Thai food varies from region to region, depending on the local ingredients. The South is famous for it's fiery curries and fish dishes. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, there is no shortage of tropical fish, prawns, lobster and crabs. Curried, steamed, boiled, barbecued or fried, with different sauces and dips. So while you're in Phi Phi, try to sample as much as possible.

Some loca.l dishes worth sampling On Phi Phi island, you can sample local southern Thai food (often very spicy) as well as food from other parts of Thailand or Chinese noodles. If you're eating on your own or can't manage a full Thai meal with soup, dips, rice and main dish (served all at once) try some noodles like (Pad See yoo) or Khaow Pat (fried rice) These are quick, non spicy and you can add your own condiments according to taste. Below are a few suggestions to give you some food for thought...

For Breakfast

Try Khanom Cheen, a popular Chinese breakfast of white rice noodles covered with a spicy fish curry and served with plate of fresh vegetables and herbs.
For Lunch

Hmm! steamed mussels fresh from the ocean with basil, garlic and chilli.
Som Tam (Papaya salad) Affectionately known as " Papaya Pok Pok" this spicy salad originally from the northeast, is now a national favourite. Made from sliced green papaya, peanuts, dried shrimp, and raw vegetables, it's usually eaten as with sticky rice and fresh grilled chicken. Very tasty but spicy, so ask the cook to make it "my pet" (not spicy) if you don't want it too hot!

Khao Mok Gai

(fragrant yellow rice served with chicken) A Muslim speciality consisting of roast chicken on a bed of saffron rice, mixed with ginger and lightly fried garlic. Not spicy, but accompanied by an optional sweet sweet hot sauce.

Phat Thai

Stir fry noodles with either shrimp, chicken or tofu and vegetable in season and topped with roasted peanuts. Accompanied by condiments such as sour pickle, chilli, sugar and limes. A great lunch dish.
Fish-Anytime. Always fresh. Try fish in 3 tastes, barbecued fish with dips, grilled fish, or fish with garlic and ginger.

Tom Yam Gung

Thailand's internationally famous shrimp soup......Good at any time. There are many varieties of the Tom Yam including an excellent vegetarian version.
Geng Som - A southern Thai speciality - curry soup with an unusual sour taste and Geng Keowan - a green curry which always tastes good.

Useful tips

Thais don't eat with chopsticks, except for certain dishes, usually of Chinese origin. They eat with a spoon and fork, especially useful for rice!
The phrase "my pet" means not spicy. A very useful phrase when you are ordering Thai food!

International Food

Thais are very good at adapting other dishes from different countries, and with the increase in tourism there's a better knowledge of European food and cooking methods. In the upmarket hotel restaurants you are not likely to be disappointed in your choice. Don't however, expect great European food at the local restaurant down the road or on the beach. The taste will definitely be different from what you're used to, apart from basics like European and American breakfast.

What to Drink?

Beer - goes well with Thai food. Local beers include Beer Chang and Singha - both have claimed heavy hangovers on past visitors. International and the occasional American beer is also available. Wine is relatively expensive. Good wines are can be found in the hotels.
Water
Tap water is NOT safe for drinking. Drink only bottled water or from a flask supplied by the hotel. Water provided in restaurants is safe for drinking,
Ice - Ice cubes in drinks are generally safe, especially in the large international hotels. However avoid all shaved or crushed ice, particularly from roadside fruit vendors.

Thai Fruit

Thais traditionally finish a meal with fruit and save the sweeter Thai desserts for snacking between meals. Many tropical fruits are grown on Phuket. pineapple, rambutan, a cute, small red oval fruit with hair, bananas, papaya and many tropical fruits. Papaya is also eaten green, and a major ingredient in Som Tam (papaya salad). Durian is perhaps the king of tropical fruits, but many find the smell offensive. Guava, similar to an apple, and green mango are eaten dipped into a sugar, salt, chilli mix. Mango the national fruit, is delicious, but generally only available between January to June. One last note, eating fruit also helps take out the fire of some of the more spicy dishes of Thai food!

