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One of the things that makes Samui so appealing
is the fact that you can still stop at a street cart for a 30 baht
plate of Phat Thai or Fried Rice, while just around the corner a
lavish buffet is being served on the beach. All the options are
here, including several Thai vegetarian restaurants.
In recent years an international community of
entrepreneur restaurateurs have brought to Samui the cuisines of
Japan, Italy, Germany, India, Switzerland, France, Sweden and Mexico,
among others. Good Western cuisine can now be found in almost every
village on the island. Need a "back home" style snack
or a fast-food fix? There are excellent bakeries, ice cream parlours,
and the island's first Big Mac is in Chaweng with two other well
known pizza outlets.
If you stay long enough for your digestive system
to begin to get acclimated, you might try eating at one of the outdoor
evening markets that locals frequent. Here you will find some of
Samui's most authentic (and spicy!) Thai food. The seating arrangements
may be crude and the air filled with the noise of nearby locals
relaxing after work with Karaoke, but the food will be hot, tasty
and cheap.
There are a lot of magazines on the island with
lists of where to eat and an especially good restaurant guide to
help you to decide.
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Romantic dining at Santiburi Dusit
Resort |
Restaurant Hygiene
All restaurants and food vendors serve safe bottled drinking water,
and most use clean factory-made ice cubes. Vegetables are washed
in tap water but safe when cooked. You may want to avoid eating
raw ones.
Many seafood restaurants display their wares on ice for customers
to see. When choosing fish, look for bright (not cloudy) eyes, and
a bright crimson color under the gills. The fish should be firm
to the touch. Don't hesitate to smell shellfish for freshness before
choosing it.
A final tip: If going to a buffet, try to get to there early. In
a tropical climate, the longer the food has been exposed, the greater
the chance for contamination.
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