Joanna James
Wondering what dishes to keep an eye out for while you're visiting Phuket? This Thai city is very popular with foreigners who come to enjoy its great beaches and vibe, but the food's great as well!
For those with a sweet tooth, Phuket has its own version of the shaved ice treat that's so popular all over Thailand. Called O-aew, the dish is made of shaved ice and chewy, gelatinous cubes that are made of kidney beans and banana starch. Along with this, there's the coloured syrup that gives the dish its vibrant hues. Great to have on a hot day, make sure to finish it quickly before it all melts (however, do watch out for the inevitable brain freeze that occurs when you eat it too fast!) – for this reason, it's sometimes best shared with a friend!
Called Mee Hokkien, this dish is traditionally of Chinese origin, but over the years has become very popular in Phuket, so much so that you can consider it one of the staples of local cuisine in the area. 'Mee' refers to noodles, and Hokkien Noodles refer to wheat and egg-based noodles that are usually stir-fried or flash-fried and served in a rich broth (similar to gravy) with other items such as leafy greens and meat such as pork or seafood such as prawns or shrimp. As the name suggests, the dish is of Hokkien Chinese origin to be specific, and the flavours of this dish are savoury yet mild – so it shouldn't be too spice to handle for those that aren't great with hot foods.
If you've ever been to South Indian countries such as Kerala, you might be familiar with their version of light, rice-flour based crispy pancakes that are called Appam. Phuket serves a rendition of this called Apong. You'll mostly find these at breakfast times at stalls and eateries since it's eaten as a sweet breakfast item (the Thai version, Apong, uses sugar to make this dish, whereas the Indian version is made as sweet or savoury version).
Phuket makes its own version of the many chilli based dips that Thailand is famous for. What goes into its version of this dip? Usually, it's made of fresh chillies, prawn paste, sugar, and smoked prawns as well.
The Thai love their pork and one of the popular local pork dishes you will come across in Phuket is Moo Hong. This dish has its roots in the Baba-Nyonya culture and its flavours are savoury, but with hints of sweetness. This dish is more easily found at some of the higher-level restaurants in Phuket. If you want to learn to cook some of the local dishes, check with your hotel if they offer cooking lessons. For example, Layan Residences by Anantara gives its guests the chance to sign up for Thai cooking classes – but make sure to reserve these in advance.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
