5 Best Restaurants in The Gulf Coast Beaches, Thailand

One of the most creative restaurants on Samui fuses culinary sophistication with a welcoming, casual atmosphere in keeping with its surroundings. Chefs perform alchemy from the venue's open-counter kitchen, providing dishes such as linguine with prawns, clams, mussels, and chilies in a white wine and tomato sauce; and king prawns with garlic, chili, and lemon. 

Mere feet from lapping waves, this perennial favorite serves the freshest seafood at reasonable prices. The purple baby-octopus soup and the sour curry with local turmeric and fish are two great options.

Belying Pattaya's slightly unsophisticated reputation, this fine dining haven oozes Gallic class. Tucked away in a residential district between Pattaya and Jomtien, it's something of a romantic refuge. And the food helps to elevate proceedings with choice offerings including premium steaks and showstoppers such as Japanese scallops with black pudding and cauliflower puree and lamb shank spiced with paprika, chili, and cumin.

A longtime local favorite for Thai-style seafood, Koti has a no-nonsense decor and a packed dining room that attests to the flavor of dishes like hor mok talay (steamed seafood curry). The large menu includes such crowd-pleasers as fried fish with garlic and pepper.

This Israeli-run joint brings a mouthwatering taste of the Levant to Thailand's most venerable beach enclave. While the smoky aroma of meat, fish, and kebabs grilling over charcoal make this a heaven for carnivores, vegans are equally well-fed with a selection of salads, dips, and righteous falafel and hummus plates.