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!!
The Siripoca in Bang Po, is not easy to detect and you would miss it if you don't know where it is. It's not too far away from Bang Po Seafood restaurant, of which I posted a while ago.
It's also not the best looking place and has nothing that really stands out visually when you're looking for it, It's just a few meters backed away from the ring road but worth looking for if you're in this neck of the Samui woods, for instance if you're on your way to Samui immigration in Nathon or renewing your driving license in Lipa Noi!
As already mentioned it's all very basic but very functional. The typical meat display with duck, chicken and pork (moo krob or crispy pork).
All seating arrangement, tables and chairs, are directly on the sand but there's a fantastic view on to Koh Phangan, well worthwhile the stop!
We've been here before to get some Kao Man Kai, which my wife ordered, but when I test a place, I always choose the same thing, so I can compare between two of my fave dishes, One dish is Phat Phet Mu Krob (Stir fried crispy pork) which I ordered today and it was very good! Tasty and spicy, just the way I like it! See the above picture. Here's a good recipe for Phat Phet Mu or ผัดเผ๊ดหมู, you just need to replace the pork in the recipe with crispy pork! 
On to the Khao Man Kai or ข้าวมันไก่, my wife's choice today. Siripoca is well known for this dish and she enjoyed it. This is a classic Thai meal but it's also a kind of recycled meal; bones are boiled to make stock, the stock is used to cook the chickens and rice and to make soup, the bones from the chickens are used to make more stock and so the cycle continues. 
Getting back to the Khanom, they also have Khanom Thuai or ขนมถ้วย on offer, a really nice and sweet dessert topped with a great coconut layer. There are just a few places on Samui that offer these kind of sweets or Khanom Thuai.
This is how they are served. Two identical cups on top of each other, which when opened reveal their sweet treasure.
Dig in and enjoy. This is one of the good eateries on Samui with a clean kitchen, which my wife finds very important and the restaurant is popular with local Samuians and alike. What better proof for good tasting goodies can you have?