🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Phuket Hokkien mee comes in two main styles: stir-fried (dry), tossed in a hot wok until it's fragrant, and soup style, where the noodles are blanched and ladled with a thick broth. Some shops do both; others are known for just one. The charm of each place lives in its broth recipe and the mix of toppings, which vary clearly from shop to shop. We've ordered them by how legendary they are and what locals say — not as a fixed ranking — because Phuket folk themselves can't agree on which is best.
10 Hokkien mee shops worth trying
Mee Ton Poe
A legendary shop that's been going since 1946, now run by the third generation near the clock-tower roundabout in the Old Town. The draw is the stir-fried Hokkien mee — plump yellow noodles with just enough sauce, pork, prawn and squid, topped with egg — and it carries a Michelin Guide listing. Expect a packed mix of tourists and locals at all hours.
Ko Yoon
A small shop tucked away in the Old Town, but plenty of Phuket locals rate it even higher than Mee Ton Poe. It's a narrow room with just a few tables, known for the depth of its broth and generous toppings. Walk past and you might not even clock that it's a famous spot.
Go La Hokkien Mee
A family shop that's been at it since the early 1900s, now in its third generation over in the Bang Niao area. They make their own noodles in-house, and being outside the tourist zone you get a genuinely local crowd. If you're into the dry, wok-fragrant stir-fried style, this one's a must.
Sapam Hokkien Mee (Yai Jian)
A well-known shop in the Sapam area, open since 1952 — nearly 70 years — and now in its third generation. The draw is the original-recipe Hokkien mee with a rounded, well-balanced flavour. People happily drive out to Sapam for it, and the setting is an easy, home-style local spot.
Som Chit
A name people know for soup-style Hokkien mee, on a recipe that's over a hundred years old, in the Old Town. Some travellers come all the way from Bangkok just for this shop. If you prefer a rich, rounded broth over the dry stir-fried style, this is the one.
Go Lan Noodles
A long-standing shop in Phuket town that locals have eaten at for years. The draw is the chewy, springy noodles and a full set of toppings at an easy price. It's the kind of low-key place where you won't queue as long as the famous tourist spots.
Mee Ao Kae
A shop near Central Phuket and the market, dealing in punchy stir-fried Hokkien mee loaded with toppings at a friendly price. Handy to drop into while you're shopping or on your way into town.
Krua Jong Jit Hokkien Mee
A shop in the Kathu area that people nearby eat at regularly — cheap, with noodles and toppings that come piled on. A good option if you're staying around Kathu or Patong and don't want to head into the Old Town.
Thalang Road Hokkien Mee
A street stall on Thalang Road in the heart of the Old Town — perfect to grab while you're wandering the Sino-Portuguese shophouses. You get the full old-quarter atmosphere, and the small plates are easy to eat on the move.
Lock Tien (old food court)
A long-standing food court in the Old Town where several local Phuket vendors gather under one roof. There's Hokkien mee to try alongside other local dishes like lor bak and fresh spring rolls. Great to come with a group and order a spread to share.
Worth knowing before you go
Many of the famous shops open from morning into the afternoon and close once they sell out — Mee Ton Poe and Ko Yoon in particular get long queues at peak times. Going before 11am or in the late afternoon is much easier. And since several Old Town shops are within walking distance of each other, it's worth comparing two or three in one trip.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phuket food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
Stir-fried vs soup style — what's the difference
- Stir-fried (dry) — tossed in a hot wok until the noodles catch a faint smoky edge, with just enough sauce and bold toppings. For deep, wok-fragrant flavour, go for the stir-fry specialists like Mee Ton Poe and Go La.
- Soup style — noodles blanched and ladled with a thick, rounded broth; softer and gentler. If you like to sip the broth, pick a spot like Som Chit.
- Standard toppings — pork, prawn, squid, fish balls, liver, egg and fried shallots, though every shop weighs out the toppings a little differently.
- What to pair it with — order lor bak (five-spice braised offal) or Chinese tea on the side, the way Phuket locals do.
Pick a shop by where you're staying
Staying in the Old Town
Easy walking distance to Mee Ton Poe, Ko Yoon, Som Chit and the Thalang Road stall — compare several shops in a single day.
Staying in Patong / Kathu
Drop into Krua Jong Jit in Kathu, or drive 20–30 minutes into the Old Town for the legendary shops.
Passing Central / out of town
Mee Ao Kae near Central, or head out to Sapam for Yai Jian — handy if you've got a car.
Straight talk
The prices listed are rough ranges from reviews and can climb with the amount of toppings and the time of day. And this ranking isn't the final word — taste is personal, so try two or three yourself and pick the one you like best.
Plan a full eat-and-explore trip around Phuket
See the Phuket travel guide →