Ceres

Ceres in Phuket is a Korean restaurant that delivers authentic Korean flavors in a straightforward, satisfying format: order a main dish and your table quickly feels complete. Portions are generous, everything arrives hot, and the flavors are bold — ranging from clean heat to deep, savory umami.

One of the biggest highlights is the generous banchan selection with refills. A spread of small side dishes is brought to the table right away, and the lineup can vary: kimchi, pickled and braised vegetables, mushrooms, bean sprouts, radish, eggs, and more. It’s a great way to sample a lot without constantly ordering extra dishes, and it works especially well for groups.

The menu focuses on Korean classics done properly: crispy kimchi pancakes, soft and silky steamed egg, tteokbokki with the right chewy bite, bubbling pots of kimchi jjigae and sundubu, and galbi-tang with tender beef. Meat lovers can go for marinated pork, BBQ beef ribs, or spicy stir-fried octopus. Korean fried chicken comes with a crisp crust and a sweet-spicy sauce, sometimes topped with a nutty crumble. Drinks include Korean beer and soju, alongside non-alcoholic options and mocktails.

The dining room is spacious and clean, with convenient parking, making it an easy choice for family dinners or catching up with friends; the acoustics are comfortable for conversation. Staff are friendly, help you choose, and explain the dishes. A couple of minor notes: some items may be temporarily unavailable, and a few dishes aren’t always perfectly consistent in texture (for example, noodles can occasionally be a bit watery). Prices are mid-range and feel fair for the portion sizes and overall quality.