The Phad Thai Shop
Phad Thai is a very common Thai dish made from noodles, egg, chili, tofu, normally some shrimp, maybe some chicken, plus onion, fish sauce, nuts, lime... ingredients can vary. You can order Phad Thai in 10 different places and get 10 different tasting meals depending on the amount and variety of sauces added, the size and type of noodles used, type of meat added and so on... Phad Thai can be bland sometimes or it can be spicy, it can be dry or saucy. You get a lot of variety out of one dish! If bought from a street stall or roadside restaurant you're normally only going to be paying 40 - 50 Baht for your lunch - it's a cheap dish to make and thus a popular lunch all over Thailand, nearly as popular as Noodle Soup.
Close to where I work in Karon Beach, on the back road near the Baan Karon Resort, there's one of the most popular little lunchtime restaurants I have ever seen in Phuket. Every day workers in the local area flock here for lunch, and the most popular dish is Phad Thai. The restaurant does not really have a name except "the Phad Thai restaurant". They also do noodle soup with chicken or beef, a good Phad Gapraow with beef, a popular fried rice with crab. The menu is expanding - when I first ate here a couple of years ago they had only Phad Thai or Noodles and beef stew.
It's only a little place but it can be packed at lunchtime. You can get Phad Thai to eat there or take away - the take away is wrapped in a banana leaf. The cooking is all done by one guy, with others helping to serve noodle soup - you can see the huge bowls full of chicken and beef below - these are ladled over the noodles. The Phad Thai is cooked with quite a bit of chili, and you have extra bowls of chili sauce, prik nam pla and dried chili on the table in case it's not spicy enough for you.
I ate my Phad Thai in the restaurant today. Bear in mind that by Western standards this is not really a "restaurant" - a collection of tables in the dirt by the road outside someones house... but this is real local eating here in Phuket. If you want to mingle with the people, get on the back roads and get some Phad Thai right here! I tend to get food from here at least once a week as it's so cheap and close to work.... oh and very tasty!
UPDATE - 2013 - the place has been tarted up with a concrete floor and nicer tables, but still the same food and same price (50 Baht). Just before the Baan Karon Resort on the way from Karon to Kata on Patak Road. It's not a big obvious restaurant, folks, just a small local place... but they do now have a sign outside saying "The Phad Thai Shop". Do try to find it! Yes, I do need to update the photos! If in doubt come to see us at Sunrise Divers first. Only a few minutes away... And a huge condo block is being built behind it, easy to spot!
The Phad Thai Shop - Location Map
View The Phad Thai Shop near Karon Beach in a larger map
Close to where I work in Karon Beach, on the back road near the Baan Karon Resort, there's one of the most popular little lunchtime restaurants I have ever seen in Phuket. Every day workers in the local area flock here for lunch, and the most popular dish is Phad Thai. The restaurant does not really have a name except "the Phad Thai restaurant". They also do noodle soup with chicken or beef, a good Phad Gapraow with beef, a popular fried rice with crab. The menu is expanding - when I first ate here a couple of years ago they had only Phad Thai or Noodles and beef stew.
It's only a little place but it can be packed at lunchtime. You can get Phad Thai to eat there or take away - the take away is wrapped in a banana leaf. The cooking is all done by one guy, with others helping to serve noodle soup - you can see the huge bowls full of chicken and beef below - these are ladled over the noodles. The Phad Thai is cooked with quite a bit of chili, and you have extra bowls of chili sauce, prik nam pla and dried chili on the table in case it's not spicy enough for you.
I ate my Phad Thai in the restaurant today. Bear in mind that by Western standards this is not really a "restaurant" - a collection of tables in the dirt by the road outside someones house... but this is real local eating here in Phuket. If you want to mingle with the people, get on the back roads and get some Phad Thai right here! I tend to get food from here at least once a week as it's so cheap and close to work.... oh and very tasty!
UPDATE - 2013 - the place has been tarted up with a concrete floor and nicer tables, but still the same food and same price (50 Baht). Just before the Baan Karon Resort on the way from Karon to Kata on Patak Road. It's not a big obvious restaurant, folks, just a small local place... but they do now have a sign outside saying "The Phad Thai Shop". Do try to find it! Yes, I do need to update the photos! If in doubt come to see us at Sunrise Divers first. Only a few minutes away... And a huge condo block is being built behind it, easy to spot!
The Phad Thai Shop - Location Map
View The Phad Thai Shop near Karon Beach in a larger map
The Phad Thai Shop | Jamie's Phuket Blog
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This is torturing me! I wish I was in Thailand right now.
I love Thai food. Seeing those pictures makes me want to go there! Argh :)
And I bet the food in your "bistro" ain't a patch on the Phad Thai at this little restaurant :)
Hi Jamie,
We're coming to Phuket next week for our holiday and I LOVE Pad Thai and want to try some real local version - can you give me the address for this cafe - or how to get there from our resort - we'll be at the Merlin Beach Resort.
