Eat like a local in Koh Samui, with dishes rich in flavour, steeped in history, and filled with fresh ingredients. Koh Samui, the jewel of the Gulf of Thailand, is renowned for its turquoise waters, palm-fringed beaches, luxury resorts, and vibrant nightlife.
But beyond its natural beauty and island charm lies an equally compelling reason to visit: local Thai food.
Thai food is rich in flavour, steeped in tradition, and filled with fresh ingredients from the culinary landscape of Koh Samui, offering travellers an authentic taste of Thai culture.
For food lovers, eating like a local in Koh Samui, sampling local dishes, is not just a side activity – it’s a central part of the island experience. In this article, we’ll explore why local Thai food in Koh Samui is worth savouring, introduce you to iconic Thai dishes, share where you can find the best eateries, and show how food connects you to the island’s soul.
Why try local Thai food in Koh Samui and eat like a local in Koh Samui?
1. Authenticity The authenticity of the food is unparalleled.
Despite Thailand’s world-famous cuisine, many travellers only graze on pad Thai or green curry at resort restaurants.
Koh Samui offers something different: authentic, home-style Thai food prepared by locals who’ve been perfecting their craft for generations. Whether it’s a roadside cart or a family-run beachfront eatery, you’ll taste food rooted in Thai tradition.
2. Fresh, Local Ingredients
Koh Samui’s location means an abundance of fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and aromatic herbs. Local fishing villages and coconut farms source ingredients hours or even minutes before they reach your plate. The result? Dishes that burst with freshness and flavour.
3. A Cultural Experience
Food is a window into Thai life. Sitting at a busy night market, watching families share grilled skewers or spicy soups, gives you insight into Thai customs and hospitality. Trying local food connects you to the people, their stories, and their way of life.
4. It’s Incredibly Affordable
Compared to Western meals or high-end restaurants, local Thai food in Koh Samui is amazingly budget-friendly. For just a few dollars, you can enjoy a filling, flavor-packed meal that is both satisfying and economical.
NB: Increasingly I hear tourists visiting Thailand saying, ‘Thai food is expensive,’ yet they choose not to explore the local eateries that the locals visit. This is the true pricing of Thai food.
Here’s a list of must-try local Thai dishes in Koh Samui and the best places to find them.
Khao Man Gai (Thai Chicken Rice) San Deang Nguyen Restaurant, Bophut, open 11 AM–5 PM
Simple yet satisfying, this dish consists of tender boiled chicken served on fragrant rice with a flavourful garlic-chilli-ginger sauce and a bowl of light chicken broth. This dish is a classic example of Thai comfort food.
The best, by far, is a family-run restaurant, which is famous among the locals. They have been serving the best Khao Man Gai for over 30 years.
Google Maps below, images of the shop front and Khao Man Gai Ruan Mit (mix), where to find it ร้าน ข้าวมันไก่ลูกชายแดเหงียบ
The following restaurant, Ran Khang Non Restaurant, near Fisherman Village, offers excellent Northern-style dishes that I cannot recommend highly enough.
The owners, Sattha (Samuian Thai) and his wife, Katherine (from Chiang Mai), built this awesome little restaurant next to their house during COVID.
They kept us all satisfied with Katherine’s delicious Khao Soi and Northern Style Pad Krapow. Since then they have grown into a Koh Samui icon. Below are their famous dishes, which are most popular with locals & visitors to Koh Samui. Open 11.00 am to 20.30, closed on Mondays. Where to find it Ran Khang Non
Pad Krapow Moo (Spicy Basil Pork Stir Fry) Northern Style
A popular street food, this dish features ground pork stir-fried with holy basil, garlic, and chilli, served over rice with a crispy fried egg on top. This dish is spicy, savoury, and irresistible. Northern style is drier than southern style, and different spices are added.
Northern Thai Food – the best Khao Soi in Samui
Khao Soi is a Northern-style soup/curry with a coconut base and crispy noodles
Ran Khang Non Restaurant offers the best Khao Soi in Koh Samui. They offer chicken and beef; albeit equally delicious, the beef is exceptionally cooked over hours.
