🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
What makes dinner in Khao Lak special is the setting. On this stretch of the Andaman the sun sets right in front of you, and a lot of the beachfront places set their tables straight onto the sand. Order a whole fish, grilled prawns, clams, crab fried in curry powder, then sip a cold beer while the sky changes colour. Most seafood is priced by weight and you pick your own from the tank, so ask the price per kilo before you order and you'll feel a lot easier about the bill.
Our pick of Khao Lak's beachfront restaurants
Smile Khaolak (Nang Thong Beach)
A garden restaurant right by Nang Thong Beach run by a Thai–German couple. Locals and regular visitors love it for the fresh grilled prawns and fish cooked to order, southern-style Thai curries, and there are vegetarian options too. The mood is relaxed and it's only a few steps down to the beach.
Kra Chang Khao Lak (Tap Lamu Bay)
A floating restaurant out on Tap Lamu Bay with its own fish pens and rafts. You pick fish, prawns and clams straight from the pens and they cook them fresh. The bay and surrounding mangroves give it a feel completely different from the usual beachfront spots — good for anyone who wants genuinely fresh seafood. It's a short drive out from central Khao Lak.
Ao Thong Beach Restaurant
A beachfront place that focuses on charcoal-grilled seafood plus fish done as Thai curries, spicy salads and soups. The draw is sitting with your feet in the sand watching the Andaman sunset right in front of you. Good for a laid-back dinner when you want the full view.
Coconut Seafood Restaurant & Bar
A spot where you really can eat Thai food with your feet in the sand. Standouts include the mixed grilled seafood platter and the sea bass in sweet-and-sour sauce. You can stroll the beach right behind the restaurant, the vibe is friendly, and it works well for families and groups of friends.
Pam's Restaurant & Bar
A garden restaurant strung with pretty fairy lights at night, serving homey Thai food of the kind locals actually eat. There's grilled food, spring rolls, tempura and a long cocktail list. If you fancy learning to cook Thai food before dinner, they run classes too.
Seaside Seafood Kitchen
A beachfront place with seating on a terrace between the pool and the beach. The menu runs from seafood to Thai and Western dishes, which is handy for a group with different tastes, and for anyone who wants the sea view without trudging across the sand.
Reodung Seafood
A small seafood place that reviewers praise for fresh ingredients and good home cooking. It opens in two sittings, lunch and evening, with dinner starting around 6pm. Good for anyone who wants serious seafood at local prices and isn't bothered about a fancy view.
Khrua Nai Ang Khao Lak
A local restaurant open late until 9pm that fills up fast in the evening. If you're coming as a group it's worth booking ahead. The menu is made-to-order dishes and homey-style seafood that local people genuinely eat.
Memories Beach Bar (Pakarang Beach)
A beach bar around Pakarang Beach where you can sip a drink and snack by the sea at an easy pace. It's good for a light dinner followed by a long sit on the sand — not a full seafood restaurant, but the setting is lovely.
The Boatyard (Pakweep Beach)
A Thai–Western restaurant around Pakweep Beach with a calmer feel than the busier Nang Thong zone. Good for couples or anyone who wants a quiet dinner away from the crowds.
How to order seafood without surprises
Most fresh seafood is priced by weight, so before you order, ask the price per kilo and ask them to weigh it in front of you — that way there are no issues when the bill comes. During high season (November–March) the popular beachfront spots fill up fast, so call ahead to reserve a table facing the sea and you'll get a good one.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Phang Nga food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
How to pick the right spot for the dinner you want
- Want the full sunset view — go for a Nang Thong Beach spot like Smile Khaolak, Ao Thong Beach or Coconut, and sit down around 5pm to catch the sky changing colour.
- Want genuinely fresh seafood from the pens — head over to Tap Lamu Bay and Kra Chang Khao Lak, where you pick fish, prawns and clams straight from the pens to be cooked fresh.
- Want to eat like a local at friendly prices — try Khrua Nai Ang or Reodung Seafood, which are about the cooking more than the view.
- Want a quiet dinner away from the crowds — skip the Nang Thong zone and head towards The Boatyard around Pakweep Beach.
Timing and getting around
Khao Lak doesn't have much public transport around town, so the easiest way to get around is to rent a motorbike or a car. The Tap Lamu Bay spot is a fair distance from the Nang Thong zone, so allow time for the drive. For dinner, head out a little before sunset to grab a good view, and avoid the busiest stretch around 7pm.
Plan a full trip around Khao Lak and Phang Nga
See the Phang Nga travel guide →