Tu Kab Khao

Tu Kab Khao is a southern Thai restaurant in a grand Sino-Portuguese building on Phang Nga Road, in the heart of Old Phuket Town, and it holds a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide for good-quality, good-value cooking. Inside, the walls are hung with portraits of the Thai Royal Family and of the owner's mother, whose recipes form the basis of the cooking.

The setting is one of the most atmospheric in town. The front room has a homely feel, while a rear room with Portuguese tiles is quieter and more private, and live music often accompanies dinner. Ask for the rear room when you book if you want a calmer table. The kitchen puts the emphasis on good ingredients and careful seasoning. The dish that wins the most praise is a subtly spiced crab curry served with rice vermicelli, a Phuket classic, and the rest of the menu covers curries, stir-fries, salads and seafood in the local style. As with most southern Thai restaurants, the best approach is to share several dishes with rice.

Tu Kab Khao is air-conditioned and accepts credit cards, which makes it a comfortable choice in the heat of the day and convenient for visitors. It is moderately priced for the setting and the quality. Opening times are not published in the MICHELIN Guide, so check before you go; evenings are the busiest time, so arrive early or ask your hotel to call ahead.

The restaurant suits couples wanting an atmospheric dinner, families, and groups who want to share a wide spread of dishes. Some dishes are fiery, as is normal for southern Thai cooking, so ask the staff for recommendations if you prefer gentler flavours, and mention any allergies when you order.

Phang Nga Road runs parallel to Thalang Road, so Tu Kab Khao is ideally placed for a meal during a walk around the old town. The On On Hotel, Soi Romanee and the Thai Hua Museum are all a few minutes away, and on Sundays the walking street market spreads onto Phang Nga Road, making an early dinner here a good start to the evening.