List Of Favourite Restaurants In Phuket

[pagallim]

Has anyone eaten at the restaurant called "Vietnamese Food - Pho"? It's located on the road that connects the Chao Fa's...I am sorry I don't know the name, but it's the same road that PAWS is on. If you've eaten there, let me know how it is.

I use a gym not far from this place, and whilst I was there this morning I got a call from the wife saying she was on the road and suggested we meet up somewhere for lunch. So, neither of us having been there before, we agreed on this place.

Firstly the name. I thought it was called 'Pho' also, but it turns out that's the Viet name for noodle. The actual name of the place is 'Sunavien', though you won't see that name anywhere in English........

Anyway, nice and clean inside, and as we were the only customers, plenty of tables. They have a large fish tank at one end, with an interesting looking specimen inside, which the proprietor called a 'Dragon Fish'.

Not a very lengthy menu (I counted a total of 12 choices), so at first I wasn't too enthusiastic. However, I ordered spring rolls with beef, and a pork and vegetable pancake.

The spring rolls were excellent. Choice of 2 or 3 large (maybe 4-5" long and 1.5" diameter) sausage shaped parcels of fine pancake filled with salad and in my case pieces of beef (wife had same but with prawn). The art of eating them is to nibble off the top at one end, and add a teaspoon of accompanying sauce before each bite, and work your way through to the end. 3 of these are really quite filling, and at 99 baht something of a bargain.

The crispy pancake with the filling of pork and vegetables I've had before at J'Taime, and as there, really enjoyable.

The place opens from 11-2 lunchtimes, then 5 to 10 in the evening. They close on Mondays. It's not somewhere I would go for leisurely lunch or dinner, but I'd definitely go there again for a light lunch or supper.

There's a Japanese restaurant next door called (I think) 'Sakado', and they seem to share menus (though completely different businesses). Sakado has quite a lengthy menu, and they do BBQ also, though I think it only opens in the evening.

Unfortunately no photos as didn't have the camera in the car.

Edited February 24, 2012 by pagallim

[amyb]

Has anyone eaten at the restaurant called "Vietnamese Food - Pho"? It's located on the road that connects the Chao Fa's...I am sorry I don't know the name, but it's the same road that PAWS is on. If you've eaten there, let me know how it is.

I use a gym not far from this place, and whilst I was there this morning I got a call from the wife saying she was on the road and suggested we meet up somewhere for lunch. So, neither of us having been there before, we agreed on this place.

Firstly the name. I thought it was called 'Pho' also, but it turns out that's the Viet name for noodle. The actual name of the place is 'Sunavien', though you won't see that name anywhere in English........

Anyway, nice and clean inside, and as we were the only customers, plenty of tables. They have a large fish tank at one end, with an interesting looking specimen inside, which the proprietor called a 'Dragon Fish'.

Not a very lengthy menu (I counted a total of 12 choices), so at first I wasn't too enthusiastic. However, I ordered spring rolls with beef, and a pork and vegetable pancake.

The spring rolls were excellent. Choice of 2 or 3 large (maybe 4-5" long and 1.5" diameter) sausage shaped parcels of fine pancake filled with salad and in my case pieces of beef (wife had same but with prawn). The art of eating them is to nibble off the top at one end, and add a teaspoon of accompanying sauce before each bite, and work your way through to the end. 3 of these are really quite filling, and at 99 baht something of a bargain.

The crispy pancake with the filling of pork and vegetables I've had before at J'Taime, and as there, really enjoyable.

The place opens from 11-2 lunchtimes, then 5 to 10 in the evening. They close on Mondays. It's not somewhere I would go for leisurely lunch or dinner, but I'd definitely go there again for a light lunch or supper.

There's a Japanese restaurant next door called (I think) 'Sakado', and they seem to share menus (though completely different businesses). Sakado has quite a lengthy menu, and they do BBQ also, though I think it only opens in the evening.

Unfortunately no photos as didn't have the camera in the car.

Thanks so much for the lengthy review of the restaurant...it sounds great, and definitely want to try it when I get a free chance. I'll give this "Sakado" restaurant a miss, though...I lived in Japan for 5 years, and no Japanese place on this island comes close! Really appreciate the review of the Vietnamese. Thanks.

