it always a pleasant visit. I never understood why the crowds left this place but until they return I will continue to enjoy it ..... in an awkward silence.

Tiny Coffee

2012-09-10T04:57:00.000-07:00

Tiny Coffee, Located just around the corner from Lemongrass on Thepsattri road (opposite Hongyok House) Tiny coffee is a strange thing ... Step inside the air-con to be served a very mediocre coffee or a stale flavorless (but well presented) cake. Glance down at the plastic 'fast-food' menu and fear the worst but here is where the real surprise kicks in. THE FOOD IS GREAT !

Cheap, quick, spicy and very very tasty. A poor coffee shop turns into an ideal breakfast/lunch venue with nearly all dishes under 100baht. I don't really want to recommend any dish because they are all good, but be warned they are spicy and if you can't stand the heat well you know what they say .... Just don't get sucked into ordering a 70 baht cappuccino it's really really not worth it.

Fresh Seafood

2012-09-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Behind Robinsons department store every evening a plethora of food 'stalls' pop up with plastic tables spilling off the sidewalk and onto the street. This is where to go if you want to eat on a budget, as every possible Thai dish is available here. I love a small seafood place that is round the back with an impossible name, just look out for the cheerful owner with a flat cap on (seriously I think he wears it everyday !). Menu's are in English and Thai but the beauty is seeing all the food laying out in front of you waiting to be cooked to your specification.They will always tell you the price before cooking but don't be afraid to point and ask. Highly recommended is the squid, seriously fresh, I always thought squid was rubbery until I ate here! A major bonus is also the price, about 500 baht for a whole fish, a squid or prawn dish and a vegetable dish. I eat here about once a week and I have never been anything other than happy with the meal. An amazing place for simple great inexpensive Thai food.

Natural Restaurant

2012-09-09T08:17:00.001-07:00

Sometimes known by it's Thai name Tamachart this quaint and quirky restaurant serves consistently high quality Thai dishes to a mainly foreign crowd. Highly recommended is the 'Shu Shi Goong' a spicy prawn curry that hits all the right notes and their fresh fruit shakes are all amazing. Be warned though the service is sometimes slow and you really need to be seated upstairs, in fact you should insist on it ! As hinted at by the name it's the decor that really sets this place apart, you are basically eating in a giant tree house. I keep hearing this restaurant is a hidden gem but it's really not hard to find and everyone knows about it. You can find it on Soi Phuthon , close to where the buses depart for the beach plus all the taxi's will know it. The pricing is pleasant with a meal for 2 coming in at well under 1000 baht. The only downside is too many foreigners has led the chef to dilute the taste and if your searching for authentic Thai cuisine make sure you give your server a nod when ordering and ask him to prepare it 'Thai style'.

Introduction

2012-09-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

This blog will predominantly be about food and restaurants in and around Phuket town. In time I will try to expand it to include other cultural points of interest but for now if you have any questions just ask. Everyone can Google restaurants in Phuket but the same hi-priced answers keep cropping up. This blog will be more about eating great food without breaking the bank. Don't worry we all crave a burger or a pizza sometimes being this far from home and i will en-devour to help you find the best or at least avoid the worst. Good Thai food is rewarding, inexpensive and fun. Good Western food is rare and treasured. Cheap food is cheap food but can still be delicious and more often than not adventurous. Fusion food is the biggest lottery, when done well it can be mind blowing .... literally ...... Curry Pizza !!!! a craze surprisingly slow to catch on.