Krabi is a great place to eat. Southern Thai cooking is bold and spicy, seafood comes straight from the Andaman Sea, and night markets make it easy to try a dozen dishes in one evening. The best restaurants in Krabi range from family-run shophouses in Krabi Town to sea-view terraces in Ao Nang.
This guide is organised by area, names long-running places that are well known to locals and travellers, and lists the dishes worth ordering. Restaurants change hands and hours, so check recent reviews before you go. We do not quote prices or ratings because they change often.
For local food, the best restaurants in Krabi are in Krabi Town: family-run Thai restaurants such as Ruen Mai and Ruen Patchara, the Som Tam Lady stall for papaya salad, and the weekend Walking Street market. In Ao Nang, go to Lae Lay Grill for sea views and seafood, Jungle Kitchen for Thai classics and Ao Nang Boat Noodle for a cheap bowl of noodles.
- Best for local food
- Krabi Town
- Best for sea views
- Ao Nang hillside and beach road
- Must-try dishes
- Gaeng som, khao mok gai, grilled seafood
- Cheapest eats
- Night markets and noodle shops
- Pay with
- Cash at small places; cards at larger restaurants
Learn to cook Thai food
Compare cooking classes in Krabi and Ao Nang.
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Best restaurants in Krabi Town
Krabi Town is where locals eat, and it is the best place for authentic southern Thai food.
- Ruen Mai — a garden restaurant on the edge of town, known for southern Thai dishes and local vegetables.
- Ruen Patchara — a local Thai restaurant on a quiet side street; ask a taxi driver if you cannot find it.
- Som Tam Lady — a simple roadside stall famous for papaya salad, grilled chicken and fish, a short ride out of the centre.
- Easy Café — a riverside café near the centre with Thai and Western dishes and air-conditioned seating.
- Weekend Walking Street — dozens of stalls with southern Thai and Thai-Muslim dishes, desserts and drinks.
More in our Krabi Town guide.
Best restaurants in Ao Nang
Ao Nang has the widest choice for visitors, from sea-view seafood to international food.
- Lae Lay Grill — a hillside restaurant with sea views, known for grilled seafood and Thai dishes; book for sunset.
- Jungle Kitchen — a small, popular Thai restaurant with a home-cooked feel.
- Ao Nang Boat Noodle — quick, cheap bowls of boat noodles.
- Jenna's Bistro and Wine — a bistro for steaks, seafood and wine.
- Gringos — long-running Tex-Mex on the Walking Street side street.
For the full list, see our best restaurants in Ao Nang guide and the Ao Nang night market.
Best restaurants in Krabi: Railay
Railay has no town, so most restaurants are attached to resorts or line the walkways