Tu Kab Khao ตู้กับข้าว is probably one of the more tourist-friendly Phuket restaurants in Old Town, easy to find, MICHELIN-recognised, and marked by that giant lobster outside.
Quite hard to miss that gigantic blue-greenish lobster sculpture clinging to the exterior wall of the heritage building.
Located along Phang Nga Road, Tu Kab Khao sits within a restored Sino-Portuguese shophouse.
The name loosely refers to a food cabinet used to store dishes eaten with rice, which makes sense because the menu is built around sharing.
Think curries, stir-fries, seafood, pork dishes, vegetables and local Phuket recipes, all meant to go with rice.
The interior is more elegant and upscale than the old-school local eateries nearby, but still keeps some Old Town charm.
There are patterned tiles, blue-and-white details, high ceilings, old-style lamps and a dining room that feels like it belongs to a rich Thai family.
The menu is HUGE, so it helps to zoom in on the recommended dishes and local Phuket items.
These include Pineapple Fried Rice (THB 320), Stir Fried Melinjo Leaves with Egg (THB 160), Stir Fried Pork with Fresh Shrimp Paste (THB 260), and Phuket Local Stewed Pork (THB 295).
There are also other familiar options such as Stir Fried Morning Glory (THB 140), Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nut (THB 220), Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (THB 200), Deep Fried Chicken Wings (THB 190), Spicy Pomelo Salad with Shrimp and Minced Pork (THB 220), and Thai Fish Cake (THB 250).
The Phuket Local Stewed Pork (THB 295), or Moo Hong, was the dish I was most looking forward to.
It came in a dark, thick gravy with chunky pieces of pork belly, and looked like the sort of thing that should not be eaten without rice.
The sauce was a little salty and slightly sweet, with dark soy depth and gentle spice notes which reminded me of Chinese kong bak but with a Phuket flavour profile.
The Green Curry with Chicken Served with Roti (THB 250) was creamy and mild, with chicken, Thai eggplant, pea eggplant, basil leaves and red chilli in a pale green curry.
The roti helped a lot. Without it, the curry might have felt a bit plain, as it lacked a certain depth and heat, though that is understandable given its tourist-friendly crowd.
The Pad Thai (THB 220) was the safest dish, and also the least memorable for me.
It came with crushed peanuts, lime, beansprouts and chives on the side, with soft noodles, egg and seafood mixed through.
Nothing wrong with it, but next time I would not come to Tu Kab Khao for Pad Thai (small regret).
Perhaps Tu Kab Khao works best as a first proper sit-down meal in Old Town, where the dishes retain their local character, but the overall experience remains accessible and comfortable for visitors.
Tu Kab Khao Restaurant Phuket
8 Phang Nga Road, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Tu Kab Khao Restaurant Phuket
Click HERE for other PHUKET Food Entries
Other Related Entries
Roti Taew Nam (Phuket)
Go Benz (Phuket)
A Pong Mae Sunee (Phuket)
Campus Coffee Roasters (Phuket)
Ta Tuay (Phuket)
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
