BAAN 125 STAY is situated in a prime location on Thalang Road, which serves as the main artery of Phuket Old Town. Aside from the classic decor that respects the local community’s context, an invaluable perk of staying here is having “legendary food spots” accessible by just a few minutes’ walk.
10 Legendary Local Restaurants You Can Walk to from BAAN 125 STAY
The following information is gathered from direct experience, real tasting, and references from world-class awards like the Michelin Guide, ensuring that every recommended restaurant is the “real deal” of Phuket Old Town.
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Kopitiam by Wilai
- Location: Thalang Road (On the same road as BAAN 125 STAY, just a 1-2 minute walk).
- Vibe & Story: This shop represents the authentic Phuket “coffee council” culture. Decorated with antiques, black-and-white photos of historical Phuket, marble tables, and wooden chairs, it takes you back to the prosperous tin mining era.
- Must-Try Menu:
- Stir-fried Hokkien Noodles with Runny Egg: Thick, soft yellow noodles stir-fried with soy sauce, shrimp, squid, sliced pork, and aromatic crispy pork cracklings, topped with a soft-boiled egg that perfectly coats the noodles.
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- Traditional Coffee (Kopi): Intensely flavored with a roasted aroma, perfect when paired with kaya toast.
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- Teh Tarik (Pulled Tea) & Herbal Drinks: Great for quenching your thirst after walking around taking photos.
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Lock Tien Local Food Court
- Location: Intersection of Dibuk and Yaowarat Roads (5-7 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: Lock Tien isn’t a single restaurant but a food court that gathers Phuket’s local delicacies in one place. Open for decades, it’s an ideal starting point for those who want to try various local foods in a single meal.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Phuket Fresh Spring Rolls (Popia Sod): Soft, thin wrappers filled with stir-fried jicama, roast pork, and fresh veggies, drizzled with a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce, then topped with crispy pork cracklings.
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- Mee Hoon Pa Chang: Stir-fried vermicelli with soy sauce and fried shallots, served with a sweet and aromatic pork bone broth.
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- O-Aew: An authentic Phuket dessert made from Namwa banana mixed with O-Aew seeds (similar to jelly but softer), topped with shaved ice, syrup, and red beans.
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Tu Kab Khao Restaurant Phuket
- Location: Phang Nga Road (5-8 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: An elegant Southern Thai restaurant located in a 100-year-old Sino-Portuguese building. The classic, luxurious decor still feels as warm as eating mom’s cooking at home. A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner for several consecutive years.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Phuket Moo Hong (Stewed Pork Belly): Large chunks of pork belly stewed with spices, dark soy sauce, garlic, and pepper for hours until the fat melts in your mouth.
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- Crab Meat Curry with Betel Leaves & Rice Noodles: Huge, fresh, sweet lumps of crab meat in an intense, spicy coconut curry. Pairs perfectly with blanched rice noodles.
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- Deep-fried Sand Whiting with Turmeric: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, mixed with crispy fried garlic and turmeric.
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Raya Restaurant
- Location: Dibuk Road Intersection (8-10 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: When it comes to Southern food in Phuket, “Raya” is one of the first names that comes to mind. Set in an early 20th-century mansion, it perfectly preserves its historical charm with antique floor tiles, stained glass, and wooden furniture.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Crab Meat Curry with Betel Leaves: The signature dish that made Raya famous nationwide. Jumbo crab lumps in an authentic, intensely spicy Southern curry.
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- Nam Phrik Kung Siap (Smoked Shrimp Paste Dip): Large crispy smoked shrimp pounded with Phuket shrimp paste, chili, garlic, and lime. Highly flavorful and served with fresh local vegetables.
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- Salt-Roasted Pork Belly (Moo Kua Kluea): Dry-roasted pork belly, crispy outside and soft inside.
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One Chun Cafe & Restaurant
- Location: Intersection of Thep Krasattri and Dibuk Roads (8-10 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: “One Chun” is related by blood to Raya (the owner is the niece of Aunt Kulab from Raya) but comes with a younger, trendier concept. Decorated with vintage collectibles, clocks, and cameras for a chic vibe, yet the food retains its bold, traditional flavor. Also a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Grilled Pork Neck Tossed with Chili and Salt: Bite-sized grilled pork neck stir-fried with chili, garlic, and salt. Flavorful and great as an appetizer or with rice.
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- Bue Tod (Deep-fried Local Weed with Shrimp): A local Phuket snack made from Chong weed or Polyscias leaves, battered and fried with small fresh shrimp until crispy.
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- Stir-fried Melinjo Leaves with Egg (Bai Lieng Pad Kai): A basic dish done exceptionally well. Tender leaves, perfectly balanced, with a great wok hei aroma.
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Aroon Po Chana
- Location: Thalang Road (On the same road as BAAN 125 STAY, 2-3 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: An old-school Halal restaurant on Thalang Road. Serving locals for decades, it’s a simple shophouse, but the aroma of spices and frying roti at the front is incredibly inviting.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Roti with Curry: Thick, soft dough pan-fried until crispy outside and soft inside, dipped in tender beef or chicken curry rich with Southern Muslim spices.
