Thailand reigns supreme as the go-to destination for tropical holidays, boasting hundreds of delightful islands, long coastlines of sparkling sand, and warm turquoise seas. The country is richly steeped in culture and history, and the people are renowned as being among the world’s friendliest, having truly earned Thailand its nickname “The Land of Smiles”! One of the biggest draws Thailand can claim is its amazing and unique cuisine, which has come to enjoy worldwide popularity, and it’s easy to understand why once you have sampled its delights, you will be back for more!
The island of Phuket is one of the largest and most impressive jewels in Thailand’s resort island crown, with millions of visitors each year enjoying its many charms. One of these is food, of course, the many Phuket Thai restaurants all serving up some of the most scrumptious dishes in the country! What people might not realize is that there is no one, single kind of Thai food, every region has its own unique blend of flavours and cooking methods, so that everywhere you go you will find some new take on a favourite dish, or discover something completely unique to the locale! Phuket’s food is especially diverse thanks to its Chinese and Malay influences. Let’s explore some of the amazing meals that Phuket has to offer!
Mee Hokkien – Named for the Chinese immigrants who settled on the island and contributed to its unique culture, this is Phuket’s signature noodle dish. The “Hokkien-style noodles” are rich yellow, wheat noodles fried in light oil with a mixture of seafood, pork, and greens until they are slightly smoky. The results are topped with savoury gravy and a sunny-side-up egg with its yolk still runny. It’s the perfect meal after a long day of snorkelling in the sea!
Kanohm Jin – This delicious noodle dish has a yellow curry base that contains fish and chicken and is topped with salty nam phrik fish sauce mixed with spicy bits of hot pepper. This is a breakfast favourite and is served with a variety of fresh vegetables on the side.
Moo Hong – This savoury stewed pork dish originally hails from China’s Fujian province. The main ingredient is pork belly, although some other cuts can be added to balance out the belly’s high-fat content. The flavours come from sugar and dark soy sauce, along with peppers, garlic, and coriander roots. The dish is served with rice and has fresh coriander as a garnish.
Mee Hoon Gaeng Poo – Phuket loves its noodles! This is widely thought to be the best Southern Thailand seafood dish Phuket has to offer. Coconut milk is the base of a rich stew infused with curry paste. Wild betel leaf and chunks of crab meat are added, along with vermicelli rice noodles. This is one to savour slowly!
For more information on the island and its many delights visit the Tourist Authority of Thailand’s official Phuket page. We hope we have enticed you to come sample Phuket’s many culinary wonders for yourself, don’t forget to bring your appetite!
