From luscious lobsters to fiery tom yam prawn soups, tropical Phuket island is a haven for seafood dining. Fish and other sea life are an essential part of local Thai cuisine, and no visit to Phuket is complete without sampling some of its seafood.
Take a wander along the streets of the resort areas in the evening and you’ll soon find a bounty of fresh seafood delights displayed on ice-tray tables for your personal selection. Seafood is prepared in a wide variety of ways, from a simple yet flavourful pad Thai noodle dish with fresh and dried shrimp to a whole steamed fish bathed in an aromatic blend of herbs and spices.
Phuket seafood restaurants are found all around the island, and we recommend venturing beyond the resort towns for more authentic tastes. A good place to start your seafood exploration is at the Rawai Beach sea gypsy village, where you can select your seafood live from tanks and have it prepared at one of the gypsy restaurants to enjoy with the sea view. Travel eastward to Laem Hin pier, then catch a long-tail boat to one of the floating restaurants between Phuket and Maphrao (Coconut) island for a fresh and incredibly scenic seafood meal in rustic surrounds.
If staying in a Phuket villa, a fantastic way to enjoy a seafood meal is to plan a customised feast together with your in-house chef. A seafood barbecue party on the poolside terrace? A rainbow of curries and spicy yam salads to share? With a personal chef at hand, it’s easy to hone meals to your group’s preferences and discuss suggestions on some exotic dishes to try.
Phuket also brims with stylish seafood restaurants offering a mix of local and imported seafood choices and elegant tropical settings. Cool, chic Palm Seafood on Bangtao Beach has a great choice of wines and cocktails to complement your seafood meal. Kan Eang restaurant at the Chalong Pier is a long-running favourite for Thai seafood and Japanese fare to enjoy with views of the yacht-studded bay. For quality Thai seafood with a touch of romance, try Mom Tri’s Kitchen on Kata Beach or Baan Rim Pa overlooking Patong bay.