Lana Set: a mix of spicy northern-style sausage, pork scratchings, BBQ pork neck, steamed vegetables, long beans, and cabbage. Sauces include nam prik ong and nam prik num, which you dip into.
Continue to eat like a local in Koh Samui…
Hor Mok Pla (Steamed Fish Curry in Banana Leaf)
A unique and visually striking dish, Hor Mok is a type of Thai fish custard made from red curry paste, coconut milk, and fresh fish, steamed in banana leaf cups. The dish boasts a delicate balance of creamy, spicy, and herbal flavours. This can be found at any walking street market and temple festival (see dates and temples below) around Koh Samui.
Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken) with Sticky Rice – Street Food at markets and often found on beaches.
Marinated with herbs and grilled over charcoal, Gai Yang is succulent, smoky, and often served with tangy nam jim jaew dipping sauce and sticky rice. This dish is a popular street food option.
Eat like a local in Koh Samui: Thai restaurants that locals eat at because of their local flavours and excellent pricing.
Gaeng Som Pla (Sour Fish Curry) Pichet Restaurant – Bophut
A Southern Thai speciality, Gaeng Som is a fiery and tangy fish curry made with turmeric, garlic, shallots, and sour tamarind. It’s unlike the creamy curries found in central Thailand—bold, spicy, and unforgettable.
I have tried Gaeng Som in numerous restaurants around Koh Samui; this restaurant is by far the best.
Where to find it Pichet Restaurant
Ranong 2 Restaurant – Chaweng Open 3 PM – Midnight
Closed every first and 16th of the month.
This restaurant has been open in Samui for many years. The food is absolutely delicious and popular with the locals.
My favourite dish here is Chu Chee Pla (fish). Lightly fried fish steak, cooked in a curried coconut sauce. This dish is considered the best on Koh Samui.
Where to find it Ranong Restaurant 2
Tha Chalom Restaurant – Meanam.
Closed every 15th & 30th of each month. The best beef noodle soup in Koh Samui local style. Slow-cooked beef noodle soup (Kuaytuyw nau toon) is absolutely delicious. 60 THB ONLY
I have been coming here for years just for this soup.
Where to find it Tha Chalom
Best fusion noodle soup in Koh Samui
Samui Dek Koh – Bophut
This is yet another cherished family-owned enterprise in Samui. Approx. 2018, the children of Malee Restaurant opened this restaurant serving Thai noodle soup with a fusion twist. The original Malee Restaurant was located in Fisherman. Mother had been serving up her delights for so many years.
I remember her children when they were just toddlers. Now her children are serving up delicious fusion Thai noodle soups.
Where to find it Samui Dek Koh
Kanom Jeen Nam Ya (Fermented Rice Noodles with Curry) – Maenam
Closed on Mondays.
Kanom Jeen, a breakfast and lunch favourite, are cold rice noodles served with a variety of curry sauces, pickled vegetables, and boiled eggs. The southern version is particularly spicy and rich.
It can be eaten with a variety of curry dishes, but the most popular is Nam Ya, which is curried coconut sauce with fish meat boiled to a watery consistency.
Where to find it Pa Maitree
Joke Bangrak Thai Breakfast (Bangrak Open): 06.30 AM–10.39 AM
Rice soup is a very popular Thai breakfast dish. This restaurant has been serving the locals for many years.
Rice soup is rice boiled into a soup, adding pork, ginger, spring onion, coriander, fried garlic and black pepper. An egg can also be added.
Where to find it โจ๊ก บางรักษ์ Thai Breakfast
Lung Nid Khao Ka Moo Restaurant–Bang Por. The restaurant operates daily from 06.00 AM to 14.00 PM.
Khao Ka Moo is another very popular Thai dish. The brown sauce simmers the pig leg for hours. A vinegar sauce complements it, which you pour over the dish. It’s served with rice, kale and pickled cabbage. This restaurant is another family restaurant, serving locals for many years with their special dish.
