Information > Eating On Koh Samui

With many expats from eastern and western cultures now living on Koh Samui, there has been considerable influence on the types of restaurant you can find on the island, however we will focus on the national cuisine here.

Thai food has five base flavours in the dishes you are likely to try, spicy (hot), sweet, sour, salty and bitter, and the influence comes for the four main regions in the country, Central and Southern, Northeastern (Isan) and Northern. As well as the regional variations, neighbouring countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Laos influence the dishes you will be treated to.

Bowls of sweet smelling jasmine rice accompany aromatic curries and stir fried dishes, usually with chillies, lemon grass and lime juice to create one dish called khao rad gang.

Kwaytiow or noddles come in a single dish like Pad Thai or noodle soups.

Nam Prik is a chilli paste served with vegetables dipped in the sauce and eaten with rice or spread on toast.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected on the island, but is always gratefully received should the meal and service warrant it. A helpful point to note is that the average wage for waiters and waitresses is around £50 per month, so go on, be generous