Chuan Chim (Phuket, Thailand): The Restaurant That Won My Heart to Thai Food (with MICHELIN Bib Gourmand)

This article is part of the Phuket Food Trip series. Check out the installments in this series: Phuket Food Guide | Chuan Chim (Thai-Chinese Food) | Go Benz (Dry Porridge) | Fatboys Cafe & Restaurant (British Food) | Jadjan by Ko Dang (Restaurant by Former Hotel Chef) | Mee Ton Poe’s Hokkien Mee (Phuketian Stir-Fried Noodles) | Mu Krop Chi Hong (Crispy Pork Belly and Roast Meats) | Mad Hog Tavern Phuket (Harry Potter-Themed Tavern) | One Chun Cafe and Restaurant (Phuketian and Southern Thai Food) | Prime Burger (Award-Winning Smash Burgers) | Roti Taew Nam (Roti and Breakfast Spot) | Thaivetro Oldtown (Ice Cream) | The Charm Dining Gallery (Thai-Peranakan Food)

Last August, my wife and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary (Thank You, Lord!). To celebrate, we did our first international trip as a married couple to the Land of Smiles, Thailand. We visited Bangkok, its capital, and I did a Bangkok Food Trip series last September (check it out starting with this article).

But before we explored the rich culinary landscape of Bangkok, we visited Phuket first. While Thailand’s largest island is known for its beaches and parties, it is an undeniable fact that it also offers amazing food. So I’m launching a month-long Phuket Food Trip series, starting with a hole-in-the-wall that won my heart to Thai food—Chuan Chim.

Located in Phuket City, Chuan Chim is a Thai-Chinese restaurant with over seventy years of history and now run by its second generation. It has moved to several locations until it settled to its current location in 1979. It’s also known for their delicious, wok-fried dishes that even the MICHELIN Guide noticed, awarding it with a Bib Gourmand. It was also featured by Bangkok-based American food vlogger Mark Wiens. He’s the reason I found out about Chuan Chim.

The dishes were prepared à la minute by its female wok masters:

I went here by myself because my wife wanted to rest at our hotel so the plan was just to try a couple of dishes. But I ended up ordering a third dish because the food is amazing! When I went back to our hotel, I can’t help but tell my wife how good the food is!

First I tried is their Pad Krapow Moo Sub or Holy Basil Stir-Fry with Minced Pork (called “Fried Basil (Chicken/Pork)” in their menu). Their version of this Thai comfort dish is flavorful, juicy, and aromatic. While it’s the dry kind, it’s still a bit saucy, perfect for rice.

(By the way, check out our experience at Phed Mark, the Pad Krapow spot opened by food vlogger Mark Wiens and his friends. Read the article here.)

I also tried their Tom Yum Pla or Fish Tom Yum, the classic Thai sour soup dish. It has a sour and spicy broth, made flavorful with lemongrass and coriander. Then the fish is nicely firm.

There’s just no way that I’ll leave Chuan Chim having tried only two dishes. So I got a third one—Chicken with Cashew Nuts. It has fried chicken that’s lightly battered and has nice crunch. It’s perfectly salty and the cashew nuts add texture.

Chicken with Cashew Nuts (THB120/130/150)

To wash down all the food, I got red lemon soda by Singha. It has a floral note and a bitter aftertaste.

Singha Red Lemon Soda Zero Sugar (THB20)

Chuan Chim is so good that, as I’ve mentioned earlier, won my heart to Thai food. To me, they offer the quintessential Thai street food experience—delicious and cheap (it only costed me THB400!). If we return to Phuket, I’ll definitely return to Chuan Chim and I’ll make sure my wife is with me. I highly recommend Chuan Chim to you!

And to the amazing ladies who are masters of the wok, I can only say (and I did say it to them)—Aroi Mak (very delicious)!

What dish above have you tried or would like to try? Comment below!

Address: 37/3 Montri Rd., Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket, Thailand | Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11:30AM-1:30PM & 5:30-10:30PM | Contact No.: +66 76 215 825