Where to find it ลุงนิดข้าวขาหมู Pork leg rice restaurant
Tip: Don’t overlook the smaller places away from tourist zones. Thai food stands near temples, schools, and inland roads often serve the most authentic foods—no frills, just flavour.
Unique Ingredients and Flavours of Southern Thai Cuisine
Koh Samui is part of southern Thailand, which has a distinct culinary style. What sets it apart?
- Spicier flavours: Southern Thai food tends to be hotter and more intense than Thai dishes from the north or central regions.
- The use of turmeric and fresh herbs: Dishes include turmeric, giving it a vibrant yellow colour and an earthy taste.
- Coconut in everything: Koh Samui is full of coconut plantations, so coconut milk, grated coconut, and coconut oil are used liberally.
- Seafood-based: Koh Samui’s cuisine features a wide variety of freshly caught seafood.
These elements make southern Thai food incredibly bold, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.
Thai Food as a Cultural Connector
Eating local food in Koh Samui is more than nourishment—it’s a way to engage with Thai culture. Here’s how:
- Language and smiles: Ordering food from a street vendor, even with basic Thai phrases, creates a moment of shared connection. Thai people appreciate it when visitors show interest in their cuisine and customs.
- Thai Eating Style: Meals in Thailand are often communal, with several dishes shared among friends and family. Embracing this style lets you try more dishes and fosters social interaction.
- Learning Through Flavours: You can learn a lot about Thailand’s geography, history, and religion through its food. From the Islamic influences in southern dishes to Buddhist-inspired vegetarian meals at local temples, food tells the story of the land.
Local Food Experiences to Try in Koh Samui
To enhance your culinary exploration, contemplate the following experiences:
- Thai Cooking Classes: Jungle Kitchen, owned by Chef Lin and husband Tom. The Jungle experience is like no other in Koh Samui, with its spectacular views. For more information, click the links below. https://www.samuiislandexplorer.com/tours/jungle-kitchen-thai-cooking-class/
- Food Tours: Guided food tours led by locals help you discover hidden gems and understand the cultural background of each dish. These tours are particularly beneficial for those who are new to the area and are uncertain about where or what to eat.
Contact Samui Explorer for guided private foodie tours. https://www.samuiislandexplorer.com/ - Temple Fairs and Local Festivals: Koh Samui Temple Festival dates:
- Wat Chaweng: 5th April–14th April
- Wat Bophut: 10th March-24th March, approximately
- Wat Sraket: 27th – 25th April
- Wat Phuthaothong Temple, Meanam: 2nd – 10th April
- Wat Na Phra Laan Meanam: 23rd April – 26th April
- Wat Phangbua Bophut: 14th – 22nd June
- Wat Mai Samui Bang Markham: 4th – 7th May
Chak Phra Festival is a very special annual festival in Buddhism. Annually, each temple decorates their float, adding the Buddha statue. This follows the exit of the monks (after a 3-month period). Each temple makes its way to Nathon pier, where voting for the best float can be done, along with food stalls, markets and music. During events like Songkran (Thai New Year) or Loi Krathong, temples often serve free food or set up pop-up stalls offering traditional sweets and snacks you won’t find elsewhere. This is an excellent opportunity to find plenty of Thai snacks and street food.
Final Thoughts: Why Every Visitor Should Try Local Food in Koh Samui
Sampling local Thai food in Koh Samui is one of the most rewarding aspects of visiting the island. It’s a sensory journey—vivid colours, mouthwatering aromas, contrasting textures, and bold flavours. But beyond the plate, it’s an immersion into Thai culture, values, and daily life.
Whether you’re enjoying a fiery bowl of Gaeng Som by the beach, slurping noodles in a bustling market, or learning to stir-fry with a local chef, you’re not just feeding your stomach — you’re feeding your curiosity, your soul, and your connection to a place and its people.
So skip the Western menus and embrace the spicy, sweet, sour, and savoury worlds of local Thai food in Koh Samui. Your taste buds—and your travel memories—will thank you.
