Places to eat in Koh Chang

When it comes to food, Koh Chang has plenty of excellent dining options across a wide range of cuisines. Whether you want to eat cheap for under a dollar per meal, or you want to treat yourself to a fancy meal at one of the many resorts, Koh Chang has something to suit everyone. Just make sure you don’t miss out on the fantastic, fresh seafood that can be found pretty much wherever you stay on the island. There are so many restaurants on Koh Chang, but where you go will most likely depend on what part of the island you choose as your base.

Lonely Beach

Those on a tight budget – or those looking for a busy nightlife – often choose to stay at Lonely Beach, which is fast becoming a backpacker hotspot thanks to its cheap food and accommodation. There are lots of street stalls here selling a range of delicious local Thai dishes (papaya salad, sweet roti etc), plus a lot of reasonably priced restaurants. Just remember, check the food hygiene standards before choosing where to eat! We couldn’t get enough of the amazing and super fresh seafood here, and it was so cheap too!

The number of restaurants here can be overwhelming, so if in doubt you can always ask your accommodation where they would recommend. Some good value options include Kong Dao Kitchen (very cheap noodles) and an Italian place called Sawatdee Restaurant.

For some post dinner drinks with a lively atmosphere, head to Stone Free or Margharitaville.

Kai Bae

Kai Bae may be a small beach, but if you stay on this part of the island you’ll still find a good selection of quality restaurants. There are plenty of average Thai restaurants here, plus all of the resorts and hotels have in-house dining too.

There are several excellent barbeque seafood venues, including Friends Seafood and Ploy Talay. Kai Bae is also home to some great bakeries and coffee shops, but if you want the best sandwich on the island, go to Papa’s Deli, who import a delicious range of meats and cheeses. The best place for local cheap eats has to be Took Katai Kai Moon, which serves mouthwatering rotisserie chickens and spicy salad.

Bang Bao

Due to its rise in popularity, Bang Bao has become somewhat of a tourist trap, so expect higher prices when eating out here. The best seafood restaurants can be found on the pier, and include Chow Lay Seafood and Nok Noi.

Breakfast and lunch hotspots include Bang Bao Delight (great pastries!), and for a unique meal, try some Greek-Thai fusion food at El Greco. This restaurant also has a superb location, with excellent views of the bay.

Bang Bao also has some great bars with some of the best sunset views on the island. Both Cliff Cottage and Buddha View have amazing views, and a cocktail list to match. If you are in the mood for some late night drinks, there are parties and live music nearby at Haad Sai Noi.

White Sand Beach

White Sand Beach is the most tourist oriented region of the island, so restaurant choice is plentiful.

For cheap eats, head to a barbeque joint such as Nong Bua, or in the evening there is a night market selling the usual street fare. Those preferring Western cuisine will enjoy 15 Palms, Buffalo Bill’s and Paddy’s Palms, and the latter even serves a full roast dinner! This is our favourite home comfort when we have been travelling a long time, so this was a welcome find.

Haad Sai Khao also has a number of good breakfast and coffee spots, such as Marin Coffee and Amsterdam Café. Finally, many other cuisines are represented here, including German (The Bavarian), Italian (La Dolce Vita) and Indian (India Hut). Just remember, international food is always more pricey in Thailand, so if you want to save money you should try to eat more Thai food. It’s much tastier anyway!

Khlong Prao

Last but not least, Klong Prao Beach is perfect for those who want to enjoy a seafood dinner and beautiful scenery. We rented scooters so that we could explore more of the island, and then stopped off at Klong Prao beach for an evening meal. We had been recommended to go to Phu Talay, which has an open-air terrace and some of the best seafood on the island. We certainly weren’t disappointed, as everything we ate was so fresh and the portions were huge. It is a bit expensive, but still cheaper than many of the in-house restaurants at the upscale resorts here. There are still plenty of places to eat cheap though, and there is even a Thai-style food court here, that serves great local food for under THB100.