Khao Lak Restaurants | Where to eat in Khao Lak?

Our Recommended Local Restaurants in Khao Lak

Best places to eat and have breakfast, lunch and dinner in Khao Lak, but remember this is just our opinion (from our team and local dive staff) for local eating on a budget:

Guide to the best local restaurants in Khao Lak

Thai cuisine is considered one of the best in the world with its incredible variety of dishes and flavours. From the spicy and tangy tom yum soup to the rounded, sweet tamarind flavour of pad thai, there is something to satisfy all palates.
Khao Lak itself offers many styles of cuisine to satisfy people from all corners of the world.
My name is Theo, I am the general manager of Khao Lak Explorer and I have lived in Khao Lak since 2015. In this guide, I will share with you my personal opinions on local culinary favorites of Khao Lak! You will find all the useful information for eating well in Khao Lak. Of course there are plenty of other good addresses in Khao Lak but here is a small selection.
Please note that this selection was made from my personal experience, and I do not receive any commission or profit from any of the restaurants mentioned below. They are here simply because I think that these places are worth visiting .

Local restaurants:

Mae Pa

It is undoubtedly the local haunt most appreciated by the expatriate community, including diving instructors, but many Thais also meet here to eat a delicious Khao Soi, the specialty of Mae Pa (available in both meat and vegan form). Their fruit juices are also fresh and delicious.
All dishes are served in generous portions with very attractive prices. They also have efficient service, and a friendly atmosphere. What is there not to love?
Members of the Khao lak Explorer team often meet at Mae Pa for lunch or dinner.
In addition to Khao Soi, simple dishes like fried rice and Pad Thai are really excellent.
Many of the options on the menu can be made vegan or vegetarian. Just let them know your dietary preference, and instead of chicken or pork, they can substitute tofu and skip the fish sauce.

Go Pong

A well-known address among locals, Go Pong is one of the busiest Thai restaurants in Khao Lak.
The dishes are inexpensive, very varied and delicious. I personally recommend the Ka Moo (Thai-style pork knuckle) with a good Thai ice lemon tea!

P’Ann

This restaurant is only open in the evening. Located in the heart of Khao Lak Town, P’Ann is a great place to people watch.
P’Ann offers a varied Thai menu at very reasonable prices.
The soups are delicious, yet an excellent place to enjoy traditional Thai cuisine.
The Pad Kra Pao (meat stir-fried with Thai basil) is a real treat at P’Ann.

DDee

This very small, traditional, family-run Thai restaurant offers classic, very well-cooked dishes at low prices. I love their Pad See Ew (noodles with soy sauce)!

Krua malee

One of our favorites, Krua Malee and Klong koo are two restaurants with a very unique and cool concept.
You eat with your feet in the water of the Pak Wip River, surrounded by lush vegetation, ideal for a refreshing break before visiting the Sai Rung waterfall which is nearby (https://maps.app. goo.gl/o7AeaHZQr9gHtAMcA )
These two restaurants are quite similar, the Thai cuisine is very good and the prices very reasonable. Nothing like a good Papaya salad with your feet in the water!

Chumpoo bar and restaurant

It’s the restaurant with a “chill” atmosphere that we love. In front of the beach, feet in the sand.
This restaurant bar with a reggae atmosphere is very pleasant, it’s hard to leave the place after the meal!
The Pad Thai is delicious and the prices reasonable.

PHU View

If this restaurant is in this guide, it is mainly for its location with a superb view of Khao Lak Bay, which gives it a romantic touch.
The food is good and the dishes are very reasonably priced.
The road to get there has a fairly steep slope. if you are not very comfortable on a scooter, we recommend that you park at the bottom of the slope 😊 … By Taxi there will be no problems.

Go Ae (Khao Man Gai& Moo Daeng)

It’s a bit like my canteen, where I frequent very often for lunch. The service is ultra fast, and it is one of the cheapest restaurants in Khao Lak.
The Moo Daeng (roast pork with red sauce), Ka Moo (Thai-style pork knuckle) and Khao Man Gai (Hainanese chicken with rice) are simply delicious 😊
A truly authentically Thai restaurant! Be careful, these are meat-based specialties and there is nothing for vegetarians or vegans.

And finally my absolute favorite…

Sign Scuba Restaurant

This is THE typical Thai restaurant, the cheapest in Khao Lak and certainly the best.
The staff is very friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed and the terrace overlooks a small lake, where you can see the occasional king fisher and large monitor lizards swimming by, an unexpected spectacle.
Lemon pork is a surprising dish, an explosion of flavor, and the penang curry, also to die for.
The Khao Lak Explorer team loves dining at this restaurant.
Be careful, you might want to eat there every day 😊 .

