If it’s raining, you’re short on time, don’t want to carry heavy bags, or simply don’t feel like going out, take advantage of food delivery services in Phuket. This industry is well-developed on the island, and you can receive your order in just 15–40 minutes. In this article, we’ll tell you about the most popular food delivery apps on the island.
Aroi Dee
Aroi Dee is another convenient grocery and food delivery app in Phuket. The interface is available in four languages — English, Russian, Thai, and Chinese. In the app, you can choose a type of cuisine or category (such as baked goods or drinks), and then select dishes from the listed restaurants, which are organized by menu categories. There’s also a search bar if you already know exactly what you’re looking for.
Food Delivery in Taxi Services
Food and grocery delivery services in Phuket are also provided by taxi companies such as Grab and InDrive. We have discussed taxis in more detail in a dedicated Taxi section; here, we will focus on delivery.
Taxi apps have a separate icon for ordering goods and courier services. Maxim, for example, offers delivery of groceries, food from cafes and restaurants, as well as parcel delivery by car, scooter, bicycle, or on foot.
Taxi services like Bolt, Maxim, and InDrive also accept orders for food and various store items.
Grab has a separate food delivery app in Phuket called Grab Food. There, you can order meals from restaurants and groceries from stores.
The service mainly targets restaurants in tourist areas, budget cafes, and so-called “makashnits” (street food stalls). The app provides up-to-date information on opening hours, locations, and customer reviews.
Each restaurant sets its own minimum order amount. Additional taxes and service fees may be added to the listed price. A clear advantage of Grab is that there are no delivery area restrictions – it delivers to any part of Phuket.
How to Receive Your Order
Many people avoid using food delivery services because they’re hesitant to communicate with the courier in a foreign language. However, there’s no need to worry since the process is very simple.
When the courier arrives with your order, they will call the phone number you provided. The conversation is usually short and easy to understand, even with minimal knowledge of English. For example, the courier might say: “Hello, delivery (company name), in lobby/in your hotel.” You can simply reply, “Hello, OK,” and meet them outside. Delivery couriers are usually dressed in the company’s uniform, making them easy to recognize.
If You Experience Issues with Delivery, Here’s What to Do:
- Order is more than an hour late: Contact the app’s support chat, request compensation or cancel the order and ask for a refund.
- Incorrect order: Take photos of the received items, contact support through the app, and request a refund. Refunds typically arrive within 3–5 business days.
- Poor food quality: Leave a review with photos and message support. If the complaint is valid, a refund for the dish is usually issued.
- Payment issues: If your card doesn’t go through, you can switch the payment method to cash on delivery.
- Courier can’t find the address: Send your location via WhatsApp and meet the courier at the entrance if possible.
To Avoid Delivery Problems, Follow These Tips:
- Double-check that your address is accurate, including the floor and room number.
- Choose a convenient delivery time: either “ASAP” (as soon as possible) or a scheduled time.
- Leave comments for the courier like: “Please call when you arrive,” “Green building near 7-Eleven,” or “Delivery to pool area.”
- Verify your payment method and make sure your card is enabled for international payments.
- Specify any dietary preferences: “No spicy,” “Extra vegetables,” “No pork,” etc.
- Check if there’s a minimum order amount – some restaurants set it at 200–300 THB.
When you’re entitled to a refund or replacement? Primarily in these cases: wrong order – full refund; delay of more than 60 minutes – partial compensation; spoiled or poor-quality food – full refund + possible additional compensation.
How to request a refund via the App? Go to Order History, select the problematic order, tap Report Issue, choose the reason, and attach photos if needed.
Refunds to your card usually take 3–7 business days. Refunds as app credits are typically instant. For valid complaints, services often offer a 50–100% discount on your next order or a full refund for the dish. If support denies a refund in a disputed situation, you can escalate the issue to the company’s headquarters or leave a negative review on the App Store/Google Play.
Alternative options if you can’t or don’t want to order delivery:
- Supermarkets with ready-made meals: Big C (prepared food sections open until 9 PM), Tesco Lotus (hot meals until 8 PM), Villa Market (European cuisine and delicacies).
- Night markets: Malin Plaza Night Market (Tue, Thu, Sat from 4 PM to 10 PM), Chillva Market (daily from 5 PM to 11 PM). See the full list in the Night Markets section.
- Street food near hotels: Food carts usually operate from 5 PM to 11 PM, with meals priced at 40–80 THB.
- Markets with ready-made meals: Patong Morning Market (6 AM to 2 PM), Banzaan Market (daily from 6 AM to 8 PM).
- Food courts in shopping malls: Central Phuket (until 10 PM), Jungceylon (until 11 PM).
If you’re looking to dine out and want to find a good place, check out our Cafes & Restaurants section.