Phuket might be known for sun and fun on the beach, but for food travelers to Thailand, it’s a great place to learn about local cuisine. This post shares our recommendations for the best Phuket cooking classes so that you can learn how to prepare some top Thai dishes. We also include recommended Phuket food tours, so that you can explore the island through its unique and interesting cuisine.
Why Visit Phuket For Food
There are a variety of options for Phuket tours, from cycling around the island to island hopping to nearby destinations. But the tours and classes recommended in this guide include an introduction into Phuket’s famous food scene.
Unfortunately, many travelers to Phuket book into one of the main large resorts and they just end up staying put. That’s a perfect way to enjoy a relaxing holiday. But we think there’s plenty of time to explore the island in search of the best food in Phuket.
By booking one of these cooking classes or food tours, you get to learn more about the local Thai culture than you would by staying at the resort. Whether you are looking to eat street food, explore local markets, or learn some cooking skills to bring home, we can help recommend the perfect food experience to make the most of your Phuket holiday.
Phuket’s Best Food Is Fusion
Unlike elsewhere in Thailand, Phuket is food is filled with influences from around Asia. There are influences from Myanmar, Hokkien Chinese, and Muslims. Phuket is also known for its Perankanan cuisine. Also known as Nonya cuisine, the Peranakan were descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled predominantly in Malaysia, including Penang and Malacca.
Although our recommended cooking classes in Phuket focus on Thai cuisine, the food tours focus on all of the external influences on the island. This is why Phuket is one of the most unique places in Thailand for a food tour.
Why Take A Cooking Class In Phuket
We love taking cooking classes when exploring a new destination. It’s a great way to not only learn about the local cuisine, but to learn a new skill to bring home. In Phuket, many of the cooking classes involve learning classic Thai dishes. Some of the local cooking classes also involve a tour of the Phuket food markets.
Why Book A Food Tour In Phuket
All of Phuket’s best tours should involve eating! There’s something a little different about taking a food tour in Phuket as opposed to Bangkok. Because Phuket is a bit of a melting pot, you end up trying foods with a lot of different Asian influences. Sure you will takes Phuket’s local Thai food. But, tours in Phuket also include some great street food in Phuket, but also Muslim curries and dim sum.
Booking A Cooking Class Or Food Tour
In Phuket, we recommend two main companies for booking your food experiences. Below, are experiences booked with Viator and Klook.
Viator is a TripAdvisor company. They offer tours and experiences around the world. We’ve booked many experiences through them in the past.
Klook operates similarly to Viator. They tend to offer more experiences in Asia, which is why we recommend them in Thailand.
Both companies allow you to book with a credit card and offer instantaneous or pretty quick confirmation. The information on their sites are very detailed and hopefully will answer any questions you have about the tour. We’ve compared all of the tour options with both companies (as well as others) and find the ones recommended below to be the best tours in Phuket for foodies.
*This post contains compensated links. Find more info in my DISCLAIMER.
Recommended Cooking Classes
Half-Day Phuket Easy Thai Cooking
Learn to prepare a menu of classic Thai dishes in this ten person, three hour market tour and cooking class. Guests will gain hands-on experience making homemade Thai curry pastes and popular dishes such as chicken satay, pad thai and mango sticky rice.
Begin the day with a hotel pick-up and proceed directly to a local market to experience the sights, sounds and aromas of locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables. While exploring the market, guests will shop for the ingredients they’ll need to prepare their lunch.
Heading back to the cooking studio, guests will explore the grounds, picking additional fresh ingredients from the cooking school’s garden. Set in a traditional open kitchen, guests will receive personalized attention from their certified Thai cook and host.
While preparing their meal, guests will learn about Phuket’s unique cuisine and the many outside influences that have shaped it over the years. After cooking their feast, guests will come together to enjoy their creations.
Book This Cooking Class Here.
Cooking Class Details
Pricing for the market tour and cooking class begins at $65 including transportation. Guests can select between a morning or afternoon class. Each guest will receive a recipe book to take home.