Thai Desserts

Normally very sweet, Thai desserts form a balance at the end of a meal. Ingredients like coconut, and vegetables, such as beans, or pumpkin are used inventively in the Asian way, accompanied by shaved ice, sweetened coconut milk and palm syrup.
Restaurants

Restaurants, thai food and nightlife

Lets face it, Thai food is simply wonderful! The taste, the texture, aromas and colour. It can be spicy, sweet, sour, salty, or more often, a combination of all of those. If you prefer International food, there are lots of restaurants in Phi Phi serving Scandinavian, Italian, and European food, in some idyllic settings....

Dining Out

Imagine eating out under the stars, with the moon on the water, the cool sand beneath your feet, and a cool breeze blowing........ Many of Phi Phi's excellent restaurants are located directly on the beach. Dress is informal unless you are dining in some of the hotel restaurants..
Local Thai restaurants are great value, with food at incredible prices, but choosing can be difficult. Some have menus in English, others don't. If you're not the adventurous type when it comes to food, nearly all accommodation complexes have their own restaurants which cater to both Thai and western tastes.
Street vendors sell everything from pancakes to fried bananas. Check cleanliness and simply buy fried food cooked on the spot. If you want to know more about what to eat... click here
A very useful phrase... If you don't like spicy food, you can say "Mai Pet" (which means "not spicy") If you don't use this phrase, you may be served local Thai style, which in southern Thailand, means very hot!!!
Remember Thai food is eaten with a spoon and fork.

Hotel restaurants

There are too many to list! Good reports from:
Palm Beach Travel Lodge - Probably has the best wine cellar on Phi Phi island.
Jungle Bar - Cabana Hotel. Relaxed.
PP Princess- Nice informal atmosphere.
Phi Phi Banyan Restaurant - Extensive seafood menu.

Restaurants

Le Grand Blue- Stylish, interesting menu and comprehensive wine selection.
Fatties - Fun place with good European food..
HC Andersons - Scandinavian favourite. Steakhouse run by Matts from Denmark, serving a tremendous selection of international favorites such as Sirloin steak, Greek kebabs, Mexican nachos and it's famous Scandinavian Meat Balls
Amicos - Italian food on the beach.
Le Patisserie - Belgian bakery.

Thai Favourites

Ja Soh's, in Tonsai - local curries for breakfast! Also serves traditional Thai desserts.
Captain Pongs. Close to the jetty. Fried noodles (pat-see-yoo) and fried rice (khaow pat)
Thai Bird Seafood Simple and inexpensive.
Noi's Curry house (next to the Phi Phi Hotel) serves up local spicy curries daily.

Nightlife

Night life on Phi Phi is surprisingly good for a small island. As well as good restaurants there are a number of bars offering reggae, jazz and blues, or catch some action with Thai boxing! Or, if you simply want to chill, Satellite TV or videos can often be found at your hotel or local restaurant. Below are a few selections..
The Reggae bar complex has 5 bars, pool tables and is good for dancing late into the night. For alternative entertainment, you can see Thai Boxing three nights a week with professional boxers coming down from Bangkok to fight. On Friday night the purse is real and so is the fight. They get some big national names in the high season. Fight night is big and so are the crowds.

TinTin's Bar and Club - Good music and dance scene. Very popular.
Jungle Bar - Live Jazz and Blues from 10pm in high season.
Lazy Bar - Cushions and traditional back rests - excellent after a hard day on the beach.
Charlies Bar - Popular meeting place on the beach especially at -sunset and early evening.
Carlitos Bar - Popular with Scandinavians.
Apache - On the beach. Loud and very local
The Beach Club - offers non-alcoholic drinks on the beach -OK for kids.
JJ Vegetarian Cafe - more mellow - coffee, jazz & blues.