[amyb]

what the heck has happened to banana corner? was in there very late last night (a bit after 10 p.m.), and what a sh*t show! our appetizer wasn't cooked all of the way through, and the thai dishes we ordered were salty & disgusting. we waited ten minutes for the waitress to bring our rice, and when she did, it appeared (and smelled) to be day old rice. my friend and i decided we weren't going to eat the food we ordered due to the low quality, so we asked 3 waitresses to bring us our check. 15 minutes later, when the check arrived, i gave the exact money to the waitress, and she asked me, "no tip?"

i have not been in banana corner in quite some time, but after last night's sh*t show i don't think i will ever go in there again...anyone else living in nai harn/rawai had a similar experience there recently? i usually don't have such negative things to say, but i was really surprised at how shockingly disappointing the place has become.

[grumpyoldman]

what the heck has happened to banana corner? was in there very late last night (a bit after 10 p.m.), and what a sh*t show! our appetizer wasn't cooked all of the way through, and the thai dishes we ordered were salty & disgusting. we waited ten minutes for the waitress to bring our rice, and when she did, it appeared (and smelled) to be day old rice. my friend and i decided we weren't going to eat the food we ordered due to the low quality, so we asked 3 waitresses to bring us our check. 15 minutes later, when the check arrived, i gave the exact money to the waitress, and she asked me, "no tip?"

i have not been in banana corner in quite some time, but after last night's sh*t show i don't think i will ever go in there again...anyone else living in nai harn/rawai had a similar experience there recently? i usually don't have such negative things to say, but i was really surprised at how shockingly disappointing the place has become.

Gotta make sure the owner (main cook) is in the kitchen if you go there at all. He's gotta new venture down the road that he probably heads out to about about that time Amyb. Cheers, GOM

[glassdude007]

in my quest for finding a good cheese burger i found one in Rawai,

At Happy 7 bar, accross from Diligaf bar near to the Kiwi bar,and massage places on road between Rawai beach and Nai Harn center

Not the biggest burger but was very tasty cooked on BBQ and was actually meat as compared to most mixed seasoned pork burgers you get around town,

came with its own home made spicey sauce on it was pretty good will be back for another my next trip.

girls were nice and owner seemed interested that i enjoyed the food, the menu looked very extensive so will try something else besides burger next time..give it a try..

easy to miss this place as it looks like somebodies house, there is a sign out front touting there burgers and welcome message..

[snoother]

Tried the lebanese place on Sai Yuan the other day. Awful, will never come back.

First of all, the setting : green lights in the restaurant... brilliant idea from the owner! Customers look like zombies and food straight out of sewage pipes.

Service was standard thai style : we were 4, each of us ordered a kebab, but we only got two for unkwown reasons.

The kebab consisted in some ultra dry and bland chicken, not marinated, spiced up or anything, with chopped salad and tomato on the side of the plate, and some cold industrial pita bread. I don't recall the exact price but it was more than 200thb and a basic rip off.

Last year there was a decent lebanese restaurant next door, with bamboo decoration and red lightning, too bad it didn't survive, it was quite good and not too pricey.

Right now i would guess that the best choice for kebab in rawai is the small stand outside laguna plaza. 100thb and surprisingly tasty kebab!

Also tried the Hang Out restaurant. Nice place, decorated with taste, perfect for either eating or a few drinks. Cheaper than most other farang restaurants in the area, prices on par with Wine Connection bistrot. But the food was just average. Biggest drawback is that there is no beef on the menu! Unfortunatly I'm not very excited with chicken steaks or pork chops when I want to eat farang food, so I will probably not come back.

Edited March 11, 2012 by snoother

[pagallim]

Having had a really good exercise session around Kathu reservoir early this morning, a good lunch was called for and after the minimum of debate, KanEang@Pier was chosen (I know, regular). Probably a couple of months (around XMas methinks) since we'd last been there, but it only proved to demonstrate that some things do remain the same.

Apparently, they are celebrating their 39th Anniversary at the moment (witness the bright Tee Shirts worn by the worker bee staff). Don't know what they were like back in the day, but their standard of service that I've been going there (5 years or so) has been consistently good, and I recognise some of the same staff on each occasion which is always a favourable sign.