Children are welcomed but must be accompanied by an adult. The class is not wheelchair accessible. Guests with dietary requirements are welcomed but need to notify at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Spot Here
Phuket Thai Cooking Class by VJ
Learn how to cook authentic Thai dishes like a local during this three hour cooking class in Phuket. Begin your experience with a visit to Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market to explore and shop for fresh local fruits, vegetables and spices.
Heading back to the cooking studio, your host Chef VJ will provide step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a wide range of classic Thai dishes. At their own cooking station, guests will chop and cook all their dishes to personalize their creations.
During the class, Chef VJ is there to answer any questions about Thai cuisine, ingredients or Thai culture guests may have. After preparing their dishes, the group will come together to enjoy a communal meal.
Book This Cooking Class Here.
Cooking Class Details
Pricing for the cooking class and market tour (morning class only) begins at $70. Free transportation from select areas around Phuket is included. Guests will have all the recipes emailed to them after the cooking class.
A maximum of 18 guests can be accommodated in both the morning and evening classes. Guests with dietary requirements are welcomed are requested to notify at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Spot Here
Thai Cooking Class by Kata Thai Cooking School
Roll up your sleeves and discover Thai cuisine during this three hour, small group cooking class. Set in the famous Kata Thai Cooking School, cooks of all skill levels are welcome to explore the art of Thai cooking.
After visiting a local fresh market, the group will return to the cooking school to prepare a wide range of traditional Thai dishes. Guests will receive hands-on guidance and instructions from their local Thai culinary experts.
Once all the dishes are prepared the group will enjoy their creations as they learn more about Thai cuisine and culture.
Book This Cooking Class Here.
Cooking Class Details
Pricing for the cooking class begins at $60 and includes roundtrip transportation from select areas of Phuket. Each guest will receive a recipe book to take home. Classes are held in the morning and evening. Guests with food allergies are requested to notify at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Spot HereRecommended Food Tours
Phuket Old Town Food Tour
Explore Phuket’s Old Town to discover delicious eats with a small group of fellow foodies. Led by a local food-loving guide this four hour tour criss-crosses Phuket’s historic district in search of a variety of tasty treats. It’s the closest thing to a Phuket street food tour we could find.
From Burmese curries, to Hokkien noodles, and grilled meats with peanut sauce, guests will sample dishes from wide range of outside influences. Along the way, guests will learn about the culinary heritage of Thailand.
Beginning at 10am, the tour will head over to Phuket’s famous central market. In the market guests will experience where Thais shop for fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood.
After the market it’s over to a hidden Burmese tea shop which serves the local Burmese community. Guests will try Burmese curries, crispy samosas and other delights accompanied by sweet tea. The tour will continue to other fresh markets around Old Town and a decades old restaurant known for its Hokkien noodles. Guests can expect to try over a dozen different dishes, so come hungry.
Book This Tour Of Phuket Old Town Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for the tour begins at $60. The tour lasts approximately four hours. Vegetarian options are available during the tour. Guest with dietary requirements are asked to advise at the time of booking. A maximum of 8 travelers on each tour.
A fair amount of walking is involved during the tour and comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. Nor is the tour wheelchair accessible.
Reserve Your Spot Here
Phuket Night Food Tour & Old Town’s Magical Lights
Most travelers think of beaches when they hear Phuket. But this beach destination also has an incredible food scene. At the heart of Phuket’s food scene is the historic Old Town district. Experience Old Town’s multicultural culinary wonders by foot and minivan with a local foodie guide.
Over five hours, guests will sample at least ten different dishes while learning about the many outside influences on Phuket’s cuisine. Discover Southern Thai favorites, Muslim fusion, Chinese-Thai fusion, Chino-Portuguese flavors, and Peranakan delights.
The evening tour begins with sightseeing at an Old Town temple overlooking the Reclining Buddha Image and Golden Rock Pagoda. From here, head to an area restaurant known for herbed crab curry, a local speciality.
