7 Best Restaurants in Ao Nang, Phuket and the Andaman Coast

The chicken satay, an otherwise ordinary dish of chicken skewers served with a side of spicy peanut sauce, is especially skillfully prepared at this traditional restaurant. More elaborate Thai dishes are available as well.

Right on the beach, this open-air café is popular for its boho chic vibe, unique decor, and excellent food. The menu features freshly brewed Italian coffee, classic Thai dishes such as green curry with jumbo prawns, international fare such as pasta and pizza, and a wide range of imported and local beers, as well as tropical cocktails.

There's not much to this casual restaurant, but their renditions of Thai dishes are very tasty and come at great prices. Seafood options are recommend, including the signature Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp or any of the spicy curries. 

There are two positive signs at this restaurant before you even try the food—locals hanging out, and the fish and seafood that will end up on your plate are on display in tanks in all their variety. You'll find every kind of fresh catch prepared using lots of local herbs and spices at this friendly, colorful place.

The seafood here is perfectly cooked and artfully presented, but what makes Lae Lay Grill extra-special is the location. The restaurant is on a terrace on a hill overlooking Ao Nang and the sea, which makes it a highly romantic spot from sunset on, but also lovely during the day. Staff will pick you up from your hotel and bring you here by van.

The menu at this simple Thai restaurant is encyclopedic, but the speciality is Tom Yam Pla, a spicy fish soup. The open-air setting is pleasant and the charming owner is happy to chat—he speaks a variety of languages. 

In the heart of the action, this bar–cafe is the kind of place you just want to keep coming back to. The menu is a mix of Thai classics and Tex-Mex favorites and there's live music most nights. The Chicken Burritos are highly recommended.