Thai food is delicious. Anyone who's been to Thailand or has eaten in a Thai restaurant knows this to be true. It's spicy, savory, and offers a ton of flavors that you probably never knew existed. Just one bit or spoonful and it will exhilarate your taste buds to no end. But surely, even if you've been to Thailand and the like, you haven't tasted all of what the country's cuisine has to offer. Or more specifically, what Phuket's specializes in. This world-famous island, known for its stunning beaches, has its own fair share of local traditional dishes and delicacies that you ought to try at least once!
Tom Yum Goong
Spicy and sour are two strong flavors that, when put together into one dish, can be a little too overwhelming. However, trust the Thais to work around that and come up with a dish that has just the right amount of spice and sour. On the beautiful island of Phuket, the famous Tom Yum Goong soup is always a heavy favorite, commonly served with big juicy prawns that were freshly caught, it tantalized one's taste buds in an unforgettable way. Though it's bot spicy and sour, the coconut milk mixed with the red chili and other herbs dilutes the flavor to a more favorable degree.
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Tom Kha Gai
What's another coconut milk-induced soup worth getting in Phuket? Tom Kha Gai! Made with galangal, lemongrass, and chicken, it's the type of comfort food that will have you feeling cozy and warm after every sip. Imagine spending the day at the sea. You spend long hours splashing around and come nightfall, you feel a little chilly. Around dinner time, you decide to eat at a nearby restaurant all while shivering and feeling cold. A nice helping of Tom Kha Gai will heat you up in no time. The chicken and spices will perk you up while the coconut milk-ladened soup will feel like a gentle embrace.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kanom Jeen Phuket
Pad Thai is undoubtedly Thailand's main noodle delicacy, especially since it's
easy to make at home, but here in Phuket, a great alternative is Kanom Jeen Phuket. Although it's mostly regarded as soup along with the likes of Tom Kha Gai (and even shares the same ingredients with the latter) it's the slurp-worthy think noodles that have both locals and tourists asking for more. Sipping the soup is all well and good, but there's no replacing the satisfaction of twisting your fork and getting a ton of noodles into your mouth. That will certainly make you feel full even with just one helping.
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Gaeng Keow Wan Gai
Want some curry? Phuket offers two kinds that will surely blow you away. The first is Gaeng Keow Wan Gai, also known as 'Green Curry.' You can probably already tell from its color alone why it's named that way. Made with coconut milk, eggplants, galangal, lemongrass, coriander, bamboo shoots, and sweet basil, it has a lighter flavor than many of its soup counterparts on this list. In fact, thanks to both the coconut milk and sweet basil, it even has a slightly sweet flavor that you'll likely find irresistible. Now, curry that's sweet? That's borderline culinary sacrilege, isn't it? Well, as the saying goes, '
don't knock it till you try it!'
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Massaman Curry
The other kind of curry that's become a staple in Phuket's culinary scene is Massaman Curry. Appearance-wise, this dish looks like your typical curry, the type that you'd expect in high-class hotspots in Bangkok or even in India itself. However, what makes Phuket's Massaman Curry distinct is it has a slightly Middle Eastern flair to it. After all, '
Massaman' is the Thai word for Muslim. The way the spiced blend together harken back to that region. It's like every bit transports you to Saudi Arabia,
Morocco, or the UAE. Quite the culinary journey, isn't it?
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Satay
You simply can't have a list of Thai dishes and delicacies without mentioning street food! It's practically the most exciting part of the Thai culinary experience! And while the country has a ton of great options to offer, here in Phuket, it's all about satay! Served on a stick like a Mediterranean Shish kebab, you'll find this delectable delicacy practically anywhere within the busy streets and
districts on the island. Just let your nose lead the way as the smoke from the grills at the food stalls draw you in. And after choosing which kind you want—either chicken, pork, or beef—you can dip in the likes of peanut sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, lemon juice, and more!
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Roti Pancake
Finally, some dessert! Do away with the mango sticky rice and coconut dumplings! If you want a truly authentic Phuket sweet, go for some roti pancakes. Soft, thin, and delicate, it's sort of like the Thai version of France's crepe. And in fact, roti pancakes are just as versatile too. In many foodie hotspots, you can get yours topped with ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, marshmallows, and other treats. Street stalls, on the other hand, will focus on filling them up with fresh fruit and drizzling some coconut milk to truly bring out the sweetness!
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What would make your trip to Phuket that much better? Indulging in the island's most exquisite and tastiest local dishes and delicacies. Thai cuisine was already delicious enough as it is but wait until you try what Phuket itself has to offer!
If you're up for it, you can even make these Phuket local dishes in your own
luxury home too!
