Koh Samui Restaurants

There is a vast range of restaurants on Koh Samui, but the majority are very much of a muchness. The menus tend to offer little more than basic, predominantly Thai, food prepared to a just about acceptable standard.
If you want a la carte or gourmet, you're limited to a very small number of options. Having said that, the fantastic locations of many of the simpler places - on the beach, or in the forest - often makes up for the lack of culinary expertise.
Being an island, seafood is the mainstay of Samui cuisine. The fish is extremely fresh and making your choice is very much part of the dining ritual. However, those used to nice firm coldwater fish will find the local warm water fish light on taste and texture.

Chaweng Beach

In the evening the various restaurants fronting onto Chaweng Beach lay out tables on the beach itself. A pretty scene, with most places serving up decent seafood. The only problem with this otherwise idyllic setting is the presence of too many sound systems; otherwise it is a magical experience.

International
Betelnut Restaurant
Chaweng Boulevard (Soi Colibri), close to Central Samui Beach Resort.
Tel: 077-413 370
Chef/proprietor Jeffery Lord describes his cooking as Californian/Thai fusion, which to me sounds a little tautological, though it is descriptive. The menu is short and interesting with a heavy seafood bias, though the food is pretty good and scores high marks for presentation. The room is small with just seven tables, and the décor simplistic and effective. Newport Beach meets Chaweng maybe the best way of summing up this interesting, but tricky to find restaurant.

Chez Andy's Beer & Grill Garden
164/2 Chaweng Beach Road, (opposite Swensen's).
Tel: 077- 422 593
Open: 3.30pm-1am.
Credit cards accepted.
This highly rated Swiss operated steak house has for many years been the meat eater's home in Chaweng. A full service restaurant catering for those who want quality food, service and ambiance.

Poppies
South Chaweng Beach Road.
Tel: 077-422 419
Open daily.
Credit cards acceoted.
Poppies has won many plaudits and is arguably the best on the island. It certainly was the first offer fine dining in a place that was previously uninspiring. Although the food is good and the presentation impeccable, it may be a little too Dorking (Hamptons) for those who just want the beach experience.

Brazilian
Zico's ,
Chaweng main street.
Tel: 077 231 560
Open 6 pm - Midnight
Credit Cards accepted
Brazilian restaurant offering unlimited barbecued meat in large airy room. Service is top class and the dancing girls authentic. Well worth a detour to have a different night out, and do not forget to have a drink in the bar afterwards where the cabaret is spectacular
See write up on Baronbonk.com.

Italian
Da Papa Restaurant
Samui Coral Resort, Chaweng Beach.
On the beach, under a couple of large trees, this is a great lunchtime spot. The service can be a little haphazard and the food not as good as you would expect. But I like it; so I'll point you there for a that med. lunch scene - I'm sure you'll see what I mean.

La Taverna
Soi next to Green Mango, Soi next to Black Jack pub.
Tel: 077-413 006
A good, unpretentious Italian restaurant run by Italians and located in the centre of the nightlife area. The calamari stuffed with minced pork is recommended as not only good, but a simple dish not available in the plethora of Italian restaurants on the island.

Osteria
Moo 3 Chawng Beach Road (Opp. Tradewinds)
Tel: 077-424-079
Open 6 pm- Midnight
Good standard Italian eatery on first floor with good cross wind to keep you cool. Manager Alberto will make you feel at home and discuss daily specials, or whatever. Tell him I said to give you a lemoncello.

Vecchia Napoli
Centrepoint, Chaweng
Tel: 077 231 229
Open: Noon - 2 pm, 6 pm - 11 pm.
Located in a small square back from the busy Chaweng beach road ensures this open fronted restaurant has the view without the fumes. The Italian owner/chef insures that the cuisine is right and the service friendly. The menu is pasta orientated with the selection of 2nd. plates disappointingly limited. However my salmon ravioli was first class as was my Melanzane to start.

Indian
Ali Baba
Chaweng High Street, opposite Samui Hot Club and next to Will Wait Restaurant on the main Chaweng Beach Road.
Tel: 077-230 253
Open: 9am-midnight.
Tandoori dishes are the major feature of the menu, but for the real Indian taste try a Thalis, suitable for both vegies and carnivores. When the meal is over there are a wide selection of coffees to chose from.

