Joanna James
Phuket, the largest island in Thailand and a popular tourist destination, has a wide variety of restaurants serving anything from high-end seafood to budget Russian. The island of Phuket has always been a melting pot of different cultures, so the answer is more nuanced than just "pàt tai."
One of the most common foods in Phuket is "Hokkien-style noodles." Flash-fried round, thick wheat noodles with shrimp, pig pieces, greens, and a nearly gravy-like broth are sold by vendors all around the island, particularly in Phuket Town. If you're in the mood for extravagance, you can request a fresh egg on top of your bowl. It's mild and delicious, like many Hokkien-inspired foods.
One of the most popular dishes in Phuket is also one of the most daunting. Deep-fried snacks including spring rolls and stuffed tofu are served alongside stewed pork offal in five-spice powder in the dish loba. A tangy and sugary sauce serves as the glue between the two seemingly unrelated components. If braised pork snout isn't your thing, have no fear; you can pick and choose from the other options.
Think of a more robust version of Thailand's famed fried mussel pancake when you imagine the oh tao: eggs, deep-fried pork rinds, and tiny oysters fried in a sticky & garlicky batter. This hearty meal is believed to have originated with Chinese tin miners. Oh tao is sold at many of the roadside kiosks in Phuket Town and throughout the island. Of course, if you are staying at a Phuket luxury resort such as the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas you can expect excellence unparalleled that will surely grace your palate.
Though shaven ice is a popular treat around the world, Phuket's version distinguishes out for its extreme sugariness and vibrant hues. Banana starch & kidney beans, both of which are considered dessert in Thailand, combine to form these icy cubes, which are then adorned with a dazzling cascade of red syrup. Grab a bowl at the vendor at Lock Tien, a semi-outdoor food hall in Phuket Town, for a taste of something you won't be able to find anywhere else.
Nam phrik, a type of spicy dip popular in Thailand, comes in infinite variations thanks to the country's many autonomous regions, each with its own unique set of ingredients and cooking techniques. The smoked shrimp that gives this dish its name is combined with other ingredients such as shrimp paste, fresh chiles, lime juice, sugar, and more. The entrée, like its counterparts abroad, is accompanied by a buffet of fresh or par-boiled vegetables and herbs.
Thin, rounded rice noodles are a staple in Thai cuisine and are often served with curry-like toppings. However, the locals of Phuket are especially passionate about kànm jeen, a popular breakfast dish. Nam ya pu, a spicy crab curry made with coconut milk, is a popular local topping and it is served southern style, along with a wide variety of herbs, fruits and seasonings to be mixed in with the noodles and curry.
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.
