White Sand Beach – Koh Chang Restaurants

White Sand Beach restaurants cook up everything from classic Thai food at great prices to western choices including Italian (Ciao, Papa il Baffo, Bella Vita), Turkish (Alaturka) and even an Indian diner (Taste of India).

The area specialises in evening beach BBQs, with many resorts laying out tables and chairs on the sand where you can dine by the ocean – Koh Chang Lagoon, Sangtawan, Beach Tango and Sun and Soul, are popular choices.

Up on the street, Kapow and Kin Dee (both new in 2024) sit about half way along – well prepared, well spiced Thai staples. There’s also a nightly street market near to Kacha Resort, which pulls in the crowds for its tasty local snacks and at the southern end, you’ll find a few cheap diners near the Suvarnabhumi Burapa Bus office.

For Sunday roasts, steaks and English breakfasts look no further than the sports pub, The White Elephant or for western bistro style food combined with the Thai classics, 15 Palms is in a perfect spot down on the beach. Near to that, Buffalo Bill’s reopened too in 2024, steaks, burgers and much more and the retail outlet Wine Fans, far southern end, now offers a bistro menu with its wine choices, which are imported from 10 countries.

Finally, for coffees and teas served all ways, try Marin opposite Mac Resort or the 2nd branch across the front of Banpu and Tastory near Kacha, Sahngad (and its views) or indeed the cafes at the resorts, KC and Mac – they also have bakery items such as croissants, cakes, a range of sandwiches/paninis and one dish meals.

Recommended: Sun and Soul, Lagoon, Kapow, Alaturka (Turkish), 15 Palms (Western), Ciao (Italian), Marin, Tastory ,

Klong Prao Beach

Klong Prao is home to some excellent Koh Chang restaurants, with the area around the central temple area its main focus.

Starting our round-up there, you can get top notch Thai at Kati Culinary, Issan at Bam, bakery at Crust, Italian at Toscana or Babylon, Greek at El Greco, Korean BBQ at Kohchang 7 and vegetarian at Naga. You could also nip down to Be Cozy within Blue Lagoon – Thai food mainly in a lovely setting over the canal.

For seafood, head over to the northern bank of the canal at Iyara and Phu Talay or roadside at the Thai’s favourites, Jae Eew Seafood and Jae Mam. And while you’re nearby, why not try the eastern Thai specialities at Zhong Zi Pad Pad (by the open market area) or at Baan Ta Klua (in-house at Aana Resort).

Yoy can eat more street style at the food court stalls by the turning to Santhiya Tree –  the excellent Muslim one by the bridge has some amazing curries, spicy as they come. Or back at the temple area, look out out for the multitude of dishes in the trays at Raan Gaeng Som – two choices over rice at 50bt.

If you want a special treat, the luxury resort, Dewa has a lovely terrace by the beach and coming soon, we expect Dinso Resort (the rebuilt Emerald Cove, opening late 24) to have some tasty and interesting in-house options.

In that same area on the sand, in-house at Lin’s followed by Mandalay, Pilot and Family are the long running beach restaurants – everything from seafood to Thai, western, cocktails and an all round laid back atmosphere. Vanilla Sky, down the lane at the northern end shortly before Zhong Zhi Pad Pad – is the chic beach choice there.

For a decent coffee, Marin has yet another outlet near the temple, with Moccaccino (currently closed) next door to El Greco and an Amazon branch at PTT, the petrol station.

Recommended: Kati Culinary, Jae Eew Seafood, Iyara, Phu Talay, Zhong Zi Zi Pad Pad, Baan Ta Klua, El Greco, Toscana, Family, Mandalay, Vanilla Sky

Bang Bao

Bang Bao is principally know for its large seafood restaurants on the pier – Ruan Thai and Chow Lay – where the full menu of fish, shellfish, prawns and squid are cooked in a myriad of mouth-watering Thai styles. Nongyim Seafood gives you a much smaller and home style alternative, whilst further down Jorpordee Cafe – it has rooms too – combines seafood with western style dishes in its lovely terrace setting over the sea.

Beyond the seafood and also on the pier, there’s also a few cheap and cheerful Thai diners squeezed in amongst the souvenir shops. Other small spots, nothing fancy but doing the trick, are found on the lane from the main road to the pier and up by the bridge near the school.

Cliff Cottage, bistro style on the northern side of the bay and Rasta View, Thai and western, on the southern side, give you two more choices, both with lovely locations.

For a decent coffee, head back to the pier to Delight, a long standing cafe and bakery, which also offers food on its tiny terrace at the back or Lazy Hours, a new addition in 2023, another stylish spot. Viewtalay Cafe, located at the point where the pier opens out to the sea, has boat watching as an added extra.

Recommended: Chow Lay, Nongyim Seafood, Delight, Lazy Hour, Cliff Cottage

Lonely Beach

Eating out in the backpacker and party area of Lonely Beach has improved considerably in 2024 , with a good choice of restaurants and in-house resort diners offering everything from seafood to fusion, bistro style, cheap Thai and western breakfasts.

In the so called LB Complex, which sits between the beach proper and the village, Por Par, Coco and Titanic (literally a boat) serve up a mix of seafood and classic Thai on the ocean front. Down on the beach itself, it’s hard to beat the excellent hang-out spot, Nature – Thai, western, drinks, people watching. 

