Raya Restaurant

Raya is one of the best-known restaurants in Phuket Town, serving traditional Phuket and southern Thai home cooking in an old Sino-Portuguese mansion on Dibuk Road. It opened in 1994, founded by Kularb Jesadawal, known to regulars as Pa Kularb, in a building around a century old. Raya held a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide from 2019 to 2024 and has been a fixture of old town dining for three decades. It has two younger sister restaurants in town, One Chun and Chomchan, run by members of the same family.

The dish everyone orders is Mee Hoon Gaeng Poo, a rich yellow crab curry with plenty of crab meat, eaten with thin rice noodles. Other Phuket favourites include Moo Hong, slow-braised Phuket pork; Pak Miang, stir-fried local leaves; Gaeng Som Fak Thong, a sour pumpkin curry; and Nam Prik Goong Siab, a chilli dip made with smoked shrimp, served with vegetables. Dishes are made to share, so come in a group if you can and order several plates with rice.

The restaurant seats around 250 people across two floors. The ground floor is usually used first, and the upstairs rooms open when it fills up or for groups who have booked. Lunch is generally possible without a booking, but for dinner, especially at weekends, it is wise to call ahead. Raya is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:30. Prices are moderate for the quality and portion sizes.

Raya suits families, groups and anyone who wants to taste the dishes Phuket is known for in a setting that feels rooted in the town's history. Some of the cooking is very spicy, so ask staff for guidance if you prefer milder flavours. There is a small car park behind the restaurant, reached from the side lane, which helps in an area where parking is scarce.

Dibuk Road is part of the old town grid. Soi Romanee, Thalang Road and the Shrine of the Serene Light are around ten minutes' walk away, and the mansions of Krabi Road, including Chinpracha House, are a little further. On Sundays, a late lunch at Raya followed by the walking street market on Thalang Road makes a satisfying afternoon.