Great news – when you visit Koh Samui you are in for a gastronomic treat. You certainly won’t go hungry on this vacation island. In fact, Koh Samui offers such a diverse range of food everyone will be able to find their favorite. Koh Samui restaurants cater to all tastes and styles, from budget backpackers to special luxury anniversary. Find your ideal Koh Samui restaurant right here.
What to Eat on Koh Samui
It goes without saying that Koh Samui is a wonderful place to sample fine Thai food. You’ll be able to find all your Thai food favorites, whether or not they are authentic Samui or from elsewhere in Thailand. Pick up a huge plate of Pad Thai, eat your way through massaman curries and sticky rice, and sample all you like of the local delicacies. You can also try your hand at Thai cooking classes on Samui if you want to whip up some delicious dishes yourself.
Seafood is a specialty on Koh Samui. Wherever you go you’ll find fresh seafood on the menu and you can eat all kinds. Look for the Koh Samui restaurants and the food stalls with the longest lines – this means the seafood is the freshest it can be.
And you can also find a range of non-Thai food on Koh Samui and restaurants on Koh Samui specializing in dishes from all around the world, from Great Britain to the USA to France and Italy and beyond.
Image via Hallman lau/ Flickr
Here are a few suggestions for non-Thai restaurants on the island:
Classic Koh Samui Restaurants
1) Barracuda @ The Wharf
This is a classy place for a special meal, serving a menu of Mediterranean-inspired food as well as great cocktails and wines.
2) La Route de Rum, Taling Ngam
Set inside the Koh Samui Rum Distillery this is a French restaurant that serves the traditional favorites. If you want French cuisine alongside rum tasting, this is surely the only place to have it! There are outside seats as well as a popular barbeque on a Sunday.
3) Picasso, Maenam
Also a French restaurant, this is set in the tiny little town of Maenam and you’ll discover here some locally-sourced ingredients crafted into tasty French cuisine.
4) Stacked, Chaweng
Serving succulent burgers and some great side as and even clam chowder, Stacked is a US-inspired restaurant with live music and sports. This is the place to come if you are craving your burger fix.
5) Tropical Murphy’s, Chaweng
As the name would suggest, here is an Irish pub on the island of Koh Samui, serving the regular pub food as well as beers, with sports showing on the screen.
6) Noori India, Chaweng
Craving a true Indian curry? One of the best places in Koh Samui for Indian food is the Noori Indian in Chaweng. There are different branches of this popular restaurant, including one inside the Central Festival shopping mall.
7) The Dining Room, Lamai
At Rocky’s Resort, this restaurant has an Asian/ French fusion menu and also serves a barbeque at the weekend and traditional Thai food on special nights. It’s a nice place, with inside and outdoor seating, and has a good wine list for Koh Samui.
Image via drburtoni/ Flickr
8) The Larder, Chaweng
Serving traditional British food, this is popular with the expats, as you would expect. Located across from the Anantara Resort in Chaweng, the Larder is a comfy place with some great comfort food.
9) Nadimos, Bang Rak
This quirky restaurant on Koh Samui serves mezze, falafel, and tabbouleh as well as the other classics from this part of the world. It’s a good place for a quick lunch.
10) Zico’s at Centara Grand Beach Resort, Chaweng
This is possibly the only place you can eat Brazilian BBQ food in Koh Samui and this restaurant has been around for years, serving an all-you-can-eat extravaganza with meat, seafood, and sides. All served with accompanying music and dancing to make you happy. If you love samba, this is the place for you.
Wherever you choose to eat in Koh Samui, you’re sure to find something special on the menu. A variety of restaurants cater to all kinds of tastes, and when you want true Thai food, head for the restaurants serving locals as well as visitors.
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