From there it’s time to taste fried Hokkien noodles. A fusion of Hokkien Chinese and Thai, it’s a classic example of the many outside influences found in Phuket. With a partly full stomach, stroll through Phuket’s Chino-Portuguese community and see traditional Chino-Portuguese style houses.
Then head to Phuket’s Chinatown to taste soy milk, Chinese deep fried donuts, and other tasty dishes. Rounding off the tasting guests will sample Massaman curry and chicken satay at a fusion Muslim restaurant. With full stomachs, the local guide will bring the group to one of Phuket’s night markets for a little souvenir shopping.
Book This Phuket Night Food Tour Here.
Food Tour Details
Pricing for the tour begins at $105 and includes hotel pick-up and drop off. This is a private tour and only members of your group will participate. Unfortunately the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Comfortable shoes and lightweight clothing are recommended. Guests with dietary requirements should notify at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Spot Here
Old Town Phuket and Peranakan Food Trail
Designated as a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy, Phuket’s Old Town is a must experience during any trip to Thailand. During this six hour food tour, guests will dive deep into the multicultural influences that make up Phuket’s cuisine.
The tour begins with a tasting of Phuket’s famous breakfasts, consisting of various traditional foods including delicious dim sum, Thai rice noodles, and fish curry. Continuing around Old Town, guests will learn from their knowledgeable local Phuket guide about the many outside influences that have contributed to the local dishes.
After working up an appetite, it’s time to sample the renowned smoky charcoal-fried roti with a refreshing glass of Thai iced tea. Taste Southern-style Thai food including grilled pork with sweet sauce.
Continue sightseeing and admiring the Chino-Portuguese buildings and Jui Tui Shrine. As lunch time approaches, dive into fresh spring rolls, stuffed with refreshing, crunchy veggies. To satisfy the groups sweet tooth, finish the tour with deep fried bananas and coffee.
Book This Tour On The Perankan Trail Here.
Phuket Peranakan Tour Details
Pricing for the tour begins at $90, including hotel pick up and drop off. The tour can accommodate between 2 and 8 guests. The minimum age for guests to participate is 3 years old.
Because of the amount of walking involved comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and recommended for guests with serious medical issues. Guests with dietary requirements are welcomed but need to indicate at the time of booking.
Reserve Your Spot Here
Phuket Private Food Discovery Trip
A visit to Phuket isn’t complete without exploring the local cuisine. A mix of several outside influences, Phuket’s cuisine is unlike any other in Thailand. During this private half or full day tour, guests will experience a wide range of local dishes.
Lead by a local Thai food expert, the tour will visit local markets to learn about the fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices used in Thai dishes. Enjoy a sampling of delicious street food from vendors inside the market.
From there, guests will visit a wide range of restaurants serving up tasty, authentic treats. The private tour allows guests to customize their experience. In between bites of food, the tour will visit some of Phuket’s iconic landmarks including the Big Buddha, the Promthep Cape, and Chalong Temple. On the full day tour, it’s possible to visit all of the main Phuket attractions, plus taste food along the way.
Book This Private Phuket Food Tour Here.
Private Tour Details
This tour is a little different than the normal food tours we recommend. Instead of focusing on a market or a city center, it covers a good amount of Phuket island. It’s more similar to hiring a driver for a half day (starting in the afternoon) or a full day (starting in the morning). The driver will take you to all the spots, but only speaks basic English.
Pricing for the private tour begins at $50 for up to three people and includes hotel pick up and drop off. For a more fluent and experienced guide, there is an add-on for an additional $50. That means for two or three people, the total cost of the private food tour is about $100, which is a really good deal. Larger groups can be accommodated too.
This is a private tour and only members of your group will participate. Comfortable shoes and lightweight clothing are recommended. Guests with dietary requirements should notify at the time of booking. Unfortunately the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Reserve Your Spot Here