One of our favourite places to satisfy our seafood cravings, when we’re not catching our own, is the Rawai Fish Market in southern Phuket. It offers some of the freshest seafood you’ll find in Phuket, with much of it being brought in each morning by local fishermen. If you love seafood, visiting this vibrant spot along the waterfront is a must. Located at the Rawai Sea Gypsy Village, fishermen bring in their daily catches and display them on ice for you to choose from. You can then have your selection cooked just the way you like it at a restaurant across the street.
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The market operates from 07:00, but the restaurants are typically open from 11:00 to 21:00. Some restaurants may have more flexible hours, especially during the peak tourist season, so opening and closing times can vary slightly. However, the experience changes depending on when you visit:
- For the freshest catch of the day, visit early in the morning between 09:00 and 11:00. You can enjoy an early seafood lunch with fewer crowds at 11:00.
- If you’re looking for a dinner feast, head there between 16:00 and 18:00. The atmosphere is livelier during this time, allowing you to enjoy your meal as the sun sets over Rawai.
How it works
- Browse the stalls: Take your time walking along the row of vendors. You can expect to find everything from giant prawns, squid, and live crabs to lobsters and even unusual catches like mantis shrimp.
- Choose your seafood: Prices are per kilo. Be sure to ask for the price, and haggling is a common practice. Look for seafood with bright eyes and firm flesh, and avoid those with a fishy odour to ensure you’re selecting the freshest quality.
- Head across the road: Once you’ve made your selection, hand your bag of seafood to one of the restaurants across the street from the market. They will provide you with a menu from which you can choose your cooking style. If you’re unsure, they can also suggest cooking styles. There will be a cooking fee, typically ranging from 100 to 150 THB per kilo.
Cooking styles to try
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- Grilled with garlic & butter (perfect for scallops, prawns or lobster)
- Steamed with lemongrass & lime (delicious with whole fish)
- Deep-fried with garlic & black pepper or chilli (great for squid or crab)
- Stir-fried with chilli & basil
- Thai-style curry (red, green, or yellow — rich and flavorful)
- Grilled served with Nam Jim spicy sauce
Our favourites include deep-fried whole fish with tamarind sauce or three-flavour sauce, oysters Thai style and Pad Krapow Pla Muek, which is stir-fried squid with chilli and basil.
Not going to Phuket anytime soon? Try my Tamarind fish recipe… it will transport your taste buds to Thailand!
For the best experience, mix and match styles — grill the prawns, steam the fish, fry the squid. Add side dishes like papaya salad, fried rice, or stir-fried morning glory for a complete meal.
Insider tips
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- Bring cash, as not all stalls or restaurants accept cards.
- Go with a group so you can try more varieties and cooking styles.
- Don’t worry if you can’t finish it all — the restaurants happily pack leftovers to take away.
Why you’ll love it
Dining at Rawai Fish Market offers more than just a meal; it provides an authentic Phuket experience. You can select your own seafood and watch it being transformed into a delicious Thai feast. It’s the ultimate way to savour the island’s freshest flavours.
So, whether you go for a casual lunch or a sunset dinner, Rawai Fish Market promises a seafood adventure you won’t forget.
More information for Phuket
Read more about Rawai Seafood Market with Phuket 101.
Currency
Thai Baht – THB – written here as ฿
Accommodation
We usually book our accommodations through Booking.com. We value the convenience of online booking, and there are typically no hidden fees. Additionally, Booking.com offers a variety of accommodation styles in Phuket, ensuring you can find the perfect place.
We also use Hotels.com, Stayz, Bookabach, Expedia and Agoda
We use a Wise Visa Card
The Wise card is an excellent option for travellers, offering lower fees and better exchange rates compared to traditional credit and debit cards when spending or withdrawing money abroad. It provides flexibility, ease of use, and enhanced security features.
eSims make staying connected easy!
eSIMs are a convenient way to stay connected while travelling. Simply purchase and install your eSIM before your trip, and activate it from your device as soon as you land.
Simify makes the process easy. Click here to choose your destination and select a plan that suits your needs. After your purchase, you will receive an email with clear, step-by-step instructions on how to install your eSIM. Once you arrive at your destination, enable data roaming, and your eSIM will automatically connect you to a local network.
Why choose Simify? Enjoy unlimited data for overseas travel at an affordable price, gain access to the internet as soon as you land, and avoid any additional fees
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