Anyway, I thought they'd done a re-design of the place, but it turns out we were just sitting in a different area than normal (Alzheimer's??? ). Wife had a seafood glass noodle salad, and a fillet of white snapper curry, laced with herbs from her home province (Trat) which she thought wonderful. I had a deep fried Grouper (should have been White Snapper but their smallest was more than a kilo) with ginger, lemon grass, and tamarind sauce. What an epic fish, crisp skin and beautifully tender meat, fantastic. A green mango salad on the side made it a great lunch, and even the quite brisk breeze couldn't spoil it.

Cold Singha's, and a correctly made double espresso (with a brandy so as not to ruin the taste of the coffee), and the expression 'life doesn't get much better than this' springs to mind.

Another thing that I like about Kan Eang@Pier is that everything is open, and you can watch the food being prepared. Good to see quality staff training in action.

Some photos if anyone's interested. Click on one of the thumbnails to enlarge, or get a slideshow.

[greenwater]

Tried the lebanese place on Sai Yuan the other day. Awful, will never come back.

First of all, the setting : green lights in the restaurant... brilliant idea from the owner! Customers look like zombies and food straight out of sewage pipes.

Service was standard thai style : we were 4, each of us ordered a kebab, but we only got two for unkwown reasons.

The kebab consisted in some ultra dry and bland chicken, not marinated, spiced up or anything, with chopped salad and tomato on the side of the plate, and some cold industrial pita bread. I don't recall the exact price but it was more than 200thb and a basic rip off.

100% agree!!! Terrible chicken kebab and night in bathroom.

[BillR]

Tried the lebanese place on Sai Yuan the other day. Awful, will never come back.

First of all, the setting : green lights in the restaurant... brilliant idea from the owner! Customers look like zombies and food straight out of sewage pipes.

Service was standard thai style : we were 4, each of us ordered a kebab, but we only got two for unkwown reasons.

The kebab consisted in some ultra dry and bland chicken, not marinated, spiced up or anything, with chopped salad and tomato on the side of the plate, and some cold industrial pita bread. I don't recall the exact price but it was more than 200thb and a basic rip off.

Last year there was a decent lebanese restaurant next door, with bamboo decoration and red lightning, too bad it didn't survive, it was quite good and not too pricey.

Right now i would guess that the best choice for kebab in rawai is the small stand outside laguna plaza. 100thb and surprisingly tasty kebab!

Hey compirnicus, you do realize that kebab people on Sai Yuan are the same people selling kebabs at Laguna and Icon?

Edited March 13, 2012 by BillR

[cdmtdm]

who would want to eat re processed meat that could be lamb, beef, chicken or even pork , with a salt and fat content off the scale and lets not start on the bacteria !!! i would not eat one in a country with decent food standards let alone Phuket .... pus !

[snoother]

Hey compirnicus, you do realize that kebab people on Sai Yuan are the same people selling kebabs at Laguna and Icon?

Copernicus maybe?

Well I didn't know it was the same guys. I have no idea why they offer such horrible kebab at their restaurant and a pretty good one at laguna.

[grumpyoldman]

Hey compirnicus, you do realize that kebab people on Sai Yuan are the same people selling kebabs at Laguna and Icon?

Copernicus maybe?

Well I didn't know it was the same guys. I have no idea why they offer such horrible kebab at their restaurant and a pretty good one at laguna.

Maybe hit and miss on those places as the Laguna location gave me Bali belly. Weeks later had a couple out of Sai Yuan that weren't bad, wraps soft chicken pretty tasty.

[Valentine]

I met with a client in Nai Harn yesterday evening after which I decided to try the pizza at Amalfi which turned out to be very good.

[pagallim]

After an absence of several months, it was time to make a re-visit to Thalaytong today, just to confirm their usual high standards were being maintained. Indeed they are, with an excellent deep fried whole white snapper with herb salad dressing, fish fillets with garlic and pepper, grilled squid, spicy prawn salad with pickled garlic, and their take on seafood fried rice, washed down with a few Singha's and bottled water, all for less than 1000 baht. Bit breezy today and the usual glorious views not the same due to haze off the sea. However, some shots of the food.

[pagallim]

It must be the season for some nostalgia, as today we lunched at Tamachart (Natural) restaurant in Phuket Town, where again we hadn't been for ages. It was a good reminder of how idiosyncratic the place is, with some interesting artefacts scattered between a good display of plants in general, and orchids in particular.