Japanese
Hagi
Central Samui Beach Resort.
Tel: 077-230 500
Your choice of al fresco eating next to the Japanese carp in the fish pond, or air conditioned dining in the well appointed dining room. Sushi rules, but there are set menus for those not sure of their way around this type of food. It's not all raw fish so give it a try!

Korean
One Korean BBQ
Tel: 077-231 123
Open: 5pm-11pm.
The main attraction here is the private barbecue, on which your waitress cooks your choiuce of food. This is the only authentic Korean restaurant on Samui and therefore makes a pleasant change. Food is good too.

Tex Mex
Red Snapper
Part of the Chaweng Regent Resort, Chaweng High Street.
Tel: 077-422 008.
With a Tex Mex theme and a small band this is fun spot to dine and listen to some music. The ribs are good, the steaks are large and the puddings tempting.

Thai
Baan Thai Restaurant
Chaweng Main Street.
Tel: 077-231 123
A large central Chaweng restaurant with Thai tradition written all over it. The pitched wooden roofs rear up into the sky above and the traditionally dressed waitresses glide around the floor. The emphasis is on seafood, however a vast array of other options are available. Also puts on traditional Thai shows.

Budsaba
Chaweng Main Street (northern end of street part of Muang Kulay Pan Hotel).
Tel: 077-422 305
This is a truly traditional Thai restaurant with salas (individual pagodas) on the beach. You sit on cushions at low tables and the witresses are dressed in traditional sarongs. A silver bell is provided to summon service as required. Good Thai menu as well as seafood and international dishes.

Drop In
Chaweng Main Street.
Tel: 077-413 221/3
Large operation with plenty of dining options both outside under the palms, or inside with the air con. As you would expect a very long menu with an emphasis on seafood.

Bophut (Fishermans Village)

This is an old fishing village which has been branded The Fisherman's Village. It has a strip of bars and restaurants most of which back on to the bay and provide an idyllic setting for dining.

Alla Balla
Bophut Village.
Owned by Mario from Venice this pleasant restaurant is right on the shoreline, overlooking Bophut pier. A favourite meal of mine there includes stuffed mussels, tasty pasta and, as a special treat, Zuppa Anglaise to finish. The food was as good as any I've had on Samui and the view over Bophut bay is spectacular.

La Sirene
Fisherman's Village, 65/1M1 Bophut Beach, Koh Samui.
Tel: 077-425 301
La Sirene claims to be a "French and Thai" restaurant. The menu is simple and with Thai chefs I would think the Thai food is good. Last time I visited I had rillettes and a good rare steak with frites. Good basic food cooked as I wanted and difficult to fault. With a bottle of wine the bill was less than a Bt1,000.

White Elephant
Bophut Village.
Another reasonable Italian/Thai restaurant on the strip overlooking Bophut bay. Good view, not bad service and reasonable food. In the evenings they take themselves more seriously, and I hear good reports. I ate mid-afternoon.

Big Budha Beach

This is the area nearest to the airport dominated by a Big Golden Budha. It is long curving beach with quite a few hosteleries along it, there is no real central point.

Chez Ban-Ban
Big Budha Beach
Tel: 077 245 135
Email: ban-ban@samui-info.com
Mature Swiss-owned resort and restaurant sitting right on the beach. Mature trees and shrubs surround the restaurant which is kept cool by the sea breeze. The menu is basically French with an emphasis on crepes, which unlike most places on Samui are actually wafer thin. Otherwise there are plenty of straightforward dishes on offer as well as a decent Thai selection. Le patron manage ici as well as being on hand to supervise the proceedings. A very good lunch spot, staying open all afternoon.

The Mangrove
Between Big Budha and the airport
Tel: 077 427584
Email: the_mangrove@hotmail.com
The Mangrove is a first class small French restaurant serving high quality food in a delightful tropical setting. The limited menu is well thought out and the dishes represent the current genre of class cooking. Yanic and Ilsa are the young husband and wife team, behind this operation. Yanic from La Rochelle is in charge of the stoves.

Lamai Beach

Lamai has plenty of restaurants in the central area and most hotels have a restaurant, often overlooking the beach. Much lower key than Chaweng and generally pretty average.

