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Foodies simply flock to Thailand, and it’s easy to see why. The country’s cuisine is arguably the best in the world, and every visitor is guaranteed to leave the Kingdom with a full belly and happy heart. One of the best places to try some of the country’s most renowned, local dishes is on one of it’s most beautiful islands: Koh Phangan. Get ready to chow down as we at Mad Monkey scoured the island in hopes of finding the best Thai cuisine. Here, the best Koh Phangan restaurants for local Thai food on the island!

 

The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Mixed vegetables at Golden Rock © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Nong View

Pull up a wooden chair and get ready to indulge at Nong View. The price is right at this Thai restaurant near Baan Thai, so visitors will want to order a few of the dishes on the menu and share amongst one another to make the most out of their visit to this delicious restaurant. Enjoy Thailand’s renowned dish — pad Thai, a tasty noodle stir-fry made with eggs, tofu, and normally chicken. Or instead put your taste buds to the test with a more interesting find at Nong View, like their Thai fried fish with garlic and turmeric. The possibilities are endless! Also, be sure to check out their ala carte that is filled with tasty Thai dishes that start at only ฿50, like the spicy Thai chicken and the Thai fried rice.

 

Nong View - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Thai noodle salad at Nong View © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: Ban Tai, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Contact: +66 77 962 338 | Website
Hours: Daily from 10:55 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

 

Nong View - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Nong View © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Mama Pooh’s Kitchen

Venture off the beaten path of restaurants in Koh Phangan and head to Mama Pooh’s Kitchen. Found in Srithanu, this delicious Thai restaurant will leave both your appetite and wallet satisfied. It is certainly not a prestigious dining venue, but visitors will soon forget about this venue’s lack of walls or fancy decor as soon as they sink their teeth into one of the many tasty Thai dishes here. The menu is split up into an intimidating number of sections, with everything from rice dishes to noodles to curries and more for diners to choose from. There are some international finds here, but we suggest steering clear of these and instead opt for their delicious tom kha gai (chicken coconut soup) massaman curry, or larb, a delicious minced meat salad — we promise that it tastes better than it sounds! No one that works at Mama Pooh’s Kitchen speaks English, so visitors must write the number of their order down on paper.

 

Mama Pooh’s Kitchen - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Stir-fry eggplant and tofu at Mama Pooh’s Kitchen © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Contact: Facebook
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Mama Pooh’s Kitchen - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Mama Pooh’s Kitchen © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Golden Rock

Dine on some of the most delicious local Thai food while looking out onto the beautiful Gulf of Thailand at Golden Rock. The venue, located in Srithanu, looks like a tree house of sorts — the entirety of both its interior and exterior is actually made of wood. The restaurant doubles as an accommodation option, making it a semi-secret restaurant well worth discovering. Pull up a floor mat and browse their quaint but tasty menu, with Thai favorites including their stir-fried vegetables with cashew nuts. Be sure to visit this restaurant at sunset to experience some of the best views on the island. Lastly, check out Zen Beach that sits just adjacent the restaurant — we’re not entirely sure, but we are pretty positive that swimsuits are optional. Regardless, it is a stunning stretch of sand and worth sinking your toes into while you wait for your delicious Thai meal!

 

Golden Rock - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Mixed vegetables at Golden Rock © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: ท้องศาลา Tambon Ko Pha-ngan, Amphoe Ko Pha-ngan, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Contact: +66 92 876 4586 | Website
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Golden Rock - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Golden Rock restaurant © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Coral Bungalows

Coral Bungalows on Koh Phangan is both a beachside and budget-friendly restaurant. You could not dine closer to the water if you tried; the tables here practically shade the beautiful Gulf of Thailand below. The chairs might be made of plastic but who cares about aesthetic when the ocean is a few feet away and the prices are low? You can order just about anything at Coral Bungalows; all-day breakfast, sandwiches, salads — you name it, Coral Bungalows has it. Our favorite menu items, however, were the Thai dishes. Some of the best ones include the penang curry, pad Thai, and more. Should you want to learn to make any of the delicious dishes at Coral Bungalows, this venue also offers cooking classes. One dish is only ฿100 and you can create more than one. Lastly, be sure to check out the pool parties Coral Bungalow that are completely free to go to. Check their calendar to find out when the next one is!

