One Chun Restaurant in Phuket Town

One Chun Cafe and Restaurant has been open for a few years now, but we just ate there for the first time in June 2016 and decided it was good, so we've been again in July. My wife and I did have a coffee there a couple of years ago, but didn't think it was anything special. Since then it has been expanded and redecorated and we heard a good review from friends, so we finally visited. There are quite a few places we like to eat around Phuket Town. This is our area of Phuket as we live in Kathu just a few kilometers from town. One Chun will be another we add to our list of favourites.

The name "One Chun" is a transliteration of the Thai name - วันจันทร์ - which means Monday in English. I'd normally write that as "Wan Jan", but it's up to them! It seems to be open daily for lunch and dinner and can get busy. On another occasion we went there, but it looked too crowded for my liking. I know that means it's popular, but I like a bit of space and a staff who are not rushed off their feet so you get better service! It's in the old town on Thepkasattri road near the corner of Dibuk Road and close to Thalang Road.



(above) View of One Chun from the other side of Thepkasattri Road

There are several rooms inside and space for at least 50-60 people. Everything is decorated in a kind of "olde style", which mostly means buying up some junk and sticking it on the walls and all around the rooms! Tables and chairs are all different sizes for different size groups. I'd suggest you try to get a window table and watch the world go by.



(above) Inside One Chun. A nice window seat!



(above) Or you may get a table next to an old movie projector! There are odd decorations everywhere like old records, old clocks, random kitchenware and a wall full of radios (below).



The food is mostly Thai with lots of local southern Thai dishes like a crab curry with coconut milk or various spicy salads. There's not too much in the way of foreign food. I did see spaghetti on the menu, but if you come to a local restaurant in town, best to eat local food. I have noticed groups of Thai people from outside Phuket eating here and I am guessing it's got some reviews on Thai websites. On our last visit a group of 10 Bangkokians were at the next table. Here's a restaurant to try something different. On our 2 visits we've ordered a number of different dishes. On both visits we had 'Nam Prik Gung Siap' - a small spicy dish made with dried shrimp, shrimp paste, onion, chili, lime and palm sugar. I love it, although I sometimes find places make it too salty or with dried shrimp that are a bit old and not crispy as they should be. It's one of my Thai food addictions. The dish comes with some boiled vegetables and you normally eat with rice and maybe an omelette too. It's very local, you can really only find it in Phuket or Phang Nga. And they do a very good one here for 150 Baht.



(above) Nam Prik Gung Siap

It's not the cheapest of Thai restaurants. Basic dishes start at 90 Baht. Most of the main dishes are around 150. You can get whole fish cooked in various ways too.



(above) Tom Som Pla - a kind of sour soup with fish and vegetables, made with tamarind, maybe some shrimp paste, onions. Again, it can vary from place to place, but I always like it! Not really spicy, and a flavour that is very different to Euro food.



(above) Gaeng Liang is a spicy soup made mostly with vegetables, but often with shrimp added too as with the dish here. Again, a new taste to try!

And the menu has many things I want to try. Last time I ordered a grilled pork salad, but that turned out to be just some basic salad (cucumber, tomato, lettuce) with some grilled pork. I was hoping for something with flavour. Will sample something new next time. We liked the mango salad with cashews and crispy bacon. Damn tasty!



And wash it down with a cold beer - only 60 Baht for a small Chang :) Yes, we'll be eating here again. The old town area is actually a great place to stay and with lots of food to discover. Yeh, it's not by the beach, so it's not what people expect in Phuket, but as I have tried to show for many years now - there is a lot more to Phuket than beaches!

More Restaurants in Phuket Town

Kopitiam
Tunk Ka Cafe
Eleven Two & Co
Yellow Door
Abdul's Roti Shop

One Chun - Location Map