International
El Dorado
Central Lamai Road, Lamai Beach.
Open: 4pm-midnight.
Run by a friendly Finn, this is one of the best bistro operations in Lamai. Food has a Scandinavian flavour, see the daily specials, but you can pretty much ask for whatever you want and may well get it. Relaxed, fun dining, ideal for chilling out after a hot day on the beach.

Il Faro
Main Street, Lamai Beach.
Tel: 077-418 334
This is a small restaurant run by Stefano, Andrea and Lorenso that serves reasonable Italian and Thai food. The choice of starters is a little limited and there's a heavy leaning towards pasta for the main dishes, though some of it is home-made. The good thing is, however, is that with three partners, there's normally at least one on hand to make sure customers receive a warm welcome and good service.

Il Tempo
Main Street (next to MacD), Lamai Beach
Tel: 077 232307
Good standard Italian restaurant with basic but comprehensive menu. Nice touches like pizza bread and chopped tomato before starter, and smile nicely at the Boss and he may give you a limoncello to go home on!

Jungle Park Restaurant
Jungle Park Resort (on road to Chaweng about 1.5km from Lamai).
Tel: 077-418 034 or 424 110
Wonderful location just outside Lamai at the end of the Lamai Cove where you can choose to eat on the seashore or in an area that was once a jungle. French owned and managed, the restaurant has an ambitious menu of Thai, international standards and experimental dishes to keep diners happy and the chef on his toes. The staff and service are generally first rate.

Sala Thai
Main Street, Lamai Beach
Pick of the Thai run and operated places with seafood displayed outside. Charming rear garden part with waterfall and orchids. The food is well up to standard (for Lamai) and the menu range impressive. Staff are helpful and the boss keeps a good watching eye on all that happens. Mussels in white wine and Snapper meuniere are a couple of my favouirte dishes, although not classic recipes they are both very enjoyable.

Swiss Bistro
Lamai Main Street, Lamai Night Plaza.
Small bistro-style operation where Willy from Lucerne manages the pots behind the bar area adjacent to the main street. Good tasty German dishes can be eaten either in the small restaurant or at the bar where you can watch them cook.

Italian
Sunsplash
Lamai Beach.
Lamai beach, unlike Chaweng, has few beachside restaurants, but this is one of them. Open during the day, this is a great spot to watch the beach and have some quite passable food.

Thai
Lamai Food Plaza
Lamai Main Street.
If you want that genuine Thai experience but are a little frightened of a food stall, this is the place to go. A collection of food areas, all with their own, predominately Thai, kitchens, where the "boss" is often the cook. Plenty of seafood on display, plus good general menus. No frills and food is priced accordingly. I often take my own wine and nobody complains. My favorite stall is run by, and named after, the irrepressible Phakdee. Her name is shortened to Pha not Phak, as she keeps pointing out!

Vegetarian
The Spa
Ring Road, Lamai.
Tel: 077-230 855.
As you would expect with a healthy place like a spa the restaurants specialises in vegie dishes, but that does not prevent fish and chicken getting a mention. A pleasant beach setting where you can pamper your conscience into thinking you're eating healthily.

South side of the island

Laem Set Inn
(next to Samui Butterfly Garden), Hua Thanon.
Tel: 077-424 393
Email: inn@laimset.com
Website: http://www.laemset.com
This is a fascinating place located among a host of hotel bungalows clinging precariously to the side of a cliff. The restaurant is at the bottom and car park at the top, but don't worry, there are buggies on hand to do all the hard work! Sitting in the restaurant, which overlooks the pool and the hotel's exclusive rocky cove and beaches, you'll get some great views of the best of Samui, and the walk down is also well worth the effort (walk down, buggy up). The lunch menu is limited to mostly Thai-style dishes at 200 baht each, plus a few puds and a real attempt has been made to keep wine prices reasonable.

West side of the island

Big John Seafood
Tong Yung Beach, (between ferry terminal and Nathon).
Tel: 077-423 025 & 423 186
Located on the west side of the island Big John's is one of the best seafood restaurants on Samui. Facing west it is a great place to watch the sunset, before taking in the cabaret show later in the evening. Taking your own wine is totally accepted, although there is a reasonable wine list. The menu is heavily biased towards seafood, with various special offers as well as a comprehensive list of seafood products. There is also a general Thai menu and a few farang items. The prawn cakes are highly recommended and the oyster pancakes are an interesting variation.