Crispy Pork Ji Hong – The Best Meal in Phuket

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7jPXcVL78eZ5L3W37
Price: 170 THB
Food Rating: 10/10
Value for Money: 10/10
Overall Rating: 5/5
Google Rating: 4.6/5


The Best Meal in Phuket

Right… I’m calling it. This is the best meal I’ve had in Phuket. And something tells me that’s not going to change.

The place opens at 6 AM and closes at 2 PM, but good luck getting crispy pork after 11:30 AM—they sell out fast.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Who eats crispy pork and rice at 6 AM?

I would’ve asked myself the same thing… until I came here.

Also, another new favourite, iced black tea. It’s basically a Turkish chai with ice and sugar, but very refreshing. They should be selling this stuff in Turkey.

I’m surprised this isn’t one of those online viral trends, it seems the internet is sleeping on this one.


Why Is This Place So Good?

Since eating here, and we have gone back since, I’ve tried crispy pork at other places—but nothing compares. Not in flavour, and not in price.

Also, they give you a complimentary soup…broth? It’s delicious. The perfect pallette cleanser.

On my first visit, I ordered the Crispy Pork + Chicken + Red Roasted Pork + Chinese Sausage with Rice.

Every single meat was:

  • Juicy
  • Tender
  • Packed full of flavour
  • A generous portion for just £2

But the real showstopper? The crispy pork.

When we came back, I went XXL on just crispy pork—and for 90 THB, the portion size was insane.

I think this place definitely wins on best value for money.


The XXL Crispy Pork and Rice…

It’s Not Just the Pork That Shines

What’s great about this place is that it’s not just about the crispy pork.

Look around, and you’ll see locals ordering every type of meat on the menu—proving that this place isn’t a one-hit wonder.

And then there’s the queue.

We’ve been lucky—every time we arrive, someone leaves, and we slip into their spot. Sai Baba has apparently evolved to finding restaurant tables for us too. (for those that don’t know, we pray to Sai Baba when we need car spots, and they magically appear!)

That being said, the queue for takeaway never seems to end.

And honestly? I don’t know why you’d get this as a takeaway when there’s a much better reason to eat in…


The Sambal Situation

Yes! Finally! A restaurant that gets it.

This place serves three homemade sambals, and honestly, they’re worth coming for alone.

The Green Sauce – Fresh ginger, green chillis, and garlic with spring onions and a hint of coriander. Bright, fragrant, and punchy. The flavour of the garlic, because there’s a lot of it, lingers in your mouth for the rest of the day. Which sounds bad, but it’s a good thing, it tastes delicious. There’s only 2 reasons you’d dislike this: you don’t appreciate good food, or you’re a vampire.

The Red Sauce – Lightly fermented chili sauce with a tangy sweetness to balance the heat.

The Spicy Gravy – This is the real star of the show. A sweet and spicy chili sauce, layered with what I’m assuming is five-spice, with extra cinnamon, and what I think is tamarind. It’s not actually gravy, but we’ve nicknamed it ‘the gravy’ because we’ve been pouring it on like it’s milk in a cereal bowl.

The fact that these sauces exist is reason enough to visit. The fact that the food itself is out of this world makes this a must, must, must visit. I reckon we might get banned from coming back though – we are quite heavy handed with those hot sauces…


Final Thoughts – Michelin Got It Right

This place is in the Michelin Guide, and rightfully so.

Would I go out of my way to eat here? Absolutely.
Would I go back right now if I could? Without hesitation.

If you’re in Phuket, go. Now.

If you’re not in Phuket, go. Now. Then go to Crispy Pork Ji Hong.

Final Rating: 5/5
Google Rating: 4.6/5

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