The place is very multi-level (has to be about 6 or 7 as a guess, with some areas being open air, and others afforded shelter and shade.

The food is actually quite good, certainly for what is very much a visitor orientated place. Today we had crab meat rolls, prawns in a coconut milk curry (excellent), a pad khra pow with squid, a very good spicy salad with snapper fillets, and a couple of rice dishes including a fine fried rice with pork. A coconut and a couple of Singha's completed the drinks requirements, with everything coming to just over 800 baht. Good value for a good lunch.

Photos of mainly the surroundings, and even the food gets a look in.....

[MissChris]

Went there recently with son's Thai fiancee. Left her to order. One dish was softshelled crabs. Delicious. Cute, so I found it better if I didn't look at them first...

We go regularly. Once time, son was convinced that the orchids were fake (as if someone would bother putting up so many to dust) and was embarrassed to find pinching a leaf AND a flower resulted in them being squished. Slow learner

[cdmtdm]

ok i am not usually a burger eater, but got a good tip off to try an imported aussie beef burger at Delish Cafe in Chalong ..... the cafe is fast becoming a haven for ex pats from all over , with a good menu and english speaking staff ,a/cond , wifi etc hard to dislike it ..anyway back to the burger ... excellent burger thick and juicy served in fresh rosemary bun with side salad and fries... 220 baht for me was also priced well .... the owners also expats from oz are food lovers and easy to see why the tucker is great ...highly recommend ..but warning it does get busy sometimes so chose your times right ...

[HongKongPhooey]

@ Pagallim

Just wanted to say nice work on all the photos with your reviews. It's a shame people don't put as much effort and interesting content in to the main forum.

[pagallim]

Wife wanted to spend some time at Wat Chalong yesterday, offering her prayers for Songkran etc. I headed for some refreshment at the restaurant directly opposite the rear entrance to the Wat (Rimtang@Chalong).

Very pleasant contemporary decor, and a relaxing terrace setting next to a small lake, as well as an inside air conditioned room. They do a separate, quite low cost lunch menu, and a more extensive a la carte which is available anytime. They also have a shop selling souvenirs. We just had a couple of Phad Kra Pows, which though they were very good aren't exciting photo material. Some shots of the place instead.

[shoemobi]

I looking for restaurant in Karon. It is name "Roadside House", if I remember it well. As I've heard, they serve 40 kinds of BBQ, and I want to try some in their good atmosphere of live music and good design. The only thing I've missed when listened about the place - it's location. Some time ago I went to Karon and look for this restaurant, but cannot find it. Can someone advice where it is?

[grumpyoldman]

I looking for restaurant in Karon. It is name "Roadside House", if I remember it well. As I've heard, they serve 40 kinds of BBQ, and I want to try some in their good atmosphere of live music and good design. The only thing I've missed when listened about the place - it's location. Some time ago I went to Karon and look for this restaurant, but cannot find it. Can someone advice where it is?

Never heard of this place shoemobi, sorry. Curious though, you state "if I remember it well", meaning if you remember well a conversation about the place?

Sounds like a good concept but not sure it exists.

[Valentine]

I looking for restaurant in Karon. It is name "Roadside House", if I remember it well. As I've heard, they serve 40 kinds of BBQ, and I want to try some in their good atmosphere of live music and good design. The only thing I've missed when listened about the place - it's location. Some time ago I went to Karon and look for this restaurant, but cannot find it. Can someone advice where it is?

Never heard of this place shoemobi, sorry. Curious though, you state "if I remember it well", meaning if you remember well a conversation about the place?

Sounds like a good concept but not sure it exists.

Name sounds familiar like one of those Korean BBQ places in Jungceylon or Central.

[shoemobi]

Never heard of this place shoemobi, sorry. Curious though, you state "if I remember it well", meaning if you remember well a conversation about the place?

Sounds like a good concept but not sure it exists.

I have spoken about it, when owner stopped by in my own restaurant on his way to airport. He told me directions, but there were too many turns, so I've messed up them in my memory. And I've not took his phone number too. What a shame, that was my gastronomic and professional interest in visiting that place.

