Phuket Guide
Thai food: a short guide for our guests
Thai food is not defined by chilli. It is defined by balance. Knowing a little about how dishes are built, and what to order where, makes every meal in Phuket more enjoyable, from a market stall to a restaurant by the sea.
Five tastes
Spicy, sweet, sour, salty and bitter, held in balance.
Southern cooking
Fiery, fragrant and rich in seafood.
Street food
Choose busy stalls with a quick turnover.
Water
Drink bottled water; tap water is not safe.
How Thai food works
The five tastes
Most Thai dishes combine three or more tastes. Spicy comes from chilli. Sweet from palm sugar, coconut milk or fruit. Sour from lime, tamarind and lemongrass. Salty from fish sauce, soy sauce and dried shrimp. Bitter from kaffir lime peel, holy basil and some greens.
The cook’s aim is balance rather than heat. If a dish is too spicy for you, say so: “mai phet” means “not spicy”, and most kitchens are happy to adjust.
Regional flavours
Four kitchens in one country
Central Thai cooking is known for its harmony of flavours, using coconut milk and palm sugar for rich, creamy dishes such as green curry.
Northern food shows Burmese and Chinese influence, with milder curries and sticky rice.
Isaan, the north-east, is spicy and tangy, generous with herbs and fermented fish sauce: think som tam, the green papaya salad.
Southern Thai food, the cooking of Phuket, is fiery and seafood-rich, with Malay and Chinese influences. In Phuket Town, look for Hokkien mee and moo hong.
What to order
Dishes to try
Gaeng kiew wan (green curry), pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), tom yum (hot and sour soup), som tam (green papaya salad), satay and khao niao mamuang (mango with sticky rice).
Then be curious: khanom krok (coconut pancakes), khao soi (curry noodle soup) or yam pla dook foo (crispy catfish with green mango salad).
Street food, safely
Enjoy it with a little care
Street food is one of the joys of Thailand. Follow the locals and choose stalls with plenty of customers and food cooked fresh and served hot.
Wash your hands or use sanitiser, go easy on raw seafood and pre-cut fruit, and drink bottled water. If you have allergies or dietary needs, carry a card explaining them in Thai.
Coffee
Phuket’s café culture
Phuket has a lively coffee scene, from Old Town cafés in restored shophouses to seaside terraces. Thailand grows its own coffee in the northern hills, and many island cafés proudly serve Thai beans.
Food & Drink at the estate
Thai flavours in a quiet garden setting. See Food & Drink →
Where to eat in Kamala
Our favourite local restaurants near the estate. See our picks →
Phuket markets
Where the island eats after dark. See the markets →
Stay in Kamala
Good food, close to home
Spacious one- and two-bedroom holiday apartments in a quiet tropical seaside estate in Kamala, with the rest of Phuket within easy reach.
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