Koh Mak restaurants now offer everything from seafood to pizzas, bistros to beach diners, coffee shops to vegan cafes and of course, cheap no frills Thai eateries.
You’ll find the majority of choices concentrated in the strip (Walking Street) behind Ao Kao Beach where you can stroll about and see what takes your fancy, but you’ll also find more options along the road to Ao Nid Pier, over on Ao Suan Yai Beach and at more remote spots scattered around the island.
You can jump straight to each category:-
Thai – Koh Mak Restaurants
Ao Kao Central Road Area
On the road running parallel with Ao Kao Beach and diagonally opposite from Cha Cha Beach Club and Monkey Island, Kon Gin Sen is one of Koh Mak’s longest established diners and one of its best. They serve an extensive menu of all the usual favourites but specialise in Issan food – look out for spicy somtam, grilled chicken, catfish laab (minced salad with mint) and of course, sticky rice.
Next door, another long-standing island favourite, Food Garden, covers all the BBQ options (including Kra Ta) in its own pretty outdoor setting and just along from there, Mong Kitchen has quickly becomes a very popular spot, cooking up a wide range of Thai classics (plenty of Tofu variations too).
On the other side of Kon Gin Sen, Table Tales, run by the Koh Mak Ferry owners, offers both a full Thai menu and standard western dishes (pasta, burgers) in its own open air setting. Try their home made ice cream and cafe (coffee, bakery) next door too.
Down by the sea, Little Bear Bar and Chicken Food combines live music with a wide range of Thai dishes, all served up at their tables and chairs on the sand.
Back at the Baan Koh Mak and Makathanee Resort end of this same Ao Kao road, Clay Pot offers both their house speciality of marinated duck, chicken or pork cooked in the clay pot alongside Issan and other classic Thai dishes plus a few western options too. Aimmy, its emphasis on seafood and skewers on the BBQ and the long established Rabbit give you another couple of similar options.
Ao Kao Far End and Over to Ao Suan Yai
Nuchzabmaks, just after the turning towards Ao Suan Yai, concentrates on Issan food but it has also a wide selection of alternatives off the menu. A few doors down, the long established Chillout has a loyal following for its Thai staples – noodles, Pad Thai and all the curries. Green House Kitchen, further along again, gives you another decent option at this end of the beach.
Along that connecting road immediately behind Makathanee, C’est Bien and Krun Khun Mam Seafood, are local diners, well priced and reliable – quick and easy one choice over rice dishes, staples or head to the latter for an excellent full seafood menu. Mono’s Terrace has plenty of Thai choices but also western dishes – more akin to the catch-all restaurants on the strip.
Southern End of Ao Kao, Ao Nid
Still on the Ao Kao road but heading the other way towards Ao Nid, KohMak Party Seafood sits roadside shortly before the turning down to Island Huts. Alongside the seafood, it serves up Kra Ta (BBQ at your table).
Nearby, the friendly Q Bar (opposite Koh Mak Garden View) has been around a good few years, a useful option for those staying at this end – Thai curries with roti is the house speciality and also a cheeky sideline in cocktails.
Down by the sea here between White Sand Beach Resort and Baan Ao Kao, Homehug is a handy little beach diner – good for hanging out, local feel, good enough food.
Around the crossroads and then the road down to Ao Nid, you’ll find a handful of no-frills, proper local spots; Dum Noodles (once up near the pier) cooks up an deep flavoured broth as well as one dish style food; Peaw is an island institution – a scrappy little place, run by the wonderfully dogged and friendly Auntie (and her husband), tasty and cheap as it comes; Om is an excellent all rounder (noodles, som tam and cook to order); Mae Ja near the temple, specialises in Issan, khao kha muu (braised pork leg) and chicken over rice.
To the North and North East Coasts
A few other very decent, local style Thai restaurants – Maruey, Purple House, Baan Ingkao (our favourite) and Pimjai (its new home after a few years on the Ao Kao strip) – have sprung up along the main road just after the turning to The Mak and Little Moon Villa. Great for a stop when out and about exploring in the day, but also perfect for guests in those resorts (and indeed over at Bamboo Hideaway etc).
Meanwhile, continuing all the way to the north east tip of Koh Mak, there’s a terrific somtam shack at Laem Son. It has just a couple of shaded wooden tables but the food and Koh Kradat views are both excellent.
Western and Other Cuisines – Koh Mak Restaurants
The tiny M.A. Bistro over at the back of Makathanee Resort serves a fusion menu including fish carpaccio, arancini kimchi, homemade shrimp and crab ravioli (390bt) and rotolo. You can get breakfasts too and then there are the core pasta dishes, fillet steak (fish or beef), steak sandwiches,and banh mi.
Across the road, their offshoot, Pivo and Grill specialises in smash burgers (290bt with fries), tacos (fish, black bean, pork) and draught beers (IPA) – you can order from M.A’s menu too.
For Italian cuisine, at the top of the access road to Ao Kao Resort, you can pick your toppings and design your own pizzas at Little Red Oven (the Thailand chain which originated here) or head over to The Coral Club on the south coast – a popular spot best known for its sunset bar.
Roadside on the hill above Seavana, 12 Bars gives Koh Mak a Japanese twist with sushi, sashimi, gyoza and cocktails. It opens late afternoon.
