Location: Unlisted on Google
Price: 210 THB
Final Rating: 4.29/5
Google Rating: N/A
Since this place didn’t have a name we could read, no listing on Google, and no foreign menu to speak of—we just started calling it “The Smiley Guy” because, well, every time we passed by on our daily walk, he gave us the warmest smile.
Day in, day out, this guy stood there behind a blazing wok and BBQ, absolutely dripping with sweat in the Phuket humidity, and still managed to smile at us. (That’s more than we got from our local mini-mart guy, who only started smiling after three solid weeks of daily visits.)
From the outside, it didn’t look like much. If you hadn’t 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 was part of the charm.
Also, something we noticed a lot in Phuket is that many businesses leave offerings outside for the spirits or monks—usually a red Fanta and a meal. At this spot, the meal left out was none other than Pad Kra Pao, the standout dish we had on our first night at Siam Hot Pan. Ashleigh took one look and said,
“Well, if it’s good enough for god, it’s good enough for me.”
The Food
We didn’t have a clue what we were ordering when we sat down. No photos. No English. Just a wall of Thai script. Google Translate was our best friend here, and it led us to something called “Fire Red Morning Glory”, which sounded promising.
And it absolutely delivered.
A rich, savoury stir-fry of morning glory coated in a deep, smoky gravy. It wasn’t “fiery” per se, but the depth of flavour made it one of the best side dishes we had the entire trip. No exaggeration—it was so good we went back multiple times just for that dish.
The gravy had this deep, charred, slightly fermented flavour. After a few visits, I became convinced that the secret was fermented soybean paste—maybe even something like liquid smoke, although with the heat of that wok, it was probably just real BBQ magic.
Ashleigh ordered a Pad Kra Pao that blew the Siam Hot Pan version out of the water. It was punchier, richer, and more balanced—loaded with garlic, chilli, and basil. Easily a 9.5/10.
I ordered a dish translated by Google as “Pork Branch”, which turned out to be crispy pork in gravy. It was decent, just not memorable. Definitely not on the level of Crispy Pork Ji Han. I knew I’d be ordering the Pad Kra Pao next time—and I did.
We ended up coming back three times during our stay. On the final visit, I tried the Spicy Stir Fried Chicken with Riang Seeds and Rice, plus an extra egg. The sauce was delicious, but the chicken was slightly overcooked—still tasty though, especially after loading it up with pickled chillies, chilli vinegar, and dried chilli flakes from the condiment station.
Each time, we also got a complimentary broth—what looked like oxtail soup with some bones and aromatics. The first time, it tasted like hot water. I assumed they’d added too much water to stretch it out. But on the second and third visits, the flavour had really developed—much richer and fattier. I guess the first round was just an off day.
Breakdown
- Morning Glory: 10/10 – Still my favourite plate of food in Phuket
- Pad Kra Pao: 9.5/10 – Best version we had on the trip
- Pork “Branch”: 6.5/10 – Fine, but forgettable
- Spicy Chicken Stir Fry: 6.5/10 – Solid, but not standout
- Service: 9/10 – We went because the guy was really nice
- Value: 10/10 – Can’t beat those portions for that price
Final Thoughts
This was the kind of place that reminded us why eating local was always the best decision. No gimmicks. No English menus. No aesthetic Instagram corners. Just a guy doing what he does best—serving up amazing food, day after day.
Final Rating: 4.29/5 – A true hidden gem.
If (or when) we go back to Phuket, we’ll absolutely be heading back, and you should go here too.
