East coast restaurants on Koh Chang are found in all the local areas of Dan Khao, Dan Mai, Than Mayom and Salak Khok as well as around the bay at Salak Phet, Chek Bae and Long Beach.
Whilst not offering Italian diners and Mediterranean bistros as on the west coast, you’ll still be spoilt for choice – everything from classic seafood diners to local curry and rice shops, noodle stalls and somtam shacks, with a few coffee shops thrown in too, for good measure.
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Seafood – East Coast Restaurants
In their terrific Koh Chang locations on the mangrove bay on the far east coast and around the bay in the south east, you can find some of the best seafood restaurants on the island.
Salak Khok is now home to three diners. First up, the long running Salak Khok Seafood sits down a small soi on the right in the heart of the village, deep among the mangroves. Carry on past its turning to the very end of the narrow lane and you’ll find two other very local seafood diners – Titlom and Krua Pa Jaew. Their tiny stilted terraces give you fabulous views out over the bay to the mangrove forests opposite, green hills looming behind. Incidentally, you can even take a gondola tour of the bay – ask at the building opposite Salak Khok Seafood.
The Thai homestay resort of Rommai Chailay in Chek Bae plays host to another charming sleeper of a restaurant, with its own fabulous views, this time out over to the islands in the middle of the bay.
Finally, back around the Salak Phet side of the same bay at the far far end in Baan Rong Than, Salak Phet Seafood is generally packed, a legend in its own lunchtime. With fish as fresh as it comes from nets fixed to the restaurant, the menu features Trat province specialities such as Coral Grouper Fish (pla yum sawat), sun dried and deep fried squid (plamuk dhet dhiaw) and greens with salted fish (khana pla kem). Sangarun next door is a cheaper alternative.
Thai and Western, Coffee Shops – East Coast Restaurants
Outside of the seafood options, there’s plenty more to choose from as you head down the east coast or travel either side of Salak Phet bay.
Dan Khao
With an extensive menu of both Thai (Issan especially) and selected western dishes, the boutique resort Amber Sands in Dan Khao happily accepts outside guests for lunch and dinner at its very well reviewed restaurant by the sea.
Further along the main road, the small Suan Wirote just before Baan Talay Thai cooks simple one dish over rice dishes and noodles – cheap and tasty.
Dan Mai
Moving down the coast, just before Dan Mai, you’ll find an excellent somtam restaurant next door to Fuengfah Hotel, which also has its own extensive menu – both are popular lunch stops for those out and about exploring. In Dan Mai itself, hidden away behind its hanging baskets, the simple Issan diner by the turning to Klong Nonsi waterfall has also been a well liked fixture for many years.
Roadside throughout this area, catering to the local government workers and hospital staff, there’s a whole host of very acceptable noodle soup stalls or one dish over rice cooked to order diners.
Just after the hospital, try the one before the bridge on the hand side – recommended for both the noodle soup and its one dish over rice fare. The local police use the 4 tabled one on the right hand side about 50 metres before their station. Opposite the sports field and town hall, that diner cooks to order and in the same stretch, set back in the house on the left, the Ayutthaya Boat Noodle spot is often packed.
Finally, on the left hand side as you leave town (before the huge villas), the cute white diner, Ban Chor Chamuang specialises in local Trat dishes such as pork stewed with Chamuang leaves.
Than Mayom and Salak Khok
A couple of kilometres before the waterfall, the tiny Khaw Rim Le @ Than Mayom has a great new location by the sea – it’s dishes cooked to order.
Next up, after the row of little blue benches, the boutique resort Na Tara has become another popular haunt, with its cafe overlooking the water – food and coffee.
New in 2023, Hill Cafe opened opposite Koh Chang Shooting – hip and modern keeping with the whole Thai coffee shop fashion which has exploded in the last few years.
And talking of coffee shops, a few kilometres further on, the hamlet of Baan Klong Ta Khian is home to a couple more cafes. Brewing coffee from beans grown here on Koh Chang, Ban Kafae also provides simple Thai dishes and snacks. Across the road, Ronnie’s Coconut Organic Garden, dabbles in a bit of everything from Thai food to burgers, coffee and shakes.
Finally, you reach Spa Koh Chang in Salak Khok, where non-guests are welcome for food and indeed massage. One of the best east coast restaurants, it specialises in vegetarian food, with a long menu of interesting takes on traditional Thai dishes.
On the corner of the garage opposite, the little thatched roof noodle soup shop is also worth a look, with the fish choice excellent.
Salak Phet
In the Village
As you approach Salak Phet, Chang Noi Kitchen on the left hand side offers noodle soup, whilst opposite, the ba mee (wheat) noodles cart has 2 or 3 tables, always busy at lunchtimes if open. It also does one dish over rice to order.
Continue on down the road past the 7-11 and after passing another good somtam choice on the right (the usual chickens on the spit out front), the local diner by the health clinic is a popular stop. It principally offers noodle soup or one dish over rice dishes but if it’s in the cabinet, she also makes a great plate of crispy pork and Chinese broccoli. Note, they do offer a long menu but it’s mostly not available, so you just go with what they have on the day.
Tip: When ordering in restaurants where only one person is doing the cooking, avoid each person in the group ordering a different dish. Try and have the same dish or sets of the same dish so the cook can make a few at the same time – that way you save on long waits.
