Tunk Ka Restaurant

Tunk Ka is a well known restaurant, a bit of an institution in Phuket, located near the top of Rang Hill in Phuket Town, open since sometime in the 1970's (I seem to remember reading that somewhere). I have meant to visit and blog Tunk Ka for ages, but my wife and I had the idea that the food prices were really high, putting it into the "fancy" bracket that we non-fancy folk avoid. We used to go there a lot 8 - 10 years ago just for coffee. They claimed to have the best ice coffee in Phuket and we agreed, plus you had a nice view and a calm environment. I don't recall ever eating there, just ice coffees, and I can't remember the last time we went.. it was years ago, although we have been up Rang Hill many times.

So last week after lunch in Phuket Town we had some free time and I convinced my dear wife that we should try Tunk Ka again, just for a coffee. You need to drive up Rang Hill. There are a couple of different roads up there, both ending up at a hill top park with a fair amount of parking space, views over Phuket Town and a statue of a man called Korsimbi Na Ranong who was governor of Phuket about 110 years ago and is credited for introducing the rubber industry into Thailand - rubber became a major source of income for Thailand and for Phuket in particular.



There is some work going on next to the carpark, as a shop and toilets are being built - the old building there was rather dirty. Past the little shop is the main viewpoint with lots of benches. Quite a lot of tours come this way. If you want great views there are plenty in Phuket - see Phuket Hills and Views.



The Tunk Ka restaurant is clearly signposted, although you can't see it from here, as you have to walk down a stairway in the trees, the stairs being made from old railway sleepers, which is an oddity since there is no railway within 200 kilometres of Phuket! The restaurant is perched on the side of the hill with views to the South and West. It's around 350 feet above the town. Most of the view is towards Chalong, you can't see so much of Phuket Town, as the center is to the Southeast.



There's lots of seating inside and some on a balcony outside which is where we chose to sit in the fresh air. We spent some time looking at the menu, and after a quick browse we decided we'll be back soon for dinner. I think arriving around 5:45 - 6pm would be good. Sunset at this time of year is about 6:30pm, but if you get there too early, it might be a bit hot to sit outside in the sun. And by the time you finish eating it would be dark, so there would be some night views with pretty lights.. we plan to go again later this month.



So next time I can add some comments here about the food. The menu is very local food, no western options. I have already decided that I'll go for the fried rice made with dried shrimp chili paste (nam prik gung seab) and grilled pork (moo yang). Can taste it already. Most things on the menu are 80 - 120 Baht. The iced coffee we had is 60 Baht, but there are lots of drink options from fruit shakes to various teas and coffees and beers. This felt like a "discovery" in a way - although we had been here many times before, it had been years, so I guess we have rediscovered Tunk Ka.





(above) We went again in the evening for dinner when my mum, dad and cousin were visiting. We bagged the balcony table with the best view. Very nice evening. You gotta get this table!!