[vinabobina]

Hey guys,

If you're looking for some diversity from the local flavors, I recommend Surin Gate Kitchen. It's a hidden, cozy gem in Surin Gate Hotel connected onto Wat Bangtao. Definitely make your reservations for chef dinner Wednesdays. Since its a friendly, community establishment, they're always giving away something complimentary. Not only is the presentation like a work of art, but also delicious. I went there twice, one for the chef dinner and the 2nd for the ala cart menu. I tried the toasted skagen as an appetizer and for the entre, I enjoyed the Phuket rock lobster w/ the champagne risotto. So, give it a try! Visit their facebook page for the chef dinner wednesday menus. Facebook: Surin Gate Kitchen. Reservation #: 0843862800

My two cents,

v

[pagallim]

Songkran is never the best time to eat out, and so last weekend proved. Too much hassle on the roads, and the restaurants overfull because of the holidays. However, the last day of the weekend break (Monday), we decide to go to a place that I've only just noticed on what is my regular early morning cycle run, near to the Phuket Country Club (where I head off for a few circuits of Kathu Reservoir), I'd noticed a sign for European, Vietnamese and Thai food. Turned out the place is called 'Mamtrio'. When we looked at the menu, it was a bit of deja vu, and my suspicions turned out to be correct when the waitress confirmed it was the same owners as another of our favourites, Je T'taime in Phuket Town.

Anyway, we had an excellent meal, though unfortunately I didn't have my camera at the time, so saved a description for 'the next time'.

That was today. Mamtrio is set back off the road in Kathu, with little around it to make you stop for a wander unless you were specifically going there. It has a very contemporary decor, both on the outside terraces and the interesting, air conditioned inside. There's a very relaxing feel to the place, coupled with attentive service, that invites you to spend a little time there.

Essentially, our food order was that same as the previous visit, with a couple of fried rices (one with crab, one a Vietnamese style), some Viet spring rolls with prawn, an interesting spicy salad of 3 types of warm mushrooms, a Vietnamese pancake (essentially a crepe filled with vegetables, pork strips and shrimps), a perennial favourite of mine - breaded pork escalope with a lemon sauce on the side.

I'm never a great lover of house wines by the glass, and can rarely justify buying a bottle solely for myself (wife doesn't drink), but last time and this, I ordered a recommended Brookford 2008 Shiraz (SE Australia), which does exactly what it says on the bottle). Great flavour, and very pleasant both with food or for sipping on it's own. For 790 baht a bottle, I seriously rate it (though having consumed the whole bottle myself, that's hardly surprising......... ).

Having a lot of time on our hands (whilst I finished the wine), unusually, we had dessert. The wife had a chocolate sundae with biscuit and green tea, whilst I had an excellent chocolate panna cotta with orange sauce. Great food all round, good background music, and for around 1200 baht (excluding the bottle of wine), good value methinks.

Unlike Je t'aime there's quite a European selection also, which I'm tempted to try next time.

Some photos of the place and the food. Click to enlarge........

[Hostile17]

can you link this on google map. Looks great without having to drive to the shady area je taime is at

[pagallim]

can you link this on google map. Looks great without having to drive to the shady area je taime is at

OK, link (hopefully) to Google Map. You can also go to their website(http://www.mamtrio.com/).

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=203743995899220014082.0004be42820a89752ed7b

[Old Croc]

[amyb]

i checked out the TWO CHEFS saturday brunch last weekend in karon. this was only the second time in 5 years of living here that i've been to TWO CHEFS, but the brunch buffet was impressive. lots of scandanavian seafood treats, homemade breads, tasty salads for starters...the mains consisted of many different types of potatoes, fish dishes, smoked pork loin infused with pesto, swedish meatballs with choice of gravy and sausages. the desserts were pancakes, tarts, crepes, etc...the brunch with free flow drinks (not alcohol) was 395THB. it was well worth it, nice to get away from the usual restaurants i go to in nai harn. definitely recommend it.

[seabear]

a few questions guys, whats mai mi, whats a soi

and

any good indian places in phuket? more leaning towards north indian/punjabi food? any reccomendations though are welcome

I have been going to "Khan Baba" for many years. When I feel like eating some mutton. Good roti and yellow dahl. Good mango lassi. Khan Baba is on the "no name road" between Thai Na Rd and Ket Khuan (Kat Kwhwan) Rd. I went to the Tetsaban to ask for the name of that road. Hopeless. There is another Khan Baba on the little hill direction Dino Park. But the neighbour bar is too noisy for me.