White Sand Beach restaurants offer up a wide range of choices, covering everything from classic Thai food to western steak houses, Italian bistros, Indian diners and cafes.
From place to place, prices are broadly in line with one another, whilst the style of cooking and presentation also has a certain similarity in its approach. It’s safe dining with no surprises, perfectly acceptable rather than spectacular and so compliments the area rather nicely.
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On the Beach – White Sand Beach Restaurants
Of all the areas on Koh Chang, White Sand Beach has mastered that experience of eating on the beach under the stars.
Each evening throughout the season, the ocean-side restaurants and resorts put out tables and chairs, with accompanying candles and low lighting, to create that unique holiday atmosphere. With the seafood boat BBQ alongside a full menu of curries, noodles and western choices like pasta and pizza, it’s not cooking to over-excite but it works and given the full tables, the locals are not going to change it anytime soon.
Turn in at either of the two public walkways, one at the northern end by the 7-11 next to KC Grande, the other by Du Talay Hotel in the middle of town and you are spoilt for choice. As to which are the best, it’s very subjective but Sun and Soul has built a loyal following over the last few years and Koh Chang Grand Lagoon remains a trusted and popular choice.
Sangtawan, near the first walkway and Sea Bar, its entrance down to the beach just after the night market area, are also worth an honourable mention for not tempering its dishes too much to western palates.
Beach Tango, with its more esoteric menu, has both a restaurant on the sand and a second outlet at Du Talay.
Thai Food – White Sand Beach Restaurants
Along the main street at the northern end, Thai restaurants are actually few and far between. The hotels have the prime location on the beach so they dominate the market and for small cheaper operations, the rents mean it’s hard to make a business work.
Northern End
Jinda Kitchen opposite the northern 7/11 has a loyal following. It specialises in seafood but also serves a full menu, well worth a look if you fancy a break from the sand.
About half way down opposite Banpu, Kapow has taken over the old Tamnak Chang spot, offering all the usual options alongside some western dishes and even cocktails. A hundred metres further on, Kin Dee has also started up in the old Khao Mun (Boogie Chicken) premises, giving you another choice for Thai staples choice in this central section.
The cute little seafood restaurant, Fresh Catch, sits at the front of Seabar’s entrance, just next door to Kacha – both classic Thai and western style (with chips/potatoes).
Southern End
Head to the southern end and things look up for cheaper choices. Next door to The White Elephant pub, Laab Pet Udon has Issan food and dishes cooked to order. Across the street, another small diner offers similar fare.
Just a little further up, you can get a great bowl of noodles at the stand just to the right of Island Net and then, as you continue up the hill, there are a number of other cheap diners on either side. Chang Cliff Resort has its own roadside restaurant – the smart one with a tiled floor – though it seems to change hands (they rent it out) frequently. Perched on high opposite, Som Tam Sap Sap, gives you another decent Issan choice.
Another one to look out for is Hua Mae Ratee, tucked away down the little turning to Giant Bungalows. It too goes for Issan specialities as well as the normal one dish over rice fare.
Street Food
A nightly food market runs on the main road from the back of Seabar to the Findig store and if the crowds return, extends right along the back of Apple Beachfront Resort and Bamboo Resort too. Very much aimed at tourists, it’s not especially adventurous or indeed true street-style, but it still draws in the crowds and is fun to wander along to see what’s on offer.
Around the World
The relaxed 15 Palms on the beach near to KC Grande serves good Thai and western food (steaks a speciality) as well as being an ideal spot to just hang out and watch the world go by. Look out too for the excellent full English breakfasts and weekend roasts.
White Elephant, the sports pub on the hill at the southern end, offers an extensive pub style menu – pies, roasts, burgers, Thai dishes and breakfasts.
Sun and Soul as recommended above in the Thai section, interestingly also has a popular sideline in Mexican food.
Ciao Italian has been a fixture for many years at the far southern end and continues to garner very positive reviews, whilst Bella Vita in Grand View Plaza is noted for its homemade pasta and bread. Next door to Alina Hotel, Papa il Baffo (once of Klong Son) has the usual range of pastas and pizzas alongside salads, other mains and paninis. You can also order takeaway from any of these.
Back at the northern end, Piatto Ricco, in the nightly street market area, gives you one more choice – well establised and reliable.
For Indian food, Taste of India, at the northern end opposite Sabay Bar serves a variety of curries and dahls. Good value, authentical and tasty, it makes for a nice change though neither is ever too busy.
For Turkish and Mediterranean, Alaturka once again in Grand View Plaza gets excellent reviews serving all the classics from Baba Ganoush to balloon bread and kebabs.
Oodies, the live music venue for the older crowd, has a good reputation for its steaks. And talking of steaks, that’s just one of the options alongside other bistro style food at Wine Fans, the retail outlet with in-house restaurant – southern end as you head out of town.
Coffee Shops
Just after Kacha Resort as you head north, Tastory has built up a good following since it flung open its doors in 2023. They are obviously doing something right as they have expanded too in 2024 with a 2nd outlet over in Pearl Beach, down by the sea next door to Lotus’s.
Marin, the Koh Chang coffee shop chain, now runs just the one branch in White Sand Beach at the front of Banpu Resort. Offering both bakery style food and the usual wide range of drinks, it’s usually busy.
KC Grande and Mac Resort have their own bustling coffee outlets outside their resorts.
Recommended – White Sand Beach Restaurants
North to South
15 Palms
Per Person: B – BBB
Long established, popular restaurant and bar on the beach. Bean bags and deckchairs, Thai and western food, cocktails, smoothies, nightly buffet. Live sports a big draw. Great to hang out for a couple of hours. New home to Paddy’s Palms Irish Pub.
Sun and Soul
Per Person: BB – BBB
Located above the beach in Cookies Hotel, plenty of seafood choices alongside a regular Thai menu. Western dishes also, specialising in Mexican. Full bar. Get the tables at the front for people watching. Recomended.
Koh Chang Lagoon Resort
Per Person: BB – BBB
Perhaps the busiest of the resort restaurants on the beach, tables laid out at night, seafood bbq, lots of salads and mildly spiced Thai dishes. Nice spot for lunch too.
Beach Tango
Per Person: BB – BBB
On the beach under the tree, an interesting selection of western dishes such as lamb burgers and falafels as well as evenly spiced Thai food. Coffee and cocktails. A laid back atmosphere.
Alaturka
Per Person: BB – BBB
Well reviewed Turkish restaurant serving the classics from Baba Ganoush to lamb, chicken and vegetable kebabs, Moussaka and salads. Hot balloon bread a speciality. Now with a Doner Kebab station also.
Ciao Italian
Per Person: BB – BBB
At the far southern end of White Sands Beach, another long established restaurant, Italian menu with pasta and pizza prepared in an open kitchen, cafe and patisserie. Good service, friendly staff, well worth making the effort to get here.
UPDATED June 24
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