Eddy, the chef/owner of the popular The Souk (Dan Khao Beach) which closed down in the pandemic, has now popped back up at Nanai Resort in Salak Phet – take the left opposite the temple across the small bridge and follow the signs. This is also the route to the mangrove walkway or Red Bridge as it is know.
If you continue on past the temple, follow the bend head all the way into Salak Phet fishing village. At the far end, Fishermen’s Hut Restaurant, Swedish and Thai food, has a terrific location out over the water.
Beyond that and over the gleaming newish bridge, View Point Restaurant, almost the very last house, looks up the bay towards the pier, with some decent Thai food to boot.
Heading Around the Bay
Retracing our steps and turning right instead at Chang Noi Kitchen, you start out along the road to Salak Phet Seafood.
If you turn immediately right by the ramshackle food court and follow this to the very end and then keep going straight on, you’ll spot the signs to Altitude 79. Built on the hillside, this wooden coffee shop with connecting raised seating terraces gives you wonderful views over Salak Phet Bay.
Ignoring that detour, there’s not much else on the main road until you reach the area signed Klong Thum. Here, by the bridge on the left, the popular multi-tasking restaurant offers everything from pork and chicken on the oil drum bbq to noodle soup, som tam and Pad Thai from the open kitchen behind. 100 metres further on, the friendly Diamond Hill (if open) give you another option.
Continue on to the very end and you reach Salak Phet Seafood. If you park here and continue on foot along the narrow path which hugs the shoreline, you will eventually come to Aoy’s Little Farm and Bakery – coffees, cakes, fresh bread, sandwiches and more – a lovely spot.
Chek Bae (Jek Bae)
In Chek Bae, the village which runs along the coast on the opposite side of the bay to Salak Phet, the a/c 62 Cafe and Restaurant rarely opens, but past it, Kokomo is a sweet little thatched cafe up on the raised land above the road – nothing fancy, Thai and western, friendly Swedish host. It’s diagonally opposite Rommai Talay.
Beyond them both, Journey’s End, run by an equally friendly and chatty English lady, has a bar/restaurant by the sea, its homestay style bungalows in the garden behind.
Incidentally, don’t forget the the in-house restaurant at Parama – well presented food in a wonderful location by the water though of course prices are considerably steeper than elsewhere.
Long Beach
Over in Long Beach, Treehouse Bungalows is your spot for a simple feed after the long drive to get there and as an alternative, check out Tantawan Resort, at the very end, where if they are open, it’s another beautiful setting to enjoy lunch. Incidentally, you can also rent a kayak (200bt) or take a boat (100bt per person) across to Koh Ngam here.
Recommended – East Coast Restaurants
Ban Chor Chamuang
Per Person: B – BBB
Newly opened in 2023 towards the end of Dan Mai, family run restaurant with a wide menu including some Trat province specialities such as pork stewed in chamuang leaves (Moo Bai Chamuang) and sweet jellyfish with dipping sauce. Other Thai classics, Tom Yam Gung, Pad Thai, vegan dishes possible too. Fresh fruit in season from the garden.
Ban Kafae
Per Person: B – BB
A couple of kilometres further on from Than Mayom waterfall, well-liked coffee shop which grows all its own beans locally on the island. Simple thai food and snacks menu alongside all the usual coffee choices, other drinks also available. Homestay at the rear.
Coconut Organic Garden
Per Person: B – BB
Across the road from Ban Kafae, hotch potch collection of reclaimed wood, old glass and anything else to hand make up this restaurant, which serves everything from burgers to Thai food, shakes, coffee and fruits. Affable host. Local produce, nice cakes too from time to time.
The Spa Koh Chang
Per Person: BB – BBB
At the Radiance in-house restaurant of the detox centre by the mangroves near Salak Khok, vegetarian and vegan menu (Western and Thai) – soups, salads, burgers, raw, curries, noodles – with some chicken and fresh local seafood options too. Produce from the Royal project, unpolished rices, wholewheat breads, no msg and sugar free juices.
Salak Khok Seafood
Per Person: BB – BBB
Amongst the mangroves in Salak Khok village, wooden floored seafood restaurant with a nice local feel. Fresh well cooked dishes, well spiced dips, friendly owners, can get the odd tour party, but normally never too crowded. Gondolas and kayaks available to explore the bay.
Rommai Chailay Seafood
Per Person: BB
Towards the end of Chek Bae, one of the large Thai style east coast restaurants with tables on the terrace or in the shade. Seafood and other, spicy salads, fresh baby squid with garlic and pepper (tawt kratiam prik thai) or seafood mix fried with krachai, a variety of ginger, (pad cha). Fabulous views of Salak Phet bay.
Fishermen’s Hut
Per Person: BB – BBB
In Salak Phet fishing village after Mangrove Hideaway, shaded terrace at the end of the mini-pier looking directly up the whole bay. Thai and Swedish cuisine, with Falukorv sausages and other Scandinavian dishes house specialities. Private trawling fishing trips. May be closed in rainy season.
Salak Phet Seafood
Per Person: BB
Long established and busy seafood restaurant in prime location at the end of the bay at Salak Phet with the fish kept in netted areas off wooden jetties. Long menu with all the usual choices, well spiced, cooked and presented. Known throughout Trat Province so popular with Thai visitors and packages.
UPDATED June 24
Return to Koh Chang Restaurants
