Phuket is a land of white-sand beaches, but it most certainly has more than just picturesque views – it’s got exciting activities, a rich history and, best of all, great food that belies the history from which it was created with influences from around the world. With European, Chinese, and Muslim traders visiting a few hundred years ago, immigrants came with them, to change the fabric of food culture in Phuket forever.

So what do people eat?

Local Cuisine

Being in Thailand, you can expect the national dish of tom yum goong, the famous prawn soup as well as international favourite pad thai noodles to make appearances, in flavours you may or may not recognize. With the memorable aromas of lemongrass and fish sauce in the air, this is found in many Phuket restaurants, as there are a few things that Thailand truly does best.

Street food

The street food you can find in Phuket comes in all kinds – oyster omelettes, shaved ice, oh tao, dim-sum dumplings, and more. It’s an easy way to see the smaller influences other countries have had, as shaved ice nor dumplings can hardly be considered a Phuket original. Yet, Phuket will put its own spin on these to make them it’s own.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Indian and Chinese influence

The Indian subcontinent made its mark on Phuket via the addition of apong, the Phuket variant of appom, which is a rice-flour-based flatbread that can commonly be found in India. The differences lie in the addition of sugar to apong, and the fact that it is consumed as a sweet snack.

International Cuisine

With frequent traffic made by its international population, it’s no wonder that Phuket has quite a wide variety of restaurants to suit the international palate. Many a French or Italian bistro can be found within its streets, serving European cuisine, as well as refined modern establishments such as the Age Restaurant that provides the choicest cuts of meat paired with fine wine – representing the forefront of modern dining.