The short answer
Tu Kab Khao: what visitors should know first
Go if you want a proper sit-down Southern Thai meal in the Old Town and your party eats seafood or pork. Vegetarians will find little reported, so ask staff before you sit. Expect a queue at peak hours and confirm opening times before you set out.
History and context
The story behind Tu Kab Khao
We did not find a verified opening date or founding story on the pages we opened, so none is given here. Phuket 101 describes the restaurant as holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a status that changes yearly, so check the current guide.
Useful facts
Tu Kab Khao facts at a glance
- Location
- Phang Nga Road, Phuket Old Town, opposite the Shrine of the Serene Light
- Dining style
- Sit-down Southern Thai in a heritage house
- Price signal
- Roughly 180 to 360 baht per main dish, per one guide
- Signature order
- Try: crab curry noodles, sour fish curry, moo hong
- Good for
- Seafood and pork eaters; sharing dishes; a considered Old Town meal
Why it matters
Why Tu Kab Khao is worth your time
Tu Kab Khao is one of the few restaurants named in almost every roundup of Phuket Old Town eating that we opened. Time Out, Thai Holiday Guide, Siam Niramit Phuket and Phuket 101 all list it, and Phuket 101 notes a Michelin Bib Gourmand. That breadth of agreement is the best sign we have that it is a reliable place to try Phuket's own style of cooking.
Southern Thai food is stronger, saltier and hotter than the central Thai dishes many visitors know. A meal here shows that difference, and it sits within easy walking distance of the Old Town sights. It is a meat and seafood restaurant, so it suits a mixed group better than an all-vegetarian family.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Crab curry noodles
Sen mee gaeng poo is named by Phuket 101 as a signature order.
- 02
Moo hong
Phuket-style braised pork belly stew, a dish the island is known for.
- 03
Old Town setting
A heritage house on Phang Nga Road, close to the shrine and other Old Town sights.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Order a few dishes to share rather than one each. The dishes named by one local guide are crab curry noodles (sen mee gaeng poo), sour fish curry (gaeng som pla) and pork belly stew (moo hong). Prices quoted there were roughly 180 to 360 baht a dish, but treat that as a guide, since menus change.
The restaurant is in an old Old Town house, easy to spot from the street, and the Shrine of the Serene Light is directly opposite, so it pairs naturally with a walk along Phang Nga Road. Come at an off-peak hour if you can; a popular restaurant with Michelin recognition tends to fill at dinner.
Southern Thai curries are often hot and strongly seasoned. Tell staff how much chilli your party can take, especially for older travellers or children. We found no vegetarian menu on the pages we opened, and southern curries commonly rely on shrimp paste, so vegetarians should ask what can be made without meat, fish or shrimp before ordering, or choose a dedicated vegetarian restaurant instead.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Confirm opening hours before you go
- Arrive off-peak to avoid a wait
- Tell staff your chilli limit when ordering
- Vegetarians should ask about shrimp paste before ordering
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Phang Nga Road, Phuket Old Town, facing the Shrine of the Serene Light
- Time needed
- About an hour and a half
- Best time
- Late lunch or an early dinner, before the evening crowds
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The restaurant sits in a converted heritage house on a flat Old Town street, so reaching it needs little walking from a taxi drop-off. We could not confirm step-free access, air-conditioning or seating on each floor, so ask when you book.
- Tickets and access
- Reported open daily from about 11 am to midnight, though hours change; confirm before you go. We could not verify a booking system, so phone or message ahead for a group, and expect a wait at dinner.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Tu Kab Khao
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The restaurant sits in a converted heritage house on a flat Old Town street, so reaching it needs little walking from a taxi drop-off. We could not confirm step-free access, air-conditioning or seating on each floor, so ask when you book.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Tu Kab Khao vegetarian friendly?
Not as far as we could tell. The dishes named are crab, fish and pork, and we found no vegetarian menu. Ask staff, or choose a vegetarian restaurant instead.
Is it recommended by major guides?
Time Out, Thai Holiday Guide and Siam Niramit Phuket list it, and Phuket 101 notes a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Michelin status changes yearly, so check the current guide.
Where exactly is it?
Phuket 101 places it on Phang Nga Road in the Old Town, facing the Shrine of the Serene Light. Confirm the pin on a map before you set out.
Sources and further reading
- Phuket 101: best Thai restaurants in Phuket Town
- Time Out: best restaurants in Phuket
- Thai Holiday Guide: best restaurants in Phuket
- Siam Niramit Phuket: top restaurants
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
