Trying traditional Thai food is usually one of the highlights for tourists visiting Phuket. Thai cuisine uses a variety of aromatic herbs and ingredients, resulting in rich flavours, often a delightful combination of tastes, whether sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, or umami.
While Thai cuisine has been gaining worldwide recognition, there’s something truly special about savouring authentic, traditional Thai food right here in Thailand. It’s an experience that no cosmopolitan restaurant can replicate.
Whether you choose to eat at market stalls, local restaurants, or fine-dining establishments in Phuket, don’t miss these 10 must-try dishes to experience authentic Thai cuisine. Your taste buds will thank you!
Must-Try Traditional Thai Food
Gaeng Massaman
A dish made with coconut milk, chicken or beef, potato, and a curry paste that combines an assortment of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise, cumin, nutmeg, chilli, and more to make it sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy.
Tom Yum Goong
A classic Thai dish, this hot and sour soup combines lemongrass, galangal root, kaffir lime leaves, chillies, and a protein such as shrimp, chicken, or fish.
Pad Kra Pao Moo
A quintessential Thai dish made with stir-fried ground pork mixed with garlic, onion, Thai basil, and chillies, served over rice. Adding a fried egg makes it a great comfort food.
Tom Kha Gai
This rich and velvety soup is made with coconut milk and galangal root mixed with mushrooms, lime leaves, and chicken chunks. This is an excellent dish for those who prefer less spice.
Khao Pad
Stir-fried rice combined with various ingredients, including garlic, onion, egg, meat, and vegetables, often topped with shrimp. It’s usually served with slices of lime and chilli flakes.
Pad Thai
A stir-fried dish with rice noodles, egg, tofu, peanuts, dried shrimp, and protein like shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork, seasoned with tamarind paste, sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, and chilli.
Som Tam
This savoury green papaya salad is a great accompaniment to a main dish but can also be enjoyed on its own. It’s got fish sauce, lime, sugar, and red chilli pepper and can be mixed with dried shrimp, peanuts, noodles, carrots, and green beans.
Khao Soi
Typically made with chicken, this dish features thick coconut broth, a curry paste of chillies, turmeric, ginger, shallot, and coriander, and is topped with egg noodles and various delicious condiments.
Pad See Ew
Wide flat noodles combined with Chinese broccoli and meat cooked with garlic, sugar, and a sauce mix of oyster sauce, fish sauce, and light and dark soy sauce. This dish is usually served with chilli vinegar.
Khao Niew Mamuang
A simple traditional Thai dessert of yellow, ripe mangoes served with sweetened sticky rice and coconut milk cream.
Sensational Dining Experience at Cape Panwa
Whether you’re a first-timer or returning visitor, eating traditional Thai food is a memorable experience that will expand your palate. If you’re looking for authentic Thai dishes in Phuket, Panwa House at Cape Panwa Hotel will be a guaranteed hit.
Panwa House is a 5-star fine-dining Thai restaurant set in an elegant Sino-Portuguese beachfront mansion. A tour of the historic building is a must when dining at Panwa House. This former movie set’s traditional architecture and elegant vintage decor add an enchanting element to the whole experience.
Panwa House serves a wide selection of authentic Thai dishes, highlighting the seafood and high-quality local ingredients abundant on the island. Our recommended chef’s set menus feature curated platters serving Thai specialities and delicacies that will take diners on a flavourful culinary adventure.Awaken your appetite for authentic Thai cuisine at Panwa House in Cape Panwa Hotel, recognised among the top Phuket restaurants for its authentic traditional Thai food, superb service, and spectacular setting. Contact us for a reservation and have a memorable dining experience on your next Phuket trip.
