Where to eat

Cha-Am is not a large city and the restaurants are mostly concentrated on the beachfront, on the main road leading to the beach, and on the so-called "hospital road". Here is a brief presentation of what you can find.

Types of restaurants

Thai food

Thai restaurants are of course all over the place, especially on the beachfront and Narathip road, where the speciality seems to be roasted chicken and pork.

Food stalls can also be found everywhere. The food is usually very good (the more people sitting around, the more you can be sure!) and it's great if you are on a budget.

If you want to taste Thai food without moving from your beach chair, usually all you have to do is ask the people who rent the beach chairs for some drinks or food. You can also buy food from vendors who walk along the beach.

For more information, see our page about Thai food and Thai restaurants

One of many restaurants on Narathip road: same same but different!

A Thai restaurant on the beachfront.

Seafood

Almost all restaurants have seafood in their menus, but the real seafood restaurants are in North Cha-Am, near the fishing pier. You can order from the menu or choose living fish and seafood directly from the basins outside.

Make your choice!

A seafood restaurant on the beach, close to the pier.

International food

In Cha-Am there is no fast food like Burger King, and no restaurant like Pizza Hut, Starbucks or Sizzler. You can find an "S&P" on the south side of the beach.

As there are many tourists from Norway and Sweden, there are quite logically some Scandinavian restaurants. You can find them on the northern part of the beach and in "soi Long Beach".

Italian food can be found in many places, but if you want the real stuff, the options thin out (see Happy Pizza below).

Hotels restaurants also provide international food. The Grand Pacific Sovereign, for instance, boasts three international restaurants: Japanese, Chinese and Italian.

A few places we like

It's never easy to recommend some places. Some people will like certain places, while some others won't. Or you can have a wonderful experience in a particular venue, and someone else will have a bad experience, just because it's not the same day, the same staff, etc. End of the disclaimer. ;-)

Rang Yen - Reasonable prices, friendly and competent staff, and a nice setting in a garden contribute to make Rang Yen a popular place. The location is convenient too, as you will find the restaurant in a small soi just before the first 7/11 after turning right at the end of Narathip road (just before soi Bus station). The restaurant closes during low season (May to October).

Sea Zabb (pronounce "sea saep") - A new Thai restaurant on hospital road, with a large variety of food and reasonable prices. You can eat outside in the large garden, or under a "sala". Nice food, impeccable service... only improvement needed concerns the karaoke singer! Take hospital road by turning at the Family Mart, go to the next junction and take the first U-turn. The restaurant will then be on your left.

Aroy restaurant - Well known by the expat community for its varied and not expensive menu, and its special setting (count the clocks on the walls!). From the beachfront, take Narathip Road then turn left at the crossroads, and you will find the restaurant on your right. It can be busy during high season (expect to wait a long time before you get your courses). Thai food and international food.

Wilay is a German-Thai restaurant on Chaolay road, just at the end of soi Cha-Am plaza (where the bus station is). Very simple place, and we like it for that.

Happy Pizza is a small Italian restaurant on Narathip road, one block away from Okay supermarket. The best pizzas in town! Open everyday from 3pm to 10pm.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Cha-am? Exchange tips and advice in our forum!

Aroy restaurant.	Happy Pizza on Narathip road.
Rang Yen.	Sea Zabb.