Food · Koh Samui · Thailand
What to eat in Koh Samui
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Koh Samui, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Manfred Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Khao yam, Gaeng som pla and Tom kha gai. Graze on grilled seafood, satay, roti and coconut ice cream at the Fisherman's Village market in Bophut. Prices on Samui are higher than on the mainland; local restaurants inland are far cheaper than the beachfront.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Khao yam
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected, but leaving loose change or rounding up is common.
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Breakfast
1.Khao yam
A southern rice salad of herbs, toasted coconut, pomelo, bean sprouts and lemongrass dressed with budu, a fermented fish sauce, often eaten for breakfast.
Where: Morning market stalls in Nathon and Lamai and southern Thai restaurants.
Dish
2.Gaeng som pla
A sour, spicy orange curry of fresh fish and vegetables flavoured with turmeric and tamarind; one of the defining dishes of southern Thailand.
Where: Local rice-and-curry shops away from the beachfront.
Dish
3.Tom kha gai
Chicken in a coconut-milk soup with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime, milder than tom yum and made with Samui's abundant coconuts.
Where: Most Thai restaurants across the island.
Dish
4.Seafood barbecue
Fresh fish, prawns, squid and crab grilled to order and served with spicy green seafood sauce.
Where: Beach restaurants in Fisherman's Village, Lamai and the south coast, and stalls at the walking-street markets.
Dish
5.Massaman curry
A rich, mild curry with Persian and Indian influences, made with coconut milk, warm spices, potatoes and peanuts.
Where: Thai restaurants throughout the island.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Kalamae
A chewy, toffee-like sweet of coconut milk, rice flour and palm sugar, stirred for hours in large woks and wrapped in palm leaves.
Where: Stalls at Hin Ta and Hin Yai and local markets.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Coconut ice cream
Coconut-milk ice cream served in a coconut shell with sticky rice, peanuts or palm seeds on top.
Where: Street vendors and walking-street markets.
Street food · Vegetarian
8.Roti
Crisp pan-fried flatbread with banana and condensed milk, or savoury with egg; a favourite evening snack.
Where: Roti carts in Chaweng, Lamai and at the Fisherman's Village market.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Mango sticky rice
Sticky rice soaked in sweetened coconut milk, served with ripe mango.
Where: Night markets and dessert stalls, best from about March to June.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Fresh coconut
Young coconuts from the island's plantations, chilled and opened with a machete to drink the water and scoop the flesh.
Where: Roadside stalls and beach vendors everywhere.
Food experiences
Friday walking street
Graze on grilled seafood, satay, roti and coconut ice cream at the Fisherman's Village market in Bophut.
Local market breakfast
Try khao yam, coffee and Thai sweets at an early-morning market in Nathon or Lamai, away from the resort buffets.
Beachfront seafood dinner
Choose your fish from the ice at a south-coast or Lamai restaurant and eat with your feet in the sand.
Quick bites and street food
- Khao yam — Morning market stalls in Nathon and Lamai and southern Thai restaurants.
- Roti — Roti carts in Chaweng, Lamai and at the Fisherman's Village market.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Kalamae, Coconut ice cream, Roti, Mango sticky rice and Fresh coconut. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Prices on Samui are higher than on the mainland; local restaurants inland are far cheaper than the beachfront.
- Ask for 'mai phet' if you want less heat; southern dishes can be very spicy.
- Upmarket restaurants often add a 10% service charge and 7% VAT to menu prices.
- Alcohol is not sold on major Buddhist holidays, even in resorts.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected, but leaving loose change or rounding up is common. Tip spa therapists, boat crews and drivers for good service; check for a service charge in resort restaurants.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sawasdee krub / ka | Hello |
| Khop khun krub / ka | Thank you |
| Tao rai? | How much? |
| Mai phet | Not spicy |
| Mai ao | I don't want it |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Koh Samui famous for?
Khao yam, Gaeng som pla, Tom kha gai and Seafood barbecue. A southern rice salad of herbs, toasted coconut, pomelo, bean sprouts and lemongrass dressed with budu, a fermented fish sauce, often eaten for breakfast.
+Is Koh Samui good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Kalamae, Coconut ice cream and Roti.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Koh Samui?
Tipping is not expected, but leaving loose change or rounding up is common. Tip spa therapists, boat crews and drivers for good service; check for a service charge in resort restaurants.