Moving into the village by the bridge, Dang Seafood, which finally reopened post pandemic in 2024 and Oneka have always been reliable choices for straightforward Thai food done well. Streetside too as you continue on, Lek’s Kitchen and Bamboo opposite give you some cheaper alternatives .

Oasis up the hill on Soi 3, Lonely Beach Pool Resort and Knife and Fork at Magic Garden (both at the southern end) are all deservedly popular in-house resort diners. 

And opposite Magic Garden,  Easy Life, a new addition this year, has quickly established itself for its excellent bistro style cookking – home baked breads, breakfasts, sandwiches, baguettes and an evening menu of classic western dishes.  Meanwhile, for something a bit different, seek out the fusion menu at the boutique resort, Nest Sense.

By the sea, Roxy Bar at Warapura is the area’s most stylish spot – coffee and drinks (and food), very chilled, great. And finally, you’ll have no trouble getting breakfast at any time of day in Lonely Beach, with Cafe Del Sunshine down Soi 1, our favourite.

Recommended: Roxy Bar at Warapura, Easy Life, Cafe Del Sunshine, Nature Beach, Por Par, Coco, Dang Seafood

Bang Bao Beach

Hat Sai Noi, the smaller beach just after Bang Bao is great for its beach cafes. You can lose an afternoon at  Ido Ido or try the hip cafe at Indie Beach – coffee, smoothies, Thai or western choices.

Move on to Bang Bao Beach itself and it’s home to a string of restaurants, both on the beach and along the paths at the back. Menus are very similar at each, all standard fare but The Beach offers a more fusion style.   

In the evenings, the seafood BBQs appear along the front, with Klong Kloi Cottage the best of the bunch.

For a change, you could also splash out a little and dine at one of the plusher resorts like Chivapuri or Chaipura’s lovely wooden restaurant over the creek.

Recommended: Klong Kloi Kitchen, Chivapuri Resort, Ido Ido

Chai Chet

At the northern end opposite the bars, you’ll find a few cheap diners used by the locals (Gloy) as well as a 299bt “cook at your table” Korean BBQ.

In the same area, U Turn is as popular as ever, pulling in the crowds with its seafood, western and handful of Khmer choices.

In the middle section, a selection of cheap diners (Siam Kitchen et al) sit on the bend before you reach Neighbour Koh Chang, the renovated VJ Plaza. This hosts a night market in high season as well as an expanding selection of restaurants including Amigos (Tex-Mex) and Bella Ciao Pizza and Steaks.

The southern end of Chai Chet has a great road-side seafood restaurant at Signature (the rebranded Nong Bua) or the three major resorts on the sand all offer a nightly BBQ, with Flora i Talay’s the pick of the bunch. 

Finally,  one of the best Italian restaurants on the island, Marco sits opposite Flora, offering pasta, pizza in a friendly small taverna style.

Recommended: Marco, Signature, U Turn, Gloy

Klong Son

The first area down the coast after the ferries, Klong Son, has plenty of cheap Thai restaurants by the road – noodles, curry over rice, that sort of thing – as well as a small market with street stalls.

In the Blue Haven Bay private villa development, the bistros The Beach Club and Shambala, both down by the sea, one in the main section, one in the marina section, have a few more western alternatives than elsewhere in Klong Son. You can also use the swimming pools if eating there.

On the road to the waterfall, you’ll find a hidden Thai gem, at Blue Blues Cafe – curries made from fresh pastes, delicately spiced salads, coconut juice, wine and cold beers. Near the temple, Feel @ Chill  makes its own pizzas.

Finally, there are a couple of coffee shops at the northern end – Amazon at the back of the PTT gas station is always busy.

Recommended: Blue Blues Cafe, Beach Club

Pearl Beach

Although Pearl Beach will not set the culinary pulse racing too much, it is now home to handful of interesting choices.

Both Le Jao Jom (actually in the area between White Sand Beach and here) and Tastory (down by the sea in the camping grounds) follow the new Thai fashion of ultra stylish coffee shop/bistro food – grab those IG shots now.  The long running, Saffron on the Sea, meanwhile, offers up a varied menu of excellent Thai and western at its terrace on the water.

Everflow, literally by the car wash on one of the side streets, is a tiny vegetarian and vegan cafe well worth a stop – part of its charm is that it’s a one person operation so things take time.

You can also eat cheaply and well at the food court of Thai diners opposite Big C, where simple dishes like noodles or chicken over rice are all available.

Of course Big C or Tesco just down the road both carry a good selection of fresh produce and have in-house bakeries as well as a range of daily pre-cooked items such as chicken, pork, fish and prawns – for those, it’s best to get there early as  they sell out fast in high season.

Recommended: Saffron on the Sea, Everflow, Tastory, Le Jao Jom

Bailan Beach

Up in Bailan, you’ll find a decent enough choice of local cheap Thai restaurants along the main street – Thum and Di’s, Pah Jae, Tamarin, J & K and Nanny in particular.

What you don’t expect to stumble on is a full blown Korean restaurant but head down to the bungalows at Kohchang 7  (Korean owned) and they offer a wide reaching menu of all the signature classics – recommended.

On the sand at the southern end, the Italian owned cafe, Lisca Beach (open in high season only), knocks out homemade pizzas, pasta and the occasional paella – a great spot to while away the hours by the sea.

Within the resorts, Cocoon, streetside at the nothern end, offers a French bistro style menu, pool table and pétanque too.

Recommended: Lisca Beach, Tamarin, Kohchang 7, Cocoon