With its decor of dark woods and black and white murals, Phuket Town's Sedo Izikura feels more like a tattoo parlor than restaurant. 

The open-kitchen doles out only a concise menu of ramen and Japanese bar bites like grilled skewers.

Order the paitan ramen (B180) for fat chunks of braised pork, soft-boiled eggs and tender pork belly in a mellow broth that's the result of several hours' simmering. Also of note are the organic noodles, made in-house daily, that hit the sweet spot between soft and chewy. 

Another house signature comes in the form of grilled octopus in wasabi sauce (B120), while the solitary dessert of pannacotta comes with the twist of being served inside a whole passion fruit (B50).

Wash your meal down with a solid range of Japanese beer, sake and cocktails.