Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4xvkEn6xyqWauWT47
Price: 210 THB total
Pad Thai Rating: 8/10
O Tao Rating: 6.5/10
Value for Money: 9/10
My Rating: 3.91/5
Google Rating: 4.1/5
Our First Michelin Guide Experience in Phuket
O Tao Ba Ding was our first Michelin guide experience in Phuket, and honestly? It was a bit of a trek.
A solid 45-minute walk from where we’re staying, just past Old Town—but to be fair, that gave us a perfect excuse to explore Old Town afterwards, which made it worthwhile as an experience.
Now, when it comes to the actual food? The Pad Thai here is easily the best I’ve ever had.
The Pad Thai – A Surprisingly Heavyweight Contender
Granted, I don’t eat Pad Thai that often, but this one? Aroy mak mak. (my latest Thai vocabulary addition) Meaning: very delicious.
Packed with chicken—they don’t skimp on the meat here.
Unlimited crushed peanuts for garnish, which is always a win.
Solid 8/10 on flavour—tangy, savoury, slightly sweet, with that perfect wok-fried depth.
And surprisingly? Super filling.
Ashleigh had the seafood version, which came with huge, perfectly cooked shrimp. Considering shrimp are the easiest thing in the world to overcook, they absolutely nailed it—juicy, plump, and full of flavour.
A weird first for us—eating prawn shells.
Atop Ashleigh’s seafood Pad Thai, they threw in deep-fried prawn shells as a garnish. At first, I was expecting to be picking little bits of shell out of my teeth for the rest of the night, but nope—these things were crispy, almost like crackling. Way better than expected.
The Signature Dish – O Tao (And Why We Couldn’t Finish It)
Of course, we couldn’t come here without trying the O Tao, the dish this place is famous for.
So, what is O Tao?
A stir-fried mix of:
- Small oysters
- Taro
- Pork crackling/scratchings
- Shrimp
- Spring onions
And honestly? It’s rich. Like, really rich.
We couldn’t finish it—not just because the Pad Thai was so filling, but because the chewy oysters started to get a little overwhelming. You know that point where something is almost delicious, but one too many bites in and you’re like yeah, I think I’m done now?
That was the O Tao for me.
If it had some kind of sauce or extra seasoning, I feel like it could have been elevated into something way more enjoyable. As it stands? A solid 6.5/10, but not something I’d go out of my way for.
On the plus side, I actually liked the taro—it had this nice potato-like flavour and texture, though Ashleigh absolutely hated it.
Final Verdict – Good, But Not Michelin-Level Special
Flavour? Great Pad Thai, rich but slightly underwhelming O Tao. Overall, 7/10.
Value? Hard to beat. 9/10.
Worth the 45-minute walk? Not really.
For 60-70 THB Pad Thai and 60 THB O Tao, this place is a steal, and I can totally see why Michelin took notice—it’s great value, solid cooking, and an authentic local experience.
But does it feel like a must-visit Michelin experience?
Actually, if you’re a foodie, yes you should. If you’re not really that fussed about southern Thai cuisine, give it a miss unless you’re nearby. In which case, get the Pad Thai.
Would I walk another 45 minutes just to eat here again? Probably not.
Would I swing by if I was already in the area? Yeah, definitely.
Google says 4.1/5, my rating? 3.91/5. Solid, but not life-changing.
[…] been tipped off or walked by a few times, you might not have given it a second glance. Aside from O Tao Ba Ding, I’d say this was probably the most rustic-looking spot we visited in Phuket—but honestly, that […]