The latest case, which has since gone viral on social media, occurred at a small noodle shop in Karon at about 2:55pm on Saturday (Apr 25).
According to the owner, the woman ordered a plate of basil chicken on rice and an additional serving of plain rice, bringing the bill to just B70.
After finishing the meal, she told staff she had no money on her and asked to briefly leave to collect cash from a nearby shop in Soi Thaina. Given the small amount involved, staff allowed her to go, expecting she would return shortly.
However, by closing time that evening, the customer had failed to come back, leaving the bill unpaid.
The incident was later shared by the restaurant on a local Facebook page along with CCTV footage, sparking widespread reaction online.
Speaking to reporters, the owner said the situation was particularly frustrating because it is not an isolated case.
“This keeps happening. Some customers say they forgot their wallet, others say they can’t transfer money or don’t have internet. It becomes a burden for us,” the owner said.
In this instance, the customer reportedly left behind a card resembling a credit card as a form of assurance before leaving to “get money from her room”, but has not contacted the restaurant since.
The owner believes the act was intentional and described it as a clear case of “eat and run”.
The post quickly drew comments from other social media users, with several claiming to recognise the woman or alleging similar behaviour elsewhere.
Some commenters expressed sympathy for the restaurant, suggesting that customers unable to pay should be upfront rather than leaving under false pretences, while others warned that repeat offenders could damage the reputation of tourists in the area.
The restaurant has since issued a public warning, noting that all customers are recorded on CCTV and urging the woman involved to return and settle the bill.
“If the person takes responsibility, they can come back and pay. But if not, and we are able to identify them, we will consider further action,” the owner said.
The case has reignited discussion among local businesses in Phuket about so-called “dine-and-dash” incidents, particularly involving small eateries where margins are tight and even minor losses add up over time.