Koh Samui & Koh Phangan Food: 34 hand-picked places

A Thai restaurant with outdoor seating. Chicken Pad Thai is a familiar stir-fried noodle dish, while som tam is crisp and refreshing. Yellow curry is also on the menu.

A restaurant serving Southern Thai and island dishes, made with seasonal market ingredients and house-made sauces. The shrimp som tam is tangy and spicy, while the whole fried sea bass is ideal for sharing. Choose between air-conditioned indoor seating and open-air seats.

A hilltop restaurant with views of the sea and Samui Airport’s runway between the islands. The menu combines Thai and European dishes, with fresh fish and cocktails worth pairing. Around sunset, enjoy live jazz from the outdoor seating.

A restaurant and bar with beach views, serving Thai dishes and Western-style comfort food alongside cocktails such as piña coladas and mojitos. A beachfront seat is especially lovely around sunset.

A family-run restaurant specializing in Northern Thai cuisine. Its khao soi features crispy noodles in a coconut curry broth, with chicken or beef to choose from. The beef is slow-cooked until tender.

Menu and prices: A wide range of authentic Thai dishes, including Pad Thai (80 baht), Tom Yum Goong (120 baht), rad na, moo ping and grilled chicken, comes in generous portions at great value. Many visitors call it the best restaurant on Koh Samui. Service and setting: There’s no air conditioning, but plenty of fans keep the place comfortable and there are few flies. The owner and staff are warm and thoughtful—for example, they once helped return a guest’s lost motorcycle. Korean travelers are especially fond of the restaurant, with many returning or dining here every day during their stay.

A small, family-run Thai restaurant with terrace seating. The green curry is richly spiced and well seasoned. Pad Thai and tom yum goong are also popular.

A casual restaurant serving Thai food and seafood. The steamed fish with lemon is tangy and refreshing, while the Massaman curry with generous chunks of beef is another standout. Choose between air-conditioned indoor seating and an outdoor area with fans.

A restaurant serving both Thai and international cuisine. The spring rolls are crisp, and the pad Thai has a sweet-and-sour tang. A relaxed meal outdoors is a lovely option.

A Korean restaurant in Bophut serving familiar favorites, from jajangmyeon and kimchi jjigae to chicken bibimbap. The jajangmyeon has a rich sauce, and the kimchi jjigae and boneless fried chicken are also recommended. Choose between air-conditioned indoor seating and outdoor tables.

A Northern Thai restaurant inside the food court. Its crispy chicken khao soi comes with a mild, well-balanced broth and pickled vegetables.

A beachfront restaurant and bar where you can settle into a beanbag on the sand and take in the sea and sunset. Slow-cooked beef birria tacos and fish tacos are favorites. Live music and DJ sets add to the atmosphere in the evening.

A Korean restaurant serving barbecue alongside classic Korean dishes. Tender grilled pork with kimchi and banchan makes for a satisfying meal, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

An Isan-style Thai restaurant known for whole grilled fish served with vegetables and noodles to wrap around it. The grilled fish gets good reviews, while the som tam is spicy; you can request your preferred heat level when ordering.

A restaurant serving North and South Indian dishes alongside Thai food. The masala dosa is satisfyingly crisp, and vegetarian options are available.

A beachfront spot serving seafood and Thai cuisine. Its signature yellow curry crab is made using the owner's mother's recipe. Sand underfoot and warm wood interiors make it a lovely place to dine with the sea breeze.

A beachfront restaurant with open-air seating overlooking the sea. Try Thai curries and pad Thai, then enjoy a cocktail by the water around sunset.

A casual restaurant serving Thai seafood and steak. Try the garlic and black pepper lobster with wavy fries. A good spot for lunch or dinner.

Set on a hillside, this restaurant pairs forest and sea views from its open terrace. Try the shrimp pad thai, with savory shrimp and stir-fried rice noodles, and mango sticky rice.

A Korean restaurant serving Korean BBQ and stews with house-made kimchi and side dishes. The kimchi jjigae is a comforting choice when you want a rich, familiar flavor; barbecue is great for sharing and grilling together.

An Australian-style restaurant and pub by the lake, known for wood-fired pizza and charcoal-grilled dishes. The shrimp and chorizo spaghetti is rich and savory, and the cocktail list includes drinks like the Coconut Old Fashioned. A lovely spot for an evening by the water.

An open-air food court with a mix of Thai and Mexican food, pizza, and more. With pad Thai, salads, and vegetarian and vegan options, it’s a handy choice for groups with different tastes. Find a seat at one of the spacious communal tables and enjoy your meal.

A Thai restaurant combining traditional recipes with fresh ingredients. The rich beef Massaman curry is a standout, alongside seafood Pad Thai and mango sticky rice.

A Thai restaurant with a koi pond and a small waterfall in its garden. The shrimp pad thai is stir-fried with egg, bean sprouts, chives, and peanuts for a savory, nutty flavor. The shrimp and seafood tom yum is spicy and tangy, fragrant with lemongrass and galangal.

A restaurant and bar serving Thai home-style and Western dishes. The curry-fried rice and Panang curry are recommended; portions are generous and prices are easy on the wallet.

An Italian trattoria with outdoor seating and an open kitchen. Its wood-fired pizzas have satisfyingly savory crusts, and the handmade pasta includes lighter options such as aglio e olio. With the kitchen and outdoor pizza oven in view, it’s a great place to watch your meal being prepared.

A cliffside Mediterranean restaurant serving dishes influenced by Portugal, Spain and Italy. Try seafood caught daily by local fishermen and traditional Italian-style pasta, then enjoy dinner on the sea-facing terrace.

Set on a hill above the jungle, this restaurant focuses on plant-based dishes and wild-caught seafood. Its Mediterranean tapas come in generous portions, with curated music playing from the afternoon into sunset. Pair a cocktail with views of the west coast and sea.

A Southern Thai restaurant serving family recipes passed down for more than 100 years and recognised by Michelin. Its spicy khua kling features minced pork stir-fried with yellow curry paste, while the sour curry with fish and coconut shoots is another house favourite.

A Thai restaurant on a mountainside, where you can dine on the terrace overlooking the sea and nearby islands. The menu includes Thai favorites such as Pad Thai and Massaman curry, and the garden features dinosaur and animal sculptures.

A beachside Thai and seafood restaurant that also serves grilled dishes. Enjoy seafood and grilled favorites with ocean views and laid-back reggae playing in the background.

A restaurant and bar serving Thai food and fresh seafood at outdoor tables by the beach. Garlic prawns and sea bass in green curry are signature dishes, and it’s a lovely spot for dinner by the sea at sunset.

A casual restaurant showing live sports on multiple TVs. Its crisp, thin-crust pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven, and American-style burgers and draft beer are popular. A handy spot for a satisfying late-night meal.

A beachfront Thai restaurant where you can dine with sea views from a shaded terrace. The Pad Thai is especially well regarded, and Thai salads and seafood are popular choices.