Vegetarian/Vegan:

Beyond the Root

This restaurant offers a 100% vegan menu, the dishes are delicious and there are quite a few choices.
Maria, the owner, is very friendly and passionate about vegan cuisin. If you ask, she will happily explain to you how she imitates cheese or meat using plant-based ingredients…
I love the burgers from Beyond the Root, and many on the team are crazy about the “goat cheese” salad. Watch out for big portions!

Qcumber

This restaurant is not only vegetarian friendly, but it offers healthy cuisine with lots of fruits and vegetables and well-made juices and smoothies, a real treat!

The wraps and salads are delicious.
Thai cooking classes are available upon request with Ploy, the owner of Qcumber.
Qcumber is one of my favorite places in Khao Lak!

Italian

La Piccola Maria

We agree Thai cuisine is the best, but sometimes we just need to take a break…
There is nothing better than a good pizza with a glass of wine.
Go see Gary at La Piccola Maria. The restaurant has a simple and warm atmosphere.
The gnocchi and pasta are also a treat!

Patty’s

This restaurant is run by a Thai – Italian couple.
You will find on the menu, pizza, pasta and various sandwiches/burgers.
The setting is nice with a lively bar area. It is the ideal place for sports fans as they broadcast most of the major matches.

Japanese:

Ojoei Sushi & Izakaya

I love the Japanese atmosphere of this restaurant. You open the door and are instantly transported to the land of the rising sun.
The menu is varied, and you will be spoiled for choice. They also have a good selection of tea and Japanese beers.
Please note that while there are side dishes available for vegetarians, the menu is very meat/fish based.
This restaurant is very much a local haunt, so be ready to show off your best Thai language skills, or break out google translate on your phone.

Mookata:

If you don’t know Mookata (or Mu kratha), it’s a Thai barbecue, a sort of mix between a Korean barbecue and a Chinese hot pot.
Meat is grilled on a dome and a soup is prepared around it with vegetables, eggs, etc. The meat juice runs down the dome and adds flavor to your soup.
Don’t leave Thailand without trying!
If you are vegan or vegetarian this is probably not the best place for you…

Chonticha

This is the original khao lak Mookata and the cheapest, you can help yourself as much as you want and even ice cream is offered as dessert.
It is located near the gas station a few minutes by car, north of the center of Khao Lak.

Thai Life Restaurant & Mookata

Located in the center of Bang Niang, this Mookata has a nice setting and good service.

Breakfast and brunch:

The Eighth Room Café

This is the restaurant that I particularly like on my days off to enjoy a good coffee and delicious brunch…
I love their avocado toast!
The restaurant is air-conditioned and it is the ideal place if you are looking for calm and freshness to work on a computer.
They usually have a stand of curated artisinal crafts, a sample of the shop next door, which is also worth a visit.

Khao Lak Markets:

Bang niang market

This market is the most popular in Khao Lak, you will find a multitude of food stalls.
I recommend that you taste the meat cooked in large ceramic pots, it is simply delicious.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. This market is livelier in the evening with its many small bars.

Build market

This market is located right next to the only nightclub in Khao Lak (Build Variety)
There are many street food stands and a few bars.
It is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Alive Market Nangthong

To access from the center of Khao Lak you have to take the road which goes down to the beach along the Nangthong supermarket.
At the end of the street on the right you won’t be able to miss it.
This market is located near Nangthong beach, so you can buy food and picnic while you watch the sunset on the beach a few dozen meters away.

If you want more upper-class restaurant, try this one:
Definitely one of the Best restaurant in Khao Lak, located at the north tip of Khao Lak, with a nice garden and sitting bar area, the restaurant is very well decorated with good Romantic and friendly atmosphere. You will get a warm welcome from the Thai owner who will do everything to make your dinner the more enjoyable. The food is delicious,a good selection of fish and sea food. If you are looking at eating well prepared Thai dish or European food, this is the place, the prices are bit expensive and they have a wide selection of wine!!!

If you are looking for real local restaurant away from the tourist

We don’t indicate those online, as those are our favorites and we like them not too crowded. If you are one of our customer diving, snorkeling or taking tours with, don’t hesitate to ask and we will give you the good spot to experience real Thai food and local atmosphere.

About The Author

Theo

Theo is a professional scuba diving manager of more than 10 years working and diving in Khao Lak and in Similan islands. Of Khao Lak Explorer’s team , Theo is an experienced Divemaster and pro-educator entusiast, who guarantee the best diving experience with deep knowledge of marine life. He is highly knowledgeable and leads every dive to be safe, full of learning and adventure making him a perfect guide to anyone ranging from a first time diver to a hardcore diver.

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