Open: 11am-10pm. Closed Sundays.

Telephone: 083 6069776

Address: 18 Thalang Road, Old Phuket Town.

Style: Phuket Traditional

Price range: Extremely good. Phuket style grilled pork steak (100 baht) Moo hong, famous local pok belly (90 baht) shrimp sambai (90 baht) Penang curry (70 baht) pad kee mao (70 baht) rice porridge (50 baht) American style breakfast set (90 baht) toasts with satay dipping sauce (40 baht) butterfly pea purple milk (40 baht) banana cocoa drink (50 baht) oolong tea (80 baht) beetroot lime drink (30 baht) butterfly pea flower drink (30 baht) Coke (30 baht) singha beer large (100 baht).

Specialties: Traditional Tasty Phuket Food

This restaurant hasn't been here forever yet it successfully encompasses the past, present and future of great Phuket eating out. While concessions have been made to tourism - the heat has perhaps been toned down in some dishes - this place is a delight, day or night, and priced just right. We've been more than once and continue to be impressed. For anyone planning to stay in one of the boutique hotels or guesthouses becoming increasingly popular in Old Phuket Town, this restaurant should be Stomach Central. Phuket City is definitely the place for trying Phuket food and Kopitiam by Wilai ranks among the places at the top of the list. Few competitors offer such charm, family-friendly service, and a great range of tastes at good-value prices. Phuket's Chinese-influenced history sits on the walls all around, too. Start with the mee hokkien and move on to other pleasures. The drinks list is an explorer's delight: feel free to choose by the sound of the name, or the color. Kopitiam by Wilai takes some beating, by George.

How to find it: In Thalang Road, central Phuket Town, the heartland of Phuket's revitalised appreciation of its past.

Parking: Competitive. People around here walk. There's plenty to see.

Phuketwan reviewers pay for their own meals. If we don't, we tell you. Kopitiam by Wilai is a candidate for Phuketwan's Phuket Restaurant of the Year 2013.