Food and restaurantsAugustineKajur · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maenam, north Koh Samui
Babu's Indian Hot ₹₹
A Maenam restaurant serving North Indian dishes, including thalis, with many vegetarian dishes that can be made vegan.
- Indian
- 1 hour
- Dinner
- North Indian
Koh Samui guide · Where to eat
Where to eat in Koh Samui: 17 restaurants
Places to eat in Koh Samui, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Thai food is the island's everyday cooking, and most dishes are built on fish sauce, shrimp paste, or meat stocks, so plain vegetarian meals need to be asked for in words, not assumed. Useful phrases are 'jay' (vegan, no meat, fish, egg or dairy, usually without garlic and onion), 'mang sa wirat' (vegetarian), and 'mai sai nam pla' (no fish sauce). Markets, including the Fisherman's Village Friday market, are fun but are mostly meat and seafood.
Indian food is available in Chaweng, Lamai and around Bophut. Two restaurants checked for this guide describe themselves as fully vegetarian: Pure Vegetarian Govinda's on Chaweng Beach Road and Namaste Indian Restaurant on Haad Ngam Road. Noori India in Chaweng and Namaste Samui in Lamai serve Indian menus, with vegetarian dishes alongside; listings for Lamai mention meat dishes, so ask how vegetarian food is cooked. Jain diners should not assume any restaurant is Jain: ask about onion, garlic and root vegetables on arrival, or ask your resort in advance. Check each restaurant's current opening status before you travel, because small island businesses open and close often. For vegan meals, guides name Pure Vegan Heaven in Lamai and Noodles Now in Bophut as fully vegan, while cafes such as Wild Tribe, June's Art Cafe and Vikasa Life Cafe lean vegetarian but also serve meat or seafood.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Food and restaurantsPer Meistrup · CC BY-SA 3.0
Fisherman's Village, Bophut
Coco Tam's ₹₹
A beach bar restaurant in Fisherman's Village, Bophut, named by two Samui lists. They differ on the food, so check the current menu before you go.
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Evening
- Beach bar and kitchen
Food and restaurantsWikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 4.0
Six Senses Samui, Samrong Bay, north-east Koh Samui
Dining on the Rocks ₹₹₹₹
A fusion restaurant at Six Senses Samui on the north-east of the island, overlooking Samrong Bay, named by three Samui dining lists. A special-occasion choice, not a casual stop.
- 2 hours
- Dinner
- Resort fine dining
Food and restaurantsWikimedia Commons contributor · CC0
Bophut, a short walk from the ring road
June's Art Cafe ₹₹
A Bophut cafe with an extensive vegetarian menu, serving spring rolls, pasta, curries and cakes, a short walk from the ring road.
- 1 hour
- Lunch
- Vegetarian-friendly cafe
Food and restaurantsKoudkeu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bophut Beach, Fisherman's Village, north coast of Koh Samui
Krua Bophut ₹₹
A Southern Thai restaurant on Bophut Beach in Fisherman's Village, named by three separate Samui dining lists. Seafood is the focus, and the vegetarian choices are not described.
- 1.5 to 2 hours
- Dinner
- Southern Thai seafood
Food and restaurantsRavi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0
11/34 Haad Ngam Road, Bo Phut
Namaste Indian Restaurant (100% Vegetarian) ₹
A small, home-style Indian vegetarian restaurant on Haad Ngam Road in Bo Phut, praised for dal and dinner dishes and for reasonable prices.
- Indian
- 1 hour
- Dinner
- Indian vegetarian
Food and restaurantsRavi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hat Lamai Road, Lamai
Namaste Samui Indian Restaurant ₹₹
An Indian restaurant in the Lamai area serving curries, biryani and dal, with vegetarian dishes such as palak paneer on a mixed menu.
- Indian
- 1 hour
- Dinner
- Indian restaurant
Food and restaurantsJ Doll · CC BY 3.0
Bophut, north Koh Samui
Noodles Now ₹₹
A small vegan restaurant, bar and shop in Bophut known for noodle soups with homemade noodles and gluten-free options.
- Vegan
- 1 hour
- Lunch or dinner
- Vegan noodles
Food and restaurantsSwathivishwakarma · CC BY-SA 4.0
17, 1 Thanon Hat Chaweng, Bo Phut
Noori India ₹₹
An Indian restaurant in Chaweng listed as serving vegetarian, South Indian and Thai dishes, with staff reported as able to adapt dishes for vegans.
- Indian
- 1 hour
- Lunch or dinner
- South Indian
Food and restaurantsFitTasteTic · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lamai, south-east Koh Samui
Pure Vegan Heaven ₹₹
A fully vegan restaurant in Lamai serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with burgers, gnocchi, burritos and smoothie bowls.
- Vegan
- 1 hour
- Breakfast or lunch
- Vegan cafe
Food and restaurantsMallikarjunasj · CC BY-SA 3.0
Chaweng Beach Road, Chaweng
Pure Vegetarian Govinda's Restaurant ₹
A vegetarian Indian restaurant on Chaweng Beach Road with a large menu and an all-you-can-eat buffet reported at about 200 baht.
- Indian
- Pure Veg
- 1 hour
- Lunch or dinner
- Indian vegetarian
Food and restaurantsBalou46 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ring Road, Lamai, near the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks
Sabeinglae ₹₹
A Thai seafood restaurant on the ring road near Hin Ta Hin Yai in Lamai, named by two Samui lists. It is a local seafood place, so vegetarians should ask first.
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Lunch or dinner
- Local Thai seafood
Food and restaurantsavlxyz · CC BY-SA 2.0
Bophut, north Koh Samui
Spices Bophut ₹₹
A Bophut Thai restaurant that labels its vegan and vegetarian dishes clearly and recommends booking for larger dinner groups.
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Dinner
- Thai
Food and restaurantsJennifer from Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Chaweng, east Koh Samui
The Hungry Wolf ₹₹
A Chaweng spot serving burgers, pizza, desserts and smoothie bowls, with a separate vegan menu alongside the regular one.
- Vegan options
- 1 hour
- Lunch or early dinner
- Burgers and pizza
Food and restaurantsCeeseven · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fisherman's Village, Bophut, north coast of Koh Samui
The Shack ₹₹
A steak and burger restaurant in Fisherman's Village, Bophut, named by three Samui dining lists. It is a meat-led kitchen, so it suits meat-eaters rather than vegetarian families.
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Dinner
- Steakhouse grill
Food and restaurantsPizzaMan · CC BY-SA 4.0
Between Chaweng and Lamai, Koh Samui
Vikasa Life Cafe ₹₹₹
A sea-view cafe between Chaweng and Lamai serving healthy bowls and raw, dairy-free and gluten-free desserts, with chicken and seafood also on offer.
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Lunch
- Healthy cafe
Food and restaurantsMiscellaneous contributor · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lamai, south-east Koh Samui
Wild Tribe ₹₹
A Lamai cafe that is mainly vegetarian, with vegan pancakes, bowls, mezze and desserts alongside a few meat dishes.
- 1 hour
- Breakfast or brunch
- Veg-led cafe