Rawai is this adorbs little coastal town in Phuket, and it’s not just known for its local beaches and chilled vibes but also for its diverse foodie scene. Food in Rawai is amazing and there are restaurants everywhere you look. Whether you’re hankering for Thai food, or French, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean or Aussie, there is a perfect place for your every foodie mood.
Whether you’re a visiting tourist, longer staying digital nomad, expat or retiree here in Thailand, one thing you will definitely be aware of is Thailand’s incredible food. Seriously, the way the flavours all balance and combine with the perfect pairing of sweet, salty, sour, spicy and umami is world famous – ask anyone! The trouble is, knowing what to eat and where. Not every place serves amazing food (although many do) and not every place serves the same type of food. So, let us give you a few pukka reccys (recommendations) on where to grab food in Rawai.
Table of Contents
Western Food in Rawai
As we’ve mentioned above, Rawai has no shortage of Western options available for those of you who are hungry for a taste of home (or maybe you’re just wanting a decent pizza).
If your stomach is crying out for an all day breakfast, you’ve just got to try the unbelievable pulled pork eggs benedict at Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai. Honestly, I’m not being dramatic but this might actually change your life. Listen to this: slow cooked pork shoulder that falls apart into this amazing pulled pork, homemade sourdough fresh from our bakery, two perfectly cooked creamy poached eggs, thick and delicious hollandaise sauce, crisp green apple slaw to cut through the richness of the dish, plus some pomegranate seeds and mint leaves to add freshness. How gooooodd does that sound?! It somehow feels fresh despite the creaminess of the dish and it’s worth going back for over and over again.
If it’s pizza you’re after, you just have to check out Da Puccio. They serve up some delicious traditional style woodfired pizzas. What will your favourite be? Ours will always be the simplest of pizzas, marinara. Sauce, olive oil, garlic and basil is all you need to make your dreams come true. But if you’re a loaded pizza kind of person too, they have loads of options. Don’t miss out on getting a big ol’ creamy burrata on the top of your pizza – yessss please!
Traditional Rawai Dishes
Local Thai food is incredible. Reaaaaaaallly dang spicy, but incredible. Unless you’re really accustomed to spice, I’d avoid asking for ‘Thai spicy’ when servers ask you – it really is spicy! When it comes to experiencing the authentic taste of food in Rawai, there are a few things you will be wanting to try.
One great place to try is Isaan Classic. An super affordable, local style restaurant with some super duper papaya salads, amazing morning glory (for real, who knew a vegetable could be so delicious) and the best fried curry paste chicken/pork. Their massaman and penang curries are also awesome and you can’t go wrong with pad thai for those of you who are less used to the local cuisine.
This one really packs in the heat though. We LOVE spice here and we ordered medium spice and it was super duper hot – so be warned and stay humble, get low spice unless you’ve really lived here for a while (or have no tastebuds). Another great dish are their local grilled meats on skewers – it’s super hygienic and safe. We love the chicken satay but the others are great too!
Must-Visit Spots in Rawai
“Where are the best places to find delicious food in Rawai,” I hear you ask? Let me tell you. Poached…Poached..Poached and also a few other places.
Obviously, there’s something about Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai that is stealing hearts and taking names. And it’s, well…everything. The cosy interior with green foliage, comfortable booths, leather chairs and an outdoor seating area that looks over the beach is a big yes. But more than that, it’s the food and the coffee. We take great care to serve you the best coffee this side of the mainland, making sure we perfectly brew each cup to whip up coffees that are smooth, rich and full of flavour. Our favourites are the mocha, latte and if you’re looking for a little flair – the caramel macchiato.
If it’s food you’re after, that’s our jam son! (Pardon the Brooklyn 99 reference for those of you who don’t watch too much tv to function properly.) We’ve taken our menu inspiration from Melbourne cuisine and we love our concept deeply. I’ve already told you about our eggs benny but our breakfast burritos are amazing and creamy with a bit of a kick to them. Plus we’ve got some killer banana bread – seriously, it’s famous island wide for a reason.
If you’re a healthy kind of eater, you’ll find a huuuge range of delicious salads (p.s. the cobb salad is amazing or the feta, pumpkin and quinoa superfood salad) as well as breakfast staples including chia pudding with homemade granola and fresh tropical fruit.
Or maybe healthy isn’t in your vocabulary, that’s fine too! Find yourself something ‘a little bit naughty’ with our 3 unbelievable burgers (topped with an egg because protein brah … do you even lift?) or our 2 stacked waffles with fresh fruit and ice cream. There’s something on our menu for everyone, whether you’re after breakfast or lunch so it’s well worth visiting us when you’re looking for food in Rawai.
If you’ve visited Poached for breakfast and you’re wanting a change up for lunch or dinner, let me recommend Fresca Kitchens and Deli. They serve a twist on Italian food and even drop an amazing Sunday roast. Perfect for a dinner date or a lovely lunch with friends.
Or, if French food is a little more up your alley try Le Celtique – they even do this wild thing where they roast a whole hog and serve it up. But they’ve got delicious French classics and great wines too.
So, where to find the best food in Rawai?
Whichever of these recommendations you visit, you’re sure to be met with some of the best food in Rawai. Of course, you won’t want to miss the amazing meal options at Poached Breakfast Cafe Rawai. With our ocean views, amazing service, perfect coffee and delicious menu – we might be a little biased but it’s still so true that we are the best place to find food in Rawai! Come on down and check us out.
If you’re looking for other recommendations for drinks and food in Rawai, check out some of our other articles such as Exploring Cafe Culture: Where to Find the Best Cafe in Nai Harn and it’s surrounding areas.
About The Author
