HONGU

HONGU is an authentic Sichuan restaurant in Phuket, known for bold, spicy flavors with that signature tongue‑tingling “numbing” kick. It’s located inside the Wekata Hotel, so it can be easy to miss if you don’t know exactly where to enter.

The menu focuses on comforting, home‑style Chinese cooking rather than the usual “adapted” sweet‑and‑sour approach. Expect juicy chicken stir‑fried with chili, their signature Bo Bo chicken, dumplings, dry‑fried green beans, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, prawns, and hearty meat dishes such as boiled pork. If you’re dining with a group, there are impressive banquet‑style fish dishes, while “fish‑fragrant” shredded pork is a great match with rice. They also offer more unusual options — like silkworm larvae, with a texture reminiscent of an omelet.

The heat level is genuinely intense, though you can request a milder version. Presentation is neat and appetizing, dishes arrive quickly, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Service is in English and Thai; Russian isn’t spoken.

On certain days, the restaurant runs an evening buffet, which is a convenient way to sample a wide variety of dishes and sit outside. If you come late, some items on the buffet line may lose freshness and heat, so it’s best to arrive earlier. Prices are still very reasonable for the overall quality.