 

Coral Bungalow - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Penang curry at Coral Bungalow © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: VIEW MAP
Contact: +66 77 375 023 | Website
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

Coral Bungalows - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Coral Bungalows © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

 

Saturday Walking Street

The Saturday Night Market is perhaps the best market on the island. It is open every Saturday from 4-10 p.m. and is lined with delicious local cuisine. Locals go all out and serve up some of the best food in town and for some of the best prices, as well. It is found in Thongsala and is a great place to grab a meal on the go before a night out on Koh Phangan. In addition to delicious food, you can also purchase local souvenirs, home decor, accessories, and more. This market stretches the entire length of the street, and it is also known as the Chinese Walking Market and Walking Street Market. If not to eat, be sure to add this market to your Koh Phangan itinerary — it is one market you won’t want to miss out on visiting!

 

Saturday Walking Street - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Food at the Saturday Night Market © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: Unnamed Road, Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Hours: Saturday from 4-10 p.m.

 

Saturday Walking Street - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Edible insects at Saturday Night Market © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

 

Khunpen Restaurant

Khunpen Restaurant is found a short walk from the Panthip Market. Stop by there for some to-go appetizers before making your way this Thai eatery. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating and is a great venue to gather with friends and enjoy an affordable meal together. Khunpen’s decor is rather simple, but visitors certainly don’t come here for the epic interior — they come for the eats! Khunpen Restaurant is also very accommodating to both vegan and vegetarians. There are an impressive number of dishes that are meat-free and delicious. Favorites include their Thai omelet with vegetables and tofu (฿90), the green curry (฿80), and their coconut milk soup (฿90), otherwise known as tom kha gai. 

 

Khunpen Restaurant - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Thai curry stir-fry at Khunpen Restaurant © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: Koh Phangan, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Contact: +66 88 167 4348
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. to 1o p.m.

 

Khunpen Restaurant - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Khunpen Restaurant © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

First Villa

A beachside location, affordable menu items, and delicious Thai dishes — First Villa seems to have it all. This accommodation option and restaurant duo is both a great place to eat and sleep on the island of Koh Phangan. It is located directly on Baan Tai Beach, and diners can choose to relax in one of their hammocks directly on the shoreline or cool off in the swimming pool while they wait for their food. The menu has its fair share of international dishes, but be sure expand your palate horizons and instead try one of their mouthwatering Thai menu items, including phangaeng curry, tom yam goong (Thai hot and sour soup with shrimp), som tam (green papaya salad), and many more. Check out First Villa for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

 

First Villa - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
Tom Kha Gai, or Thai chicken coconut soup, at First Villa © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 

Location: 145 / 1 Moo 1 First Villa Koh Phangan Bantai Chang Wat Surat Thani 84280, Thailand — VIEW MAP
Contact: +66 77 377 225 | Facebook
Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 

First Villa - The Best Koh Phangan Restaurants for Local Thai Food
View from First Villa © Courtesy of Kelly Iverson/Mad Monkey

 


 

 

More Information About The Best Thai Food on Koh Phangan, Thailand

Did you love this article about the best restaurants for authentic Thai food on Koh Phangan? Do you want even more information on where to dine on the island? Then be sure to check out these articles we have rounded up for your viewing (and eating) pleasure. We only recommend articles and blogs that we read and love ourselves, as well. Bon appetit!

 

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About the Author

Mad Monkey is Southeast Asia’s leading hostel operator — born in Cambodia with more properties in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Laos, and the Philippines. We pride ourselves in creating meaningful and sustainable travel experiences for our guests, whilst promoting socially responsible tourism.