Cheers,
Sue from Australia
Well, its on the back road behind Karon Beach - check the Google Earth link on the page. Worth coming from Merlin Beach resort...? Well, it's probably 10km and not so easy to find. Better if you stop by Sunrise Divers in Karon first and I can show you.
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
As I told you earlier, I'm coming to Phuket on the 22nd September. Reading your blog makes me feel more comfortable in going ahead with my trip, despite the current circumstances. :) Just wondering how do I get to this Phad Thai restaurant if I'm staying in Kamala Beach? Is it very far away and what forms of transportation should I take? Thank you!
Well, witch, yes it's a long hike from Kamala, as this place is on the back road of Karon/Kata. If you rent a motorbike you can find it, but as I said to Sue, call in at Sunrise Divers in Karon first so I can explain... Is it worth a ride from Kamala? Up to you, la.
:)
Hi Jamie,
We found your Phad Thai today! We took the tuktuk to Baan Karon, wandered about for a few minutes, and I recognized it from your pictures! It was MOST EXCELLENT, definitely the most flavorful Phad Thai I have experienced! Thanks for the recommendation! We'll have pictures when we get home. Tomorrow, off to Ton Sai. =)
Jamie, mind to give me ur contact? I be there on this Songkran and hope to taste the Pad thai here... Thanks. My email is tankianyong@gmail.com
tried and tested...easily the best phad thai ever!
Hi Jamie,
Your blog has given me alot insight about Phuket and I enjoy reading it. I will be visiting Phuket on the 16 Jul and hope to try the Phad Thai that you have mentioned. Can I bother you to show me where it is located if I stop by sunrise divers at Karon?
Thanks
Sure, stop by and I can show you, it's a 5 minute walk up the road.
Great, I'll see you in two days between 11am to 1pm. Hopefully, the rain would have subsided a little.
Hi Jamie, really love your blog as it's really insightful and helped me a lot during my honeymoon earlier this month.
Went to search for the Phad Thai and spent 2 hrs searching for it on the first day and gave up. Can find the signboard and place as listed on your blog. Tried again another day and found it opposite Baan Karon Resort. They have renovated!!!! But it was worth it as I really love Phad Thai. Maybe you can update the photos of the shop. Cheers.
Hi lostinphuket,
Well, the location has not changed, just before Baan Karon on the left side when heading from Karon to Kata. There is a Google Earth link on this page too. The blog page was written quite a while ago.. do remember this is a blog and unfortunately I don't do it full time, so if a restaurant changes it's tables and chairs I don't always have time to update. Certainly should update this one, will do sometime soon.
Didn't have any problems finding the restaurant. We stayed in Karon for a couple nights, then went to Lanta Island, and then came back and stayed at Surin Beach. We didn't realize it was actually so close to our Karon hotel, but we drove all the way down south for this restaurant. :-)
The Phad Thai was really good, but the shrimp was a bit too small.
Thanks Jamie.
Had lunch there today and yes it is the best Pad Thai we have ever had. We will be going back again next week before we head home. 'Believe and hype and follow your nose'
Looking forward to checking out Lakeside and Chili Restaurants also.
It was nice meeting you today.
Thanks Paddy
Jamie
Is this the place?
www.mapjack.com/?MLQwTM5tWcfA
Doug
Doug - no!
:)
There is a Google Earth location link on the page...
MapJack seems to jump along that bit of road.. The Phad Thai is here:
http://www.mapjack.com/?wbQwTprtWcRCNDmA
If in doubt you can ask us at Sunrise Divers, just a few minutes away in Karon.
Cheers
Jamie
We're headed to Kata in April and I'd love to try this Phad Thai! Just one little issue; I'm one of those pain-in-the-arse people that can't eat seafood :(
I love eating at local places on my travels but I've learned the hard way that it's often best to stick to foods that don't normally have seafood in them, but I'm so tempted by this! What would my chances of being able to get a Phad Thai without the shrimp here?
Only a tiny bit of shrimp in there, but it can easily not be added.. just ask the guy cooking - no shrimp please and smile :)
Jamie
Im a Scotsman just returned from celebrating a Queenslanders wedding in Karon. All the lads went to the Phad Thai place for lunch on the wedding day- what a feed, thanks for the advice. Trying to upload photo!!, Stu.
Phad Thai for a wedding lunch, excellent! If you have a photo, you can upload on the Jamie's Phuket Facebook Group.. or let me know if you have a blog yourself.. Cheers!
Hey Jamie,
Is this place open for dinner? Thanks!
Cheers,
Wabbit from Down Under
Open until early evening, not in the night time.. sorry not sure of exact opening hours. It used to open only for lunch but they get plenty of local customers all afternoon, so they open later now. I really must go take some updated photos soon!
my fiance and i heading to phuket for 5 days for our honeymoon before we take off to phi phi.. but we are defintly thoroughly reading your blog... and taking down notes!!
can't wait to try some of these places.. and see some of the sights
I'm heading down to Phuket early June and I'd definitely try and look for this place. Thanks!
