Best Restaurants in Madrid: Phuket Thai Restaurant

Phuket’s food offers a superb taste of Thai/Thai fusion cuisine.  Nearly everything is medium to spicy, and it’s fun to pick out a handful of dishes and throw in a few small orders of steamed Jasmine rice.  A word of warning for the economic diners, though: a full meal ends up costing about 20 euros with starters and drinks.  Perhaps the Menú del Día  (the daily lunch menu) is the best bet, which rounds up to about 9,75 euros a person.

The tofu, which is included in many of the vegetarian-friendly options (such as the Green Tofu Curry), has that perfect not-too-smooth texture and a lot of flavor.  All the veggies taste crisp and fresh, including the green and red bell pepper that accompanies most of the plates.

The classics here are still classics: the Pad Thai (served with lemon, not lime here) and the Tom Yum are highly recommended.  All of the curries – green, yellow, and red – are creamy and packed with spice.  If you’re worried about variety, don’t fret.  The beef, chicken, and pork dishes all have their own unique taste, from Red Beef Curry (tender and hearty) to Thai Beef Massaman (very peanut-y and rich).  The Chicken with Lemongrass was a bit dry, but the Yellow Chicken Curry held up our expectations with its coconut milk-meets-spice punch.  The Pork with Pineapple was sweet, spicy, and palatable.  If you’re not a vegetarian or a meat-lover, then check out the lengthy list of seafood options, which offers the same kinds of combinations but with fish or seafood instead.  Or consider ordering the Menú Phuket Thai; it’s only 14,50 euros a person and includes spicy shrimp, soup, salted greens, fish with Thai spices, and rice.

When in the mood for a bit of everything, try the Menú Degustación (the Sampler Menu) for 18,50 euros a person.  You can choose from four starters and four main dishes, and there’s rice and veggie options for each course.  If you want a filling meal and would prefer to choose everything yourself, don’t worry the menu is several pages long. Everything looks promising, and there’s even an exquisite dessert list.  While I didn’t try any of the desserts, I think I’ll have to go back for either the Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut or the Cake Banoffi Cream Pie.

At the end of the meal, I didn’t feel like I had eaten too much oil, which is always a risk when eating Thai.  Also, Phuket sells Singha, a nutty Thai beer that complements the rich, peanut-y flavors perfectly.

One last word about the décor: it’s bizarre, yet casual and inviting.  The saffron-colored walls, Art Deco combinations, and the musical styling of Michael Bolton fuse comfort with elegance effectively…and may even render a laugh or two.

Phuket Thai Restaurant
Calle Atocha, 115
Hours: Lunch and dinner, Monday – Sunday (all week)
Metro: Atocha

By Michelle Campagna