Phuket is a paradise for food lovers.
While the island may be famous for its beaches, its street food scene—rooted in Hokkien, Thai-Muslim, and Peranakan traditions—is just as captivating. From crispy-edged roti to bold southern curries and dishes found only on the island, every meal reflects a diverse culinary heritage that was overshadowed by its postcard-perfect attractions until recently. But Phuket’s culinary heritage has never demanded your attention more than it does now.
Whether you're tucking into an iconic local dish at a decades-old stall or discovering a hidden gem beloved by locals, this two-day itinerary takes you on a delicious deep dive into the best street eats and essential flavours of Phuket Town.
Day 1: Old-school shops and late-night bites
Morning
Check in at Noku Phuket, a contemporary classic MICHELIN-recognised hotel in the Chalong area. Once settled in, start with breakfast at a Phuket Town institution, Roti Thaew Nam. From early morning until noon each day, this 70-year-old halal breakfast spot slings tender, crispy-edged roti cooked over charcoal. Shaped, fried, and served in the blink of an eye, they’re best with tender beef or chicken curry or topped with runny fried eggs.Nearby, Campus Coffee Roasters on Krabi Road offers a window into the city’s third-wave coffee culture. If one latte or pour-over isn’t enough, stop by Graph – a Chiang Mai-born café chain – on Phang Nga Road for inventive coffee mocktails and house-roasted beans.
After exploring the old town and visiting heritage sites like the Jui Tui Shrine—the 114-year-old temple at the heart of the annual vegetarian festival—take a short walk to A Pong Mae Sunee. This treasured street stall specialises in khanom a pong, a Phuket Town delicacy. These fragrant coconut crêpes, cooked in mini woks over charcoal, have irresistibly crispy edges and a soft, delicately sweet centre—a perfect snack capturing local traditions.
Afternoon
Head north to Thalang for a meal at Krua Baan Platong, a three-table hidden gem loved by Thai celebrities, politicians, and locals alike. This unassuming restaurant serves bold, intensely flavoured southern Thai cuisine, including distinctly Phuket dishes. Signatures include stir-fried banana stalk with shrimp and shrimp paste; bai liang (melinjo leaves) stir-fried with egg and topped with dried shrimp; and tender pork belly with nam budu, a rich southern-style fish sauce. Booking in advance is recommended.Night
For dinner, or at least the first course, try another island staple. Since 1982, family-run O Tao Bang Niao has served smoky, savoury o tao, a dish found only in Phuket. Stir-fried seafood and battered taro are cooked over a charcoal flame, yielding a perfect balance of melt-in-your-mouth seafood and soft, luscious dough with crispy edges.Then, check out Phuket Town’s cocktail scene. With its low lighting, creative drinks, and thoughtful service, island favourite Dibuk House wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok. New venues like Coolies Club—a Bill Bensley-designed lounge that pays homage to Soi Romanee’s days as a red-light district—and The Fool, an amber-hued speakeasy serving drinks inspired by tarot cards, have added even more variety, too.
Before calling it a night, grab a late-night snack at Go Benz. Open until nearly 2 a.m., the shop serves plenty of popular dishes, but it’s best known for guay jab—pork with a peppery broth and rolled rice noodles.
Day 2: Markets, curries and floating feasts
Morning
Start day two with a taste of local life. Check in at Hotel IKON Phuket, a modern accommodation in Karon Beach, just up a forested hillside from the beach. The central market on Ranong Road and Talad Kaset offers everything from fresh fruit to pre-packaged curry pastes and pre-made dishes. They’re most active early — before sunrise, even.After a market trip, head to Pathong Ko Mae Pranee, where customers line up from 6 a.m. for crispy, golden-brown patongko (fried Thai-Chinese doughnuts) and freshly made salapao, all perfect even without pandan-laced condensed milk as a dipping sauce.
Next, visit Khao Tom Thanon Di Buk, a family-run eatery offering aromatic khao tom (boiled rice porridge) with your pick of rice, noodles, toppings and broth. For a twist, opt for the nam dam, their secret-recipe Chinese brown soup. Don’t miss their weekend specials either, like braised pork ribs and chicken with fermented soybeans.
Afternoon
You’ve tried one venerated roti specialist—now try another. For more than 35 years, locals have flocked to Roti Chaofa for Thai-Muslim breakfasts, curries, and biryani, served with flaky yet fluffy rotis. As transcendent as the rotis are, the star of the show is the tangy, slow-cooked beef massaman curry.For a heartier meal, visit the humble Southern Thai restaurant Krua Kao Kuk. Its boiled rice with fish is a standout, but don’t miss the deep-fried meatballs. Made from a treasured family recipe, they’re the perfect partner for traditional Phuket-style fish dishes and crab omelettes.
Night
To prep your palate for a night of feasting, visit Go La, one of Phuket’s best Hokkien-style noodle joints. The shop has been serving modest-sized bowls of mee Hokkien—yellow noodles wok-fried over charcoal with squid, prawns, and egg—for three generations. (Hint: Add a second egg for even more richness.)
Less than 800 metres away, you’ll find Gorjan, a simple yet well-loved family-run eatery where every dish bursts with rich, homemade flavours. It’s a great place to try southern specialities like kaeng som (sour curry) and moo hong (pork belly stewed with Chinese spices).
For a change of scenery and the ultimate send-off, visit Kruvit Raft (Ban Laem Hin). This floating seafood restaurant near Ko Maphrao is one of Phuket’s most unique dining spots. After a five-minute boat ride, you can tuck into fresh southern and central-style Thai seafood, such as grouper soup with Chinese soybean paste and stir-fried black tiger prawns with salt and chilli.
After all, what better way to end a street food crawl than with dinner on the sea?
