Must-see restaurants in Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

  • Jek Pia

    Hua Hin

    Once just a coffee shop, this 50-plus-year-old restaurant is one of Hua Hin's top culinary destinations. The late mother of the current owner invited her…

  • Chicken and Bee

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    Against the lush greenery of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Chicken and Bee is an organic farm and open-air restaurant where you are sure to feel at home…

  • Pizza Khirikhan

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Bong, Pizza Khirikhan's owner, has put lots of love into his tiki-style restaurant. The former location – a beach hut – has been re-created with palm…

  • Koti

    Hua Hin

    This Thai-Chinese restaurant, opened in 1932, is a national culinary luminary. Thais adore the stir-fried oyster with flour and egg, while foreigners…

  • In Town Seafood

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    A go-to place for discerning locals, here you can eat streetside under a utilitarian tent while gazing at the squid boats in the bay. Great range of fresh…

  • Kook Noy Kitchen

    Chumphon

    Just a concrete floor, a corrugated roof and a chaotic kitchen turning out central and southern Thai dishes you know like đôm yam with free-range chicken…

  • Chomsin-Naebkehardt Junction Street Food

    Hua Hin

    These noted street-food spots are a three-for-one deal and though the setting is humble, there's some excellent Thai food here. The action starts early…

  • Sôm·đam Tanontok 51

    Hua Hin

    A standout restaurant in a great dining neighbourhood, this is real Isan food cooked by a family from Khorat. There's everything you'd expect to find…

  • Pa Jua

    Hua Hin

    This mango-sticky-rice stand is a local hit, which explains why it's been in business for almost 50 years. You can buy mangoes individually, or in the…

  • Baan Gliwang

    Hua Hin

    The palm trees, flower garden, historic wooden beach homes and the sound of the surf make the setting at 'The House Near the Palace' pretty much perfect…

  • The Social Salad

    Hua Hin

    This simple, but nicely decorated place attracts many repeat customers for its 209B make-your-own salads – choose from a long checklist of fresh organic…

  • Chaolay

    Hua Hin

    The most famous of the old-time pier restaurants, Chaolay serves a full house nightly, even in the low-season. There's a chaotic open kitchen on the…

  • Carlo

    Hua Hin

    There are loads of Italian places around Hua Hin, but most just turn out cheap pizza and pasta. For a great meal and a nice night out, this white…

  • Hua Hin Vegan Cafe

    Hua Hin

    Except for the lack of animal products, this modern place has nothing in common with the typical Thai jae vegan restaurant: there's wine, garlic, air-con,…

  • Krua Renu

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    There are both budget and beautiful restaurants along the coastal road, but some of the best food in Pak Nam Pran is in the town at this tall restaurant…

  • Der

    Hua Hin

    Located in the beachfront Seenspace mall, Der serves northeastern Isan food the way it should be: spicy and boldly flavoured. A modern set-up is given…

  • Ratama

    Hua Hin

    The menu runs from Thai omelettes to a great panang curry, but Ratama is famous for duck served in many forms, including noodle soup and fried beaks. Try…

  • Rim Taley Market

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    The Oceanside Market isn't very large, but it makes an ideal dinner destination because you can eat your food on the promenade or pier. On Friday and…

  • Dtom Leuat Mu

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    This actual shack on the corner serves just one dish – the namesake 'pig's blood soup', a piquant broth with many pig parts besides the congealed blood…

  • Rap Lom

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Popular with the locals, the pàt pŏng gà·rèe þoo (crab curry) comes with big chunks of sweet crab meat, and the yam tá-lair (seafood salad) is spicy and…

  • Railway Restaurant

    Hua Hin

    Hua Hin has lots of opulent resorts, and thus lots of sumptuous breakfast buffets, but the morning meal at the Centara Grand is worth a splurge not only…

  • Krua Chaiwat

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    With good food at low prices, this small restaurant serves a mix of locals and expats. While Thai food is its strength – the đôm yam and curries are quite…

  • Hagi

    Hua Hin

    A lovely open-air spot on the edge of the Centara Grand, Hagi is considered to be the best Japanese in Hua Hin; not that there's much competition. There…

  • Ty I-House

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Khun Suchada took early retirement and has turned her hobby into a small business. She bakes what she feels like, only having a few things available at…

  • Sweet Freeze

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Sweet Freeze's tiny shack doles out refreshing scoops of homemade ice cream in standard flavours like strawberry yoghurt and Belgian chocolate. You can…

  • Krua Medsai Seafood

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    Massive Medsai is one of dozens of seafood spots next to Cha-am's fishing port. While some of the smaller restaurants out here have more character, few…

  • Prikhorm

    Chumphon

    This wannabe fancy place has dishes from across the kingdom, from southern gaang sôm fish curry to northeastern mushroom lâhp, one of many vegetarian…

  • Grandma's House

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Cool cafe on the ground floor of a renovated century-old wooden house. Run by artists, it's a good spot for breakfast, or a coffee, smoothie or chocolate…

  • Night Market

    Chumphon

    Chumphon’s night market is excellent for food with a huge variety available, but not too pleasant for dining since it runs along a very busy road.

  • Velo Cafe

    Hua Hin

    Coffee shops are everywhere in Hua Hin, but few are as serious as this little one, which roasts its own beans. It also makes very good sandwiches.

  • Roti Cha Chak

    Hua Hin

    This small Thai Muslim joint serves halal food, including soups and rice dishes, but is best known for its roti pancakes made to order. Watching the dough…

  • Cherry

    Hua Hin

    A strange but welcome hole-in-the-wall serving Burmese (goat-and-lentil soup, tea-leaf salad) and Nepali (chicken masala, potato curry) food. The owner…

  • 31 Burger

    Hua Hin

    Many people rave about the hamburgers here, but throwing tradition to the wind, this shipping container spot put fish, chicken, fried macaroni and cheese,…

  • Royal Indian

    Hua Hin

    At first glance you don't expect much from this seemingly makeshift restaurant jammed in between a tailor and scooter rental, but it turns out the food is…

  • Chatchai Market

    Hua Hin

    The city's main fresh market resides in a historic building built in 1926 with a distinctive seven-eaved roof in honour of King Rama VII. You can piece…

  • Cool Breeze

    Hua Hin

    Popular tapas joint spread over two floors with great people-watching from the balcony. There's also paella, lamb kebabs and smoked salmon baguette, while…

  • Khrua Rua Makham

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    This alfresco restaurant serves up regular Thai dishes such as garlic fried chicken, green curry and the like, but there's also a good seafood selection,…

  • Bella Pizza

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    This popular family-run spot to the south of town between the beach and the highway has been pleasing patrons for decades. While pizza is their speciality…

  • Kasama’s Pizza

    Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf

    A friendly spot and one of the longest-running restaurants in Ban Krut, Kasama's has substantial sandwiches, all-day breakfasts, pizzas and real chocolate…

  • Municipal Market 1

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    From 4am to 9am Th Maitri Ngam, in front of the city's main fresh market, is filled with vendors selling take-away breakfast food like fried chicken and…