Yenjai restaurant — Restaurant in Mai Khao

So this place is really off the beaten path and something you'll never run into as a tourist. It's along the road parallel to the main highway and not near any hotels. It is not really picked up by other main food reviews such as Michelin and is honestly a hidden gem.

The atmosphere feels more like a home and you are asked to remove your shoes before you enter. The tiles on the floor feel like a Thai house and the paintings on the wall along with the tables feels like you're in somebodies house.

The chef has photos of her working at the Radisson and the excellence in the food quality really shows through in the dishes. During our chats with her, she describes how painstakingly she makes each dish from scratch, with no shortcuts or pre-made ingredients.

The pork collar (which was the special that day) was grilled to perfection, tender and meaty with a hint of saltiness from the fish sauce marinade.

The curries (green curry and Assam curries) were excellent. The green curry was delicate and great with rice, hints of bitterness from the turkey berries balanced by the sweetness of the curry. The Assam curry was sour but complex with the soft waxy potatoes and spiciness of the curry sauce.

The eggplant was grilled to perfection and balanced by the minced pork's saltiness. The duck eggs on top were interesting but not to my liking.

The Pad Thai was the best Pad Thai I've had in Phuket - not too sour or sweet like other places. It was meaty, perfectly balanced and so pleasant to eat.

And the desserts - I'm not a dessert person but the desserts won me over. The fried bananas with the honey was sweet, crunchy and reminded me of a banana pancake. The mango sticky rice was excellent - perfectly ripe mangoes, sticky rice not too sweet.

Honestly, if you're staying nearby at Mai Khao or are headed to the airport, this is a place worth making a detour for to eat. Each dish hits just right and is a...

Chanced upon this homely gem in Mai Khao/ Thalang district and it's now a must-repeat for our future trips to Phuket. Tucked away yet easily accessible via a well-paved road, dining at Yenjai feels like being invited to a local's home. Diners remove their shoes before entering the enclosed, AC dining room which seats less than 10 tables and is bathed in natural sunlight and a peaceful ambience. Food is a standout; classic Thai home-cooked dishes that are flavourful without being overly oily, salty or sweet. The curries were our favourite - aromatic and richly layered without overpowering spiciness, beautifully paired with sticky rice naturally tinted blue from butterfly pea flowers and thoughtfully wrapped in banana leaves (not in plastic bags from commercial eateries). Chicken satay was made with chicken breast and grilled to caramelised finish served with peanut sauce and a sweeter plum based pickled onion dip. You can also order off-menu items like Thai-style omelettes subject to availability. The chef treated us to a slow-cooked durian puree dessert (almost like a chutney) which was fragrant and mellow, very different from the pungent flavour we are more familiar with in SG and Msia. Prices are reasonable compared to tourist traps or hotel dining - our hearty lunch for four, including desserts and drinks, came to ThB1300 (S$50). While slightly higher than local street-side stalls, it's great value for a cosy, family-run setting that serves healthier Thai favourites with no risk of...

Absolutely fantastic, our story with Mrs. Yenjai:

We stayed at hotel nearby and were looking for a decent restaurant for traditional Thai cuisine. A G-maps search pointet us to that location and the good reviews convinced us to go there.

The place is quite new (opened late 2018 if I remember correctly) and so clean that we took off our shoes without anyone asking. Of course it wasn't necessary. Anyhow, it was the best Thai food we ever had and we were so thrilled that we asked whether she offered cooking classes as well. Since she has good English skills due to her international vitae and knows how to deal with foreigners it was a great match. We asked her to show us our four favourite Thai dishes and two days later we had the best cooking class ever. There was no single question unanswered (and I am a curious guy) and we cooked everything by our selves under her supervision. This way we really learned how to prepare the dishes and are able to cook it in our home country. Prices are absolutely reasonable and for the quality it's a bargain.

In summary, Yenjai Restaurant operated by Mrs Yenjai and her husband is a very family friendly (kids play corner available) place with an international experienced master chef and kind service. Top pick in the North of...