Khao Tom Dibuk
Bib Gourmand 2026

🔄 Last checked 2 Jul 2026 · details and hours can change — check the venue before you go

If you want to know what real Phuket locals eat for breakfast, follow the smell of five-spice broth to Phang-Nga Road in the Old Town, and you'll find "Khao Tom Dibuk," a morning congee shop that's been open for around 40 years, since 1985. The name isn't just a nice-sounding label — it comes from the shop's original location on Dibuk Road, a street named after the tin (dibuk) that once ran through Phuket's economy during the mining boom years. The shop later relocated to its current spot on Phang-Nga Road near the Provincial Electricity Authority office, but the old name had already stuck with locals, so nobody bothered to change it. That kind of staying power is exactly why MICHELIN awarded it a Bib Gourmand back in 2019, and it has held onto its place in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand through the 2026 edition. MICHELIN classifies it as a "eat like a local" budget pick, which fits the place perfectly — there's nothing flashy here, just the real thing, repeated and perfected over decades.

The star of the show is khao tom nam phalo, a bowl that sounds simple but makes it obvious after one spoonful why locals are willing to wake up early and queue for it. The phalo broth is fragrant with Chinese five-spice, filled with well-cleaned pork offal, ladled over hot rice congee — sipping it while the morning air is still cool is a small, cheap joy starting at just THB 50–60. If you're not in the mood for soup, there's khao tom haeng mu ruam, a dry rice congee tossed with mixed pork cuts, or mee sua haeng, soft wheat-flour noodles of the kind Hokkien Chinese eat on auspicious occasions — another dish that draws a steady stream of orders. Menu items like these make the shop's roots obvious: it grew up steeped in the Hokkien Chinese food culture embedded deep in Phuket's Old Town.

One thing worth knowing before you go: Phuket has been named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and the breakfast culture here is taken seriously. Old Town locals like a hearty breakfast before starting the day, so Khao Tom Dibuk is busiest between seven and nine in the morning, with tables full of locals rather than tourists — always a good sign when picking where to eat. The location also sets you up well for the rest of the morning, since it sits in the Old Town among the candy-colored Sino-Portuguese buildings, an easy stroll from Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, or Soi Romanee. Warm up your stomach with a bowl of khao tom, then wander around photographing the old buildings in the morning light — it's one of the best half-day plans in Phuket that doesn't involve a beach at all.

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Rice congee & noodles, local Phuket-Chinese style

Khao Tom Dibuk

📍 Phuket Old Town 🧭 Phuket Old Town ⭐ 4.1 · 80 reviews (Google)

🔖 เก็บลงแผนเก็บแผน

🖼️ รูป 🗺️ แผนที่

Photo: Khao Tom Dibuk official Facebook page🔍 แตะเพื่อซูม

🖼️ แตะรูปเพื่อซูมในหน้า · แผนที่ / โซเชียลฝังจากต้นทาง (ถูกลิขสิทธิ์)

Approx. price50–60

🏨 Well-located hotels in Phuket📍 View map

👍 Best forAn authentic Phuket-local breakfast before a walk through the Old Town — great for real-food lovers on a budget, solo or with the whole family

🍽️ Bib GourmandBib GourmandMICHELIN Guide 2026Phuket

🕐Daily 06:00–12:00

🥢Signature — Khao tom nam phalo with pork offal, fragrant with Chinese five-spice

Khao Tom Dibuk is open every day from 06:00–12:00 (some sources say it stays open until 13:00) — it's strictly a morning shop, so don't show up in the afternoon. Prices are very easy on the wallet, starting around THB 50–60 per bowl, and a budget of THB 60–150 per person will get you a proper, full meal. The shop is walk-in only with no reservation system; there's a phone number, 076-215731, for questions, and according to MICHELIN Guide info, the shop accepts cash only, so bring small bills. Peak hours are 07:00–09:00 when it fills up with locals — go early right when it opens, or push your visit past 10am for an easier seat.

The shop is on Phang-Nga Road in Phuket Old Town, near the Provincial Electricity Authority of Phuket, which makes an easy landmark. If you're staying in the Old Town, you can likely walk there. Coming from Patong Beach or another beach area, drive or grab a ride into town. It's a great plan as a breakfast stop before walking Thalang Road and the Sino-Portuguese buildings, since everything is within walking distance of each other. Dishes to order are khao tom nam phalo, khao tom haeng mu ruam, and mee sua haeng.

Must-tryKhao tom nam phaloKhao tom haeng mu ruamMee sua haeng