Best Restaurant of 2008 contender
Telephone: 076 290288
Open: Noon to midnight. Closed Mondays
Address: 314 Prabaramee Road, Patong, 83150.
Style: Sichuan cuisine. Live jazz at night, 9pm-11.30pm, October to January.
Price range: Five star prices. The menu is based on regular serves for 1-3 people or large serves for 4-plus people sichuan braised beef and oxtail (295-435 baht) sichuan chili chicken (265-395 baht) caraway seed tossed white shrimp (295-435 baht) soups, seafood, US scallops, black crab, grouper, beef, pork dishes seasonal vegetables (295-435 baht) sticky rice dumplings (295 baht) set-course menus (1275-1625 baht) red and white wine by the glass (320-390 baht) martinis (270-410 baht) cocktails (300 baht) Coke (85 baht) six types of beer with Corona (350 baht) Singha (150 baht) NZ chardonnay (2100 baht) Dom Perignon 1998 (25,000 baht). All prices plus 10 percent service charge and seven percent VAT, although maybe you'd win a discount on that Dom.
Specialty: Sichuan, or Szechuan, a spicy style from the Chinese province of that name.
What the manager says: We opened in February, 2008 with six chefs who came from China. It's the real taste of Sichuan cooking. Chicken and shrimp are often deep-flavored and spicy. The restaurant is part of the Baan Rim Pa group.
What Phuketwan says: Hung Fat's is a rare and sophisticated combination for Phuket, a classy two-storey establishment with a joke for a name. Mr Fat's (we prefer to keep it formal) stays open for lunch and dinner year-round, which is worth remembering. A short distance north of Patong on the stony shores of Kalim Bay, the restaurant was purpose-built, making clever use of its shell-like shape, distressed wood, and bright Chinese good-luck red throughout. Music, live or recorded, seems to benefit from the natural timber timbre and rounded shape of Mr Fat's. The shape may spread to guests who fail to note that the serves are larger than usual and made to be shared. Given the size of the bill at a place such as Mr Fat's, sharing the cost should also be mandatory. We went to Mr F's for a light lunch and emerged very much lighter in the wallet, but perhaps not heavy-hearted about that. Phuketwan usually gripes about excessively expensive low-cost items. Our regular concerns melted as we sampled first the crispy spring rolls then the gorgeous red spicy Sichuan chicken and cashews and the cool green seasonal vegetables. By the time the waitresses brought icy towels and toothpicks, the price (1220 baht for two) no longer seemed to matter. Sichuan spicy makes a pleasant change from Phuket ped. Do not expect yer average Chinese takeaway. The Sichuan style is different, and quite delightful. Let your wallet suffer: your palate will pay you back.
How to find it: On the Kalim Bay beachfront, towards the southern or Patong end. On the far side to the beach. Easier to spot at night. Daytime signage is underpowered.
Parking: Along the beach road.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
Telephone: 076 290288
Open: Noon to midnight. Closed Mondays
Address: 314 Prabaramee Road, Patong, 83150.
Style: Sichuan cuisine. Live jazz at night, 9pm-11.30pm, October to January.
Price range: Five star prices. The menu is based on regular serves for 1-3 people or large serves for 4-plus people sichuan braised beef and oxtail (295-435 baht) sichuan chili chicken (265-395 baht) caraway seed tossed white shrimp (295-435 baht) soups, seafood, US scallops, black crab, grouper, beef, pork dishes seasonal vegetables (295-435 baht) sticky rice dumplings (295 baht) set-course menus (1275-1625 baht) red and white wine by the glass (320-390 baht) martinis (270-410 baht) cocktails (300 baht) Coke (85 baht) six types of beer with Corona (350 baht) Singha (150 baht) NZ chardonnay (2100 baht) Dom Perignon 1998 (25,000 baht). All prices plus 10 percent service charge and seven percent VAT, although maybe you'd win a discount on that Dom.
Specialty: Sichuan, or Szechuan, a spicy style from the Chinese province of that name.
What the manager says: We opened in February, 2008 with six chefs who came from China. It's the real taste of Sichuan cooking. Chicken and shrimp are often deep-flavored and spicy. The restaurant is part of the Baan Rim Pa group.
What Phuketwan says: Hung Fat's is a rare and sophisticated combination for Phuket, a classy two-storey establishment with a joke for a name. Mr Fat's (we prefer to keep it formal) stays open for lunch and dinner year-round, which is worth remembering. A short distance north of Patong on the stony shores of Kalim Bay, the restaurant was purpose-built, making clever use of its shell-like shape, distressed wood, and bright Chinese good-luck red throughout. Music, live or recorded, seems to benefit from the natural timber timbre and rounded shape of Mr Fat's. The shape may spread to guests who fail to note that the serves are larger than usual and made to be shared. Given the size of the bill at a place such as Mr Fat's, sharing the cost should also be mandatory. We went to Mr F's for a light lunch and emerged very much lighter in the wallet, but perhaps not heavy-hearted about that. Phuketwan usually gripes about excessively expensive low-cost items. Our regular concerns melted as we sampled first the crispy spring rolls then the gorgeous red spicy Sichuan chicken and cashews and the cool green seasonal vegetables. By the time the waitresses brought icy towels and toothpicks, the price (1220 baht for two) no longer seemed to matter. Sichuan spicy makes a pleasant change from Phuket ped. Do not expect yer average Chinese takeaway. The Sichuan style is different, and quite delightful. Let your wallet suffer: your palate will pay you back.
How to find it: On the Kalim Bay beachfront, towards the southern or Patong end. On the far side to the beach. Easier to spot at night. Daytime signage is underpowered.
Parking: Along the beach road.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
We just visited Phuket and dined twice at Hung Fat's. The food was sensational. Truly authentic Sichuan. The staff were very helpful with the selection of the food. The restaurant design is amazing and looks straight out over the ocean. For something unique we would highly recommend this restaurant if you are visiting Phuket.
Posted by Rob on August 3, 2008 09:47