The MICHELIN Guide Thailand expands its scope in the 2024 edition to include Ko Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island, and the mainland of Surat Thani, the largest province in Southern Thailand. This expansion highlights the unique culinary depth of Southern Thailand while celebrating the country's rich and diverse gastronomic landscape.
We bring you the best affordable meals at the newly added Bib Gourmand eateries, offering a taste of the region's exceptional cuisine without breaking the bank in Surat Thani and the idyllic Ko Samui!
What to order? Let’s find out in this video.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
1/8 Mu 5, Don Sak, Surat Thani
Pa Ting, Surat Thani
Established in 1967, Pa Ting is run by the founder’s daughter. The restaurant is a basic, open-air building overlooking Don Sak River, serving seafood cooked according to local recipes. The spicy salad with salted Kulao fish bursts with flavoursome Thai herbs. The crab curry with seablite leaves enjoys the natural umami of freshly caught seafood, enhanced with spicy in-house curry paste. Plenty of parking at the front.What to order: Spicy salad with salted Kulao fish, and crab curry with seablite leaves.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
1 Thathong Road, Talat, Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani
Lucky Restaurant, Surat Thani
Lucky is a 2-storey restaurant with a simple, vintage vibe. The chef-owner has upheld the legacy of previous generations in this family-run eatery. She visits the market every day to select the freshest ingredients and oversees every dish that leaves the kitchen – a selection of Thai-Chinese, southern Thai and seafood cuisine. Don't miss the allure of wok-fried shrimp with chilli and salt, where the enticing blend of salt, chilli, garlic, and pepper creates an aromatic delight.What to order: Wok-fried shrimp with chilli and salt.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
438/18 Mu 1, Maret, Ko Samui
Krua Chao Baan Samui, Ko Samui
Krua Chao Baan means local kitchen, which aptly describes the vibe of this eatery specialised in Southern Thai food. The signature omelette is simple: crispy, not oily, with mixed seafood and well-seasoned minced pork. The stir-fried squid with pineapple, a local recipe only found on the island, is depicted by joyful sweet, sour and peppery notes.What to order: Krua Chao Baan omelette, and stir-fried squid with pineapple.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
25/236 Mu 6, Tawirat Phakdi Road, Bo Phut, Ko Samui
Kapi Sator, Ko Samui
The restaurant upholds authentic Southern Thai food thanks to a culinary repertory that is hard to find elsewhere. One example is the delectable local squid in sweet coconut milk soup with a hint of lemongrass. The daily fish menu changes according to the catch of the day. If available, the deep-fried whole pomfret topped with spicy Southern Thai curry is highly recommended. They offer indoor and outdoor dining with plenty of parking.What to order: Local squid in sweet coconut milk soup, deep-fried whole pomfret topped with spicy Southern Thai curry.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
8/3 Mu 5, Mae Nam, Ko Samui
Jun Hom, Ko Samui
This unpretentious, open-air eatery is a local gem on the island, offering an affordable opportunity to taste simple, local dishes in a knockout beach location. The portions are hearty, modestly priced and lip-smacking, as the salty, crispy appetiser of deep-fried local silver sillago illustrates. The stir-fried squid is tender and beautifully cooked in a sweet, flavourful sauce and steeped in a lemongrass aroma. Alfresco dining on a blissful beach location.What to order: Deep-fried local silver sillago, and stir-fried squid.
READ FURTHER: 5 Must-Try MICHELIN Guide Food Gems in Bangkok on a Budget
Learn more about Chang’s Spirit of Lamiat at www.changbeer.com/lamiat
Learn more about Chang’s Spirit of Lamiat at www.changbeer.com/lamiat
This post is brought to you in partnership with Chang
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