At the stylish vegan restaurant, Pak Pak, you’ll find dishes like falafal hummus, yellow pumpkin curry, Massaman jackfruit curry and more besides. It’s from the By The Sea crew, about 100 metres further down the street, same side.
Cha Cha Beach Club down by the sea is one of the island’s hippest venues – bistro style menu of breakfasts till 14.00 (smoothie bowls, eggs, sourdough and more), lunch/dinner till 20.30 comprising snacks, salads, salad bowls, Thai influenced fusion western dishes including salmon laab, pad krapow Philly Cheese steak sandwich), lots of cocktails – all served in hammocks, deckchairs, covered areas, pool table too.
Almost opposite Pak Pak, Blue House offers something a little different in its garden with outdoor seating – pop-up style, they run different themes each evening including a taco night, pasta night and burger night, 18.00 to 21.00.
Seafood – Koh Mak Restaurants
For seafood, look no further than the aptly named Koh Mak Seafood built out over the water down near the pier in Ao Nid. They offer a full reasonably priced menu of all the usual standards – steamed whole fish, a delicious house special jungle curry (with or without coconut milk), squid, prawns, oysters and much more besides. When you’re sated, you can brush up on your island history at the Koh Mak Museum next door.
Kon Gin Sen and Mam Seafood, as mentioned above, give you two more options.
Coffee Shops – Koh Mak Restaurants
Next door to Little Red Oven at the southern end of Ao Kao, the long running Food Art Hut is a very reliable cafe come diner much loved by the western Koh Mak locals. It offers everything from coffee to smoothies, sandwiches, wide range of breakfasts and Thai food.
Between there and the main Ao Kao drag, Mr Non is a tiny unassuming spot but deservedly has a great reputation for its slow bar style coffees, with a small selection of teas as an alternative.
On the main Ao Kao drag, Vela Cafe covers a few bases – coffee shop during the day, wines, cocktails and a full selection of Thai curries and soups (Tom Kha, Tom Jeut), some snacky items in the evening As mentioned above, Table Tales also as a sweet covered cafe area – ice cream, bakery and coffee.
Ball Cafe opposite Baan Koh Mak about 1/2 way along the strip in Ao Kao Beach, has been a fixture on Koh Mak for many years – carrot cake, mango cheese cake, cheese tart with passion fruit, breakfasts and sandwiches. Across from them, By The Sea’s cafe is open from 08.30 to 15.30, with its impressive list of breakfast choices, moving onto paninis, baguettes and salads for lunch.
Coble opened in early 2026 bringing a Bangkok feel to the island – breakfasts (smoothie bowls, eggs, avocado), range of focaccia, open face sourdough with toppings and an all encompassing selection of drinks from coffees, matchas, uji, yame to cold pressed, smoothies, juices and more.
Next door to Coble, Island Gelato gives you an amazing range of flavours – salted caramel, roasted banana just two of the offers, sorbets as well. And outside Baan Talay Hostel, you can get mango and sticky rice and coconut pancakes – eat in at the little tables or take home.
Take the road behind Coble to the end and Terraria sits just before the crossroads. Seating either on the terrace or inside, it offers breakfast (crepes, eggs w.avocado, sets (220bt), bakery items, a few wraps for lunch too.
Meanwhile, looking out over Ao Nid Pier, Sweetcake By Moo serves breakfasts, lunch (Thai and western – burgers, sandwiches), cakes and the full range of coffees on its little terrace. Shortly before, Mak Phrao is a popular drinks spot only – coffee, lots of teas, soda.
Pineapple Dessert Cafe, just back from the sand by the Koh Mak Resort pier is the choice on that coast – good coffee, sandwiches and delicious desserts. It’s also home to Panan speedboats check-in.
Resort Dining – Koh Mak Restaurants
Over on Ao Suan Yai, the ultra stylish Day Beds at Seavana is one of the island’s best resort restaurants – long menu with some interesting twists, western choices too and a perfect spot on the sand.
On Ao Kao Beach, White Sand Beach Resort’s roof top diner (and bar) by the sea serves standard Thai stir fries, curries and a few western dishes – great for sunsets. And talking of beach restaurants, By The Sea’s chic bistro on the sand is well worth a visit as is I Talay at Baan Koh Mak – Thai, western and bar.
Further down still on Ao Kao, for an interesting combo, head to the long established Krua Tonhom, where their extensive Thai menu (with seafood the speciality) is augmented by a short selection of German dishes, seating on the sand.
If out and about, you could stop in for lunch at Villa Allure in Ao Daeng, where they offer well presented food (and good coffee) in a stylish brushed concrete restaurant by their red sand beach.
The restaurant at the bungalow resort,Talay Time in the south east corner of Koh Mak has one of the best locations on the island. From its hillside perch, it gives you an amazing panorama of Koh Kood, Koh Rang and back down the Koh Mak coast. They serve all the Thai staples as well as few western choices, breakfasts and drinks.
Finally, the in-house restaurant at The Mak over on the north coast is open to outsiders. With its sea views, infinity pool and ultra stylish villas, it’s the Instagram place on the island so definitely good for a nose about – food’s very acceptable too. Next door and down on the beach, Little Moon Villa is much more subdued but it also makes a great spot for lunch.
Our Recommendations – Koh Mak Restaurants
Pricing Code/Per person in Baht (B) excluding drinks:B= under 100; BB= under 500; BBB= over 500;
They are not in a ratings order!