Hi Jamie Thanks so much for your webpage - it has been a fantastic help with so much info. Found it last year, and continue to keep looking at updates. We came to Phuket last August, loved it so much we are coming back this August, to Karon this time not Patong. We love trying to find authentic places to eat, so will be heading to this place on our next visit. Just how much chili is in the basic pad thai? We like spicy, but not tooo hot, as in lots of chillies! Just burns our mouths! Is there a Thai phrase we could learn to use to get it over that we don't want "hot" burny food, just spicy? Look forward to popping in to thank you in person when we come! thanks! Melanie from New Zealand
Hi Melanie,
The Phad Thai is not too spicy... by the way the place looks a bit different now, I will try to get some new photos done! It's about a 5 minute walk up the street from our dive shop (Sunrise Divers). There some really good noodle soup in another place even closer, also worth a taste. I am normally in the shop every day except Saturday from about 9 - 5.
We had hoped to rent a boat for the day, any suggestions. Prices booking from here are crazy high, We plan to wing it when we get there. Thoughts?
Hi Rob,
For boat charters, try asking my friends at Easy Day Thailand. I think they can help with a variety of boats.
Cheers!
Jamie
Hi, I have just returned from a 9day trip and yes, I managed to find this phad thai restaurant, however, I prefer the noodles soup (duck?). I hope its the correct one, I do have photos of the shop banner "the phad thai shop" and the "chef"..we drove around and went to dino park, butterfly park, Splash Jungle, Aquarium, big buddha, sunset point, seashell museum, little bit of Phuket Town (as it was so hot but we ate the Hokkien noodles at the metropol junction). A pity is I did not visit the Waterfall and Gibbon Project..perhaps few years later...
Do you have any photos online? I need to update the photos on this page actually, as the place does look rather different now.
hi, i have uploaded on my blog
http://caleb-slimming.blogspot.com/2012/02/phad-thai-photos.html
if you need better resolution photos, please email me at lowbeelian@gmail.com. hope my photo helps!
Found it. Phad thai gai eaten
Kristian and Tarja
Finland
Place definately looks authentic, whats the current cost for a feed of Phad Thai at this place? I'm going to try and drag my family down to this place and try it out when we are over in September.
Might see you there.
Scott (KIWI)
just stoped by for pad thai and chicken noodle soup. Tried not to build up the hype too much, just expectations of a good cheap feed, but both dishes were truley amazing. We,ve had pad thai all over the island and normally expect to pay more than tripple the price at ritzy places. Many of these have been a let down. This place has slammed them all. Big tasty serve of noodles packed with meat, veg and tofu and the soup broth was exceptional. The place is kept clean, utensiles, cups ect. Current prices 50bt each. 10 bt for icey cold coke in old style glass bottle. so much charm. look for the wall to floor lonley planet poster on the back wall with the header 'The pad thai shop' but dont let that throw you. this place is not touristy at all
worth the visit
No, certainly not touristy :) It's in the LP guide to Phuket because the author (Adam Skonik) came toour dive shop for a chat and we gave him lots of suggestions, including this Phad Thai shop :) - the owners were rather proud of being in the book, so got the page blown up to 6 feet tall and placed in the restaurant :)
Hi , I'm visiting Phuket in August . Could you tell me if i can get some good vegetarian food there , esp Phad Thai ;) . Also if you have any idea about good veg restaurants in Krabi?
No vegetarian in this restaurant, I am not a vegetarian, so I don't pay much attention to where such food is available. I like steak, pork, chicken, prawns, fish, and vegetables too! Most restaurants have "vegetarian options". You can just ask for "Jay" = rough translation of Thai word for vegetarian.
Hi Jamie, cool blog, love phad thai and here in Brighton we have a shop that has tables in the back just like there!I'm coming over end of August so will pop in and say hello for directions n advice on what to see in Thailand for a 1st timer and maybe learn to dive :)cheers Simon
Hey jamie,Keith from Ireland here.love reading your blog.This will be my first visit to Thailand and I will be in Patong jan 3rd for a week.If myself and my buddy call into your shop can you show us this pad thai place and ill buy u a beer and some pad thai for all your hard work on this blog. keithrevenge@gmail.com
I don't think they sell beer! I'll be at Sunrise Divers most days - location see here - can easily explain where it is, yes. Cheers!
I'll bring some cold beer just incase Jamie
Hi Jamie. The Phad Thai really was as good as you say. Keep it coming with the good advice. Thanks, Guy Newman
Cheers, Guy. And that reminds me I must get up there to take some new photos soon!
hi jamie , do you know if they do breakfast or what time do they open in the morning ? thanks
Hi FC,
Well they are open when I go past before 9am... I an not sure exactly what time they open. So you want Phad Thai for breakfast? :)