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- Chicken/Beef Murtabak: Roti stuffed with minced meat, spices, and egg, fried golden brown. Served with Arjad (cucumber relish) to balance the richness.
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- Chicken Biryani (Khao Mok Gai): Golden yellow rice, fragrant with spices, served with tender chicken and a flavorful dipping sauce.
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Go Benz Rice Porridge
- Location: Intersection of Krabi and Patipat Roads (12-15 minutes walk. A bit of a walk, but absolutely worth it, or you can take a Tuk-Tuk).
- Vibe & Story: The legendary spot with the longest queues in Phuket! Open only from evening to late night (approx. 17:30 – 02:00). So famous it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. If you come to Phuket and miss it, you haven’t really arrived.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Dry Rice Porridge (Khao Tom Haeng): The signature dish. Hot steamed rice mixed with fragrant fried garlic, topped with ultra-crispy pork, minced pork balls, and meticulously cleaned, odor-free pork offal. Served with a sweet, hot pork bone broth.
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- Pork Blood Soup (Gao Lao Lued Moo): Packed with ingredients in a clear but deeply flavorful broth.
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- Crispy Pork: Order as a side. Less fat, incredibly fluffy, and super crispy skin.
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Khun Jeed Yod Phak
- Location: Phang Nga Road (5-7 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: A Rad Na (noodles in gravy) and Pad See Ew restaurant that has been with Phuket for over 30 years. It looks like an ordinary shophouse but tastes extraordinary, known for crispy, sweet Chinese kale and melt-in-your-mouth marinated pork.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Rad Na with Marinated Pork: Perfectly thick gravy with a fragrant soybean paste aroma. Huge, incredibly tender pieces of marinated pork, well-peeled kale, and noodles with a great wok hei scent.
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- Stir-fried Noodles with Soy Sauce (Pad See Ew): Stir-fried dry, with a smoky dark soy sauce aroma and well-rounded flavor.
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- Pork Satay (Front of the shop): Tender, well-marinated pork with rich peanut sauce. Great appetizer while waiting for your noodles.
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Chuan Chim
- Location: Phang Nga Road (6-8 minutes walk).
- Vibe & Story: An old-school made-to-order street food spot awarded the Michelin Plate (now Michelin Recommended). The elderly owner still cooks over a blazing wok himself. The open-air shophouse gives a genuine street food feel.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Stir-fried Basil (Pad Kaprao) with Crispy/Sliced Pork: Dry-roasted style, intensely spicy, and fragrant with holy basil. The crispy pork stays crunchy even after stir-frying, with an incredible wok hei aroma.
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- Clear/Creamy Seafood Tom Yum: Extremely fresh shrimp, squid, and fish. Perfectly balanced sour, spicy, and salty flavors.
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- Stir-fried Fish with Celery: Fresh fish, deep-fried then stir-fried with celery and soybean paste. Salty, aromatic, and delicious.
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Torry’s Ice Cream
- Location: Soi Rommanee (Walk from the accommodation and turn into Soi Rommanee, just 3-4 minutes).
- Vibe & Story: Ending with dessert. Located in Soi Rommanee, the most beautiful and photogenic alley in the Old Town. The shop is a pastel pink building with vintage-classic interior decor and cool AC. Perfect for resting after a long day of eating savory foods.
- Must-Try Menu:
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- Bi-Co-Moi: Butterfly pea coconut ice cream served on black sticky rice, drizzled with slightly salty coconut milk. Elevates a local dessert into a premium gelato.
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- A-Pong: Ice cream flavored like the local A-Pong snack (made from flour, coconut milk, and sugar). Served with crispy A-Pong, smelling of coconut and faint smoke.
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- O-Aew: O-Aew and red syrup sorbet. Incredibly refreshing for beating the
FAQ
Q: Where is BAAN 125 STAY located in Phuket Old Town?
A: BAAN 125 STAY is in a prime spot on Thalang Road, right in the heart of Phuket Old Town. Surrounded by Sino-Portuguese architecture, you can easily and comfortably walk to famous local restaurants and photo spots.
Q: Which Michelin Guide restaurants are within walking distance?
A: Several are within walking distance, such as Tu Kab Khao, One Chun, and Go Benz Rice Porridge, which all received the Bib Gourmand award, as well as the street food spot Chuan Chim, which is in the Michelin Recommended category.
Q: What are the operating hours for most restaurants in the Old Town?
A: Operating hours are diverse and cover the whole day. Breakfast spots like Aroon Po Chana and Kopitiam by Wilai open early in the morning (around 06:30 – 07:00). Meanwhile, dinner and late-night spots like Go Benz open from 17:30 onwards.
Summary
Choosing an accommodation like BAAN 125 STAY isn’t just about finding a place to sleep; it’s an investment in a worthwhile “travel experience.” The location in the heart of Thalang Road saves you travel energy, letting you focus on absorbing the vibe, admiring the architecture, and easily hopping between Michelin-awarded spots and legendary street food.
