Places to eat in Ranong

Thanks to its rich and varied heritage, Ranong’s food has been influenced by several cultures and countries over the years. This has resulted in an eclectic food scene with dishes from China and Burma as well as local Thai cuisine. Of course, as with any tourist destination in Thailand, there are western offerings too, but we prefer to keep things local.

Here we look at our favourite restaurants, ingredients and dishes that Ranong has to offer.

Thai Food

Not only does Ranong dish up classic Thai flavours, but it is also known for its curries having quite a kick! If you fancy something traditional, the Municipal Market in the centre of town is as good a place as any to start. Alongside fresh produce, street food vendors serve up tasty Thai classics like noodle soup and chicken rice at a fraction of the cost of eating at a restaurant. If the stalls don’t have a sign in English, point at what you fancy and the vendors will happily serve you.

There are plenty of other markets throughout Ranong that operate on different days and nights of the week. Each specialises in something different with some selling a range of fruit and veg, others marketing fresh seafood.

The night markets in particular, provide the chance to purchase ready-to-eat dishes and snacks such as barbequed meats and yummy curries. However, it is worth noting that the night markets here do not stay open anywhere near as late as they do in Bangkok or on the more popular islands. Get there early to avoid disappointment.

If you’d prefer a restaurant setting, somewhere like J&T Restaurant (267 Rouengrat Road, Ranong 85000) offers a good selection of Thai dishes. Although the décor here is basic, the owners are friendly and speak good English so can help with recommendations and ensure your dish comes with the right level of spice!

As Ranong lies on the coast of Thailand, many of the local specialities are centred around seafood. Look out for restaurants displaying their catch of the day to know you are getting fresh, local produce.

If you don’t fancy fish, don’t worry, you can still enjoy some local specialities. Cashew nuts are locally produced so you will find these tasty nuts on the menu in many restaurants. Similarly, pak liang, a leafy green vegetable, is a regional dish which is often served alongside rice and noodle meals.

There is also a strong influence of Muslim-Thai cuisine in Ranong which includes dishes such as yellow rice and chicken which is heavily spiced with turmeric.

Western and International Food

Since being a tin mining outpost in the 19th Century, Ranong has been heavily influenced by the Chinese. This can clearly be seen through the number of Chinese restaurants throughout the town.

If you’ve been travelling for a while and don’t fancy another pad thai (although sometimes we feel like we could eat that forever!) why not opt for some dim sum or crispy duck. Our favourites are Ranong O-Cha Dim Sum (27/61 M.4 Chalermprakiat Road, Ranong 85000) and Hong Kong Roast Duck (5/25 Lu Wang Road, Tambon Khao Niwet, Amphoe Mueang, Ranong) - the clue’s in the names.

If you have a hankering for western food, you can’t beat The Farmhouse (311/1 Ruengraj Road | Kaoniwet Subdistrict, Ranong 85000). Offering a huge range of international dishes and beverages (including a number of western beers) it provides a relaxed atmosphere and meals are relatively well priced too. Sunny Side Up (32/19 Kamlangsap Road, Ranong 85000) is great for a western breakfast too, serving omelettes, baguettes, fresh fruit and wonderful coffee!