The best places to eat & drink in Thailand

From the classic pad thai and mango sticky rice to western dishes and epic brunches, Thailand really does have it all when it comes to food and drink. Whether you’re after an amazing coffee, a cheap street food dish or a top notch burger, you’ll be able to find it. Read on to discover our absolute favourite places to eat and drink in Thailand across 6 different areas.

BANGKOK

Chinatown street food £

Best for: cheap and casual food of all kinds, especially seafood

Pop over to Chinatown if you’re in the mood for super cheap food served up fast and dirty. From noodle soup to sticky pork buns and more seafood than you could ever possibly eat, Chinatown has a bit of everything. Pull up a plastic stool for a meal for as little as only a few pounds.

Thip Samai

Best for: cheap & award winning Pad Thai

Join the queue and wait your turn for the award winning pad thai that is certainly no secret. Watch as they make hundreds and hundreds of plates right on the street as you wait for a table in the always busy restaurant. Go for classic pad thai or one of the variants, you won’t be disappointed and for under 100 baht you really can’t go wrong.

KHAO SOK

WindSong restaurant & bar £-££

Best for: thai curries & service

If there is one thing you eat in Khao Sok (Khlong Sok) then it simply has to be the massaman curry at Windsong restaurant & bar. Without a doubt this has been the best curry we’ve had in Thailand to date and we’d go back there just for another bowl of that creamy deliciousness. Not only was the curry incredible, but the owner may be the friendliest and most welcoming person we’ve met in Thailand. He went above and beyond, even serving us deep fried bananas that were grown in his garden for no cost. The menu is varied and they do proper espresso based coffees too.

Rafflessia Cafe £-££

Best for: riverside eating and games

With good coffee, curries and a view over the river it’s easy to see why Rafflesia is so popular. Grab one of the many books from the bookshelf or even a board game to pass the time whist you wait for a delicious Paneang curry or stir fried chicken with cashew nuts.

KHAO LAK

Go Pong £

Best for: casual cheap eats & watermelon shakes

Go Pong quickly became our favourite place for a quick bite in Khao Lak with it’s huge menu of delicious and cheap dishes. For only 50 baht (approx £1.20) you can get a plate of chicken stir fried in red curry with rice along with many other options. Be sure to get one of their watermelon and pineapple shakes – they are truly fantastic especially on a boiling hot day.

The eighth room £-££

Best for: modern vibes and great coffee

While on a hunt for a great coffee and a place to work we stumbled across this little gem. With fantastic coffee and a unique design of separate rooms with inside and outside space it’s a great place to hang out or set up camp with your laptop. The staff are super friendly and even opened up a new room for us in the back which is a huge bonus.

KOH LANTA

Sea Sun Restaurant £-££

Best for: fried rice with pineapple/cashews & stone baked pizza

It seems every single restaurant has fried rice of some description on their menus, but this is possibly the best we’ve had yet. So good in fact that we got it to takeaway for our journey back to Krabi. The dish is fresh and delicious whether you opt for cashews or pineapple and is a steal at only 100 baht for a generous portion. They also have a proper stone oven for some seriously competitive pizzas at a reasonable price of 250-300 baht.

Diamond Cliff beach restaurant ££-£££

Best for: views over the ocean at sunset

Whilst certainly not the cheapest restaurant we’ve eaten at, Diamond Cliff wins in the views department. Take a seat, order a proper cocktail and gaze out over the beach below for an unforgettable sunset. From here you can take the steps down to a small and always quiet beach with roughly constructed shelters, a breathe of fresh air from the much busier beaches at the north of the island.

Salty Fish beach bistro ££-£££

Best for: watching the sunset with happy hour drinks & seafood

Pull up a stool and order a glass of wine to watch the sun set right on the beach. With only a few spots right at the front be sure to get there early as it can get busy. Order a drink during happy hour for 100 baht beers, glasses of wines and selected cocktails.

Why Not Bar ££-£££

Best for: beachfront sunset cocktails & fire shows

This may be one of the best spots for a chilled out cocktail on the island. Fall into a bean bag, order a mojito and soak up the last few moments of sunset before watching possibly one of the best fire shows we’ve seen. Whilst the drinks may not be that cheap, they make up for it in ambience and the location is amazing.

Apsara ££

Best for: A unique dining experience in the Old Town

If you find yourself over on the other side of the island one evening in Koh Lanta’s Old Town, make sure to enjoy a meal at Apsara. You’ll have plenty of restaurants on the water to chose from, most featuring the swings made famous on instagram. However, skip those and pop into Apsara. On arriving you’ll be guided through the kitchen out to the back deck and if you’re feeling daring enough, to the end of the deck to a single candlelit table. Order seafood or Paneang curry and take in the view.

AO NANG, KRABI

The Food Centre £-££

Best for: Cheap-ish eats

Whilst we struggled to find super cheap street food in Ao Nang, we did come across the food centre, an outside food court style set up with reasonably priced ‘street food’. Many of the stalls do the same food but nevertheless, you can pick up a good meal at a reasonable price that would cost double in many of the overpriced restaurants on the main strip.

Cafe 8.98 ££

Best for: Awesome breakfasts for when you’re missing home

The breakfasts here are some of the best we’ve had on our travels through Thailand. Although more expensive than your typical eggs on toast, it really is worth it. From spicy shashuka and Spanish omelettes to smoothie bowls and great coffees, it is a must if you’re a breakfast lover. The lunch/dinner options are pretty good too.

Breakfast at Cafe 8.98, Ao Nang, Thailand

Tan cafe & hostel ££

Best for: A quiet coffee in a brand new place

This little place is super modern and actually brand new as of December 2018. Serving great coffees in a funky and minimalist environment, it’s the perfect place to stop for a cappuccino when the other, more popular spots are full of crowds.

KATA BEACH, PHUKET

Koi restaurant £

Best for: Super cheap, authentic food

Situated on the main road, a little bit of a walk away from the beach, Koi restaurant is an absolute gem. Serving all of the authentic Thai dishes you could imagine at very good prices, you can’t go wrong here. The watermelon shakes are also a steal and perfect in the hot weather. Watch the ladies cook up a storm at the front and experience some truly great, friendly service with a big smile.

EAT ££-£££

Best for: A bit of a splurge on all things beef

This is the only restaurant in our entire trip in Thailand that we struggled to get in. Book in advance if you can as this place is packed pretty much year round. The sign at the front ‘Keep calm and eat meat’ sums up this place perfectly so if you’re Vegetarian, give this one a miss. From burgers to steaks and ribs, it is heaven for a true carnivore. The owner is super friendly and they have space at the bar where you can enjoy your relatively cheap Mojito (compared to the price of the food).

Stay tuned for more updates to this post as we continue to travel around Thailand and let us know in the comments your favourite places to eat & drink!

Happy adventuring,
Lorna