Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

The Rawai Fish Market is a row of open-air stalls along the Rawai beachfront promenade at the southern tip of Phuket. Here, the Sea Nomad fishing community sells their morning's catch by the kilo—tiger prawns, blue crab, squid, snapper, grouper, mussels, and, depending on the season, lobster—straight from the ice. Prices are written on chalkboards. What makes this fish dish one of Phuket's best experiences is the next step. You cross the street with your bag to one of the restaurants opposite, choose how you want it prepared—grilled, steamed with lime and chili, stir-fried with garlic and pepper, or in curry—and pay a preparation fee of about 100 baht per kilo, in addition to rice, vegetables, and drinks. Because the fish and preparation are charged separately, it's significantly cheaper and more transparent than the menu at a beach restaurant.

The stalls open early in the morning when the fish is freshest and the customers are Thai. The restaurants are open from late morning until about 9:00–10:00 pm. The most beautiful evening is spent at a table by the water after sunset at Cape Promthep, just a ten-minute walk along the coast. Expect to pay 800–1,500 baht per kilo for large prawns and 300–500 baht for a whole fish. Don't hesitate to haggle a little—a small discount is customary, a large one not.