Some of my favourite halal meals in Phuket were found away from the busiest tourist areas.
During the several months I lived near Phuket Town, I discovered freshly made roti and curry in Old Town, bold southern Thai cooking in Bang Tao and a cashew chicken dish in Kamala that I still remember.
Halal food is widely available across Phuket, particularly in Phuket Town, Bang Tao, Kamala and Patong.
However, restaurants are spread between different towns and beach areas, so choosing where to stay can make a real difference, especially if you’re not planning to drive.
Choosing where to stay can make a real difference, especially if you’re not planning to drive.
In this guide, I’ll share my personal recommendations, including:
- The best areas in Phuket for finding halal food.
- My favourite halal restaurants and what I ordered.
- Where else to find halal food in Phuket
Best areas for halal food in Phuket
Phuket has a thriving halal food scene, thanks in part to its sizable Muslim community, which makes up approximately one-third of the island’s population.
However, where you stay in Phuket matters, particularly if you want easy access to halal restaurants. As Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is spread across several towns and beach areas, each with its own atmosphere and dining options.
Unlike Bangkok, getting around Phuket isn’t always convenient, especially without your own transport. I recommend choosing accommodation within walking distance of a good selection of halal restaurants.
From my experience, Bang Tao and Kamala offer a great balance of beautiful beaches and halal dining options.
Patong has plenty of halal restaurants but a busier nightlife scene, while Phuket Town is home to some of my favourite established halal eateries, despite being away from the main beach resorts.
Exploring the rest of the country? Dig into our Thailand halal food guide.
Phuket Town
Phuket Town is my favourite area of the island, having lived nearby for several months. I’d regularly visit one of its speciality coffee shops for my daily caffeine fix before heading off somewhere for lunch.
At its heart is Phuket Old Town, famous for its colourful Sino-Portuguese architecture, quirky street art and vibrant food scene.
The historic streets around Thalang Road and Soi Romanee are particularly enjoyable to explore, with plenty of cafés, restaurants and independent shops.
You’ll also find some of Phuket’s most established halal eateries here, including Roti Chaofa and Aroon Po Chana.
If you’re visiting on a Sunday, don’t miss the Old Town Walking Street Market, when Thalang Road comes alive with food stalls, including halal options serving everything from traditional Thai dishes to burgers.
Aroon Po Chana
I stumbled upon Aroon Po Chana while searching for a souvenir for my wife in Phuket Old Town. The irresistible smell of freshly cooked roti and fragrant curries stopped me in my tracks.
What caught my attention was the open cooking station, where you can watch the staff stretch the dough, fry each roti until golden brown, then crush it into wonderfully crispy, flaky pieces.
Inside, the walls are decorated with photographs of notable visitors who’ve eaten here, a testament to this long-established local favourite.
I ordered the southern Thai-style roti with chicken curry, which was perfect for soaking up the rich, aromatic sauce.
Don’t leave without trying the frothy Thai pulled tea (cha chak). It’s delicious alongside the curry, although a little on the sweet side for my taste.
Kamala
Just north of Patong lies Kamala, a beautiful coastal village with a long-established Thai-Muslim fishing community.
I first discovered Kamala while riding my scooter towards Bang Tao along the coastal road. What caught my attention was the unusually high number of halal signs outside restaurants as I passed through.
Curious to explore further, I ventured into the smaller streets behind the main road, discovering quiet local markets, family-run businesses and mosques at the heart of the community.
It’s this authentic village atmosphere, combined with a beautiful beach and easy access to halal food, that makes Kamala one of my favourite areas to recommend.
Baan Mook Restaurant
During that same visit, I stopped for lunch at Baan Mook Restaurant, a welcoming local eatery tucked away from Kamala’s busier tourist areas.
I particularly liked its relaxed atmosphere and understated, modern décor, with simple wooden tables and chairs creating a comfortable setting.
I ordered Gai Pad Med Mamuang (Thai cashew chicken stir-fry), a dish I’ve tried countless variations of across Thailand. Finding a version that gets the balance of flavours, spice and sauce just right isn’t always easy.
Thankfully, Baan Mook’s version didn’t disappoint. The chicken was crispy on the outside, coated in a sauce with a lovely balance of sweet and savoury flavours and a generous kick of spice. It was the consistency of the sauce that really stood out, making this one of the more memorable versions I’ve tried.
Patong
As Phuket’s busiest tourist destination, Patong has one of the island’s largest selections of halal restaurants, serving everything from authentic Thai cuisine to Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.
There’s also an established Muslim community around Phrabaramee Road, where you’ll find Masjid Nurul Islam and several halal eateries.
However, Patong is also famous for its nightlife, with countless bars and a lively party atmosphere. I personally prefer to avoid the area after sunset, although I’ll occasionally stop for a meal when passing through.
Aroi Bites
For a good halal Thai meal in Patong, I’d recommend Aroi Bites, a casual, welcoming restaurant on Pisitkoraneee Road.
I’d start with the crispy vegetables, served piping hot with a sweet chilli dipping sauce. They’re a great way to begin your meal.
For the main course, I went with the Panang curry, a rich, coconut-based Thai curry with fragrant spices and just the right amount of heat. Paired with warm jasmine rice, it’s a satisfying choice for anyone who enjoys traditional Thai flavours.
Bang Tao
Bang Tao is one of my top recommendations for Muslim travellers visiting Phuket, combining beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, including Banyan Tree Phuket, with a well-established local Muslim community.
Much of this community is centred around Srisoonthorn Road and its surrounding streets, where you’ll find several mosques, including Masjid Mukarram, alongside numerous halal restaurants serving local Thai-Muslim cuisine.
For a more local food experience, I’d also recommend visiting Bang Tao Night Market, where Muslim vendors sell a variety of affordable halal street food.
One thing worth remembering is that Bang Tao is quite spread out, so if easy access to halal dining is important, check the location of your hotel before booking.
Roi Bangtao
If you want to experience authentic southern Thai cooking away from Phuket’s tourist-focused restaurants, Roi Bangtao is well worth a visit.
This halal restaurant keeps things simple, with casual seating and a menu featuring bold southern Thai flavours, aromatic herbs and plenty of spice.
I ordered Pad Sator Goong (stir-fried prawns with stink beans), a southern Thai speciality cooked with a punchy curry paste. The beans have a distinctive pungent flavour and satisfying crunch that make this dish quite unlike your typical Thai stir-fry.
It’s the sort of place I’d recommend to anyone wanting to explore Phuket’s local food culture beyond the usual Pad Thai and green curry.
Visiting Bangkok, too? Plan ahead with our Bangkok halal food guide.
Where else to find halal food in Phuket?
Beyond the restaurants featured, you’ll also find halal food at local night markets, shopping centres and selected fast-food outlets.
Halal street food & night markets
Here are some of my favourite night markets in Phuket, which I regularly visit for halal street food:
- Phuket Sunday Walking Street Market: One of Phuket’s most popular markets, open only on Sundays. There’s a great variety of halal food, including cuisines beyond traditional Thai dishes.
- Bang Tao Night Market: A smaller night market that’s really only worth visiting if you’re staying in Bang Tao.
- Naka Weekend Market: Great for souvenir shopping, with several halal food stalls selling dishes such as beef skewers.
Bear in mind that not every vendor is halal, so look out for stalls displaying halal signs.
Halal food at Central Phuket mall
If you’re shopping at Central Phuket, you’ll be pleased to know there are halal dining options across its Festival and Floresta wings, which are connected by a bridge.
In the Festival building, head to the first floor, where you’ll find a food court with dozens of stalls. Several serve halal food, which you can identify by their clearly displayed halal signs.
It was here that I first tried what would become my favourite southern Thai snack, murtabak. It’s a type of roti stuffed with beef or chicken and vegetables, and is a popular snack in southern Thailand.
Options for halal fast food in Phuket
The halal status of major fast-food chains is a common question among Muslim travellers. It’s worth checking individual outlets rather than assuming every branch follows the same standards.
During my years living in Thailand, I’ve never personally seen a halal label at major fast-food chains such as KFC and McDonald’s. However, I’m aware of reports that Phuket’s Islamic Committee certified KFC outlets on the island as halal several years ago.
I’ve also personally asked staff at KFC branches in Phuket whether their ingredients were halal, and they confirmed that it was.
As for McDonald’s, I’ve only heard that its chicken is halal, but haven’t seen anything that confirms this. I personally tend to avoid it.
There are other halal fast-food chains I’d recommend, such as Prime Burger, which states that it uses halal-certified ingredients.
Final thoughts
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give Muslim travellers visiting Phuket, it’s to explore beyond the main tourist areas.
During my time living on the island, I found that some of the most rewarding food experiences came from discovering smaller, family-run eateries within Phuket’s local Muslim communities.
With halal restaurants spread across the island, choosing where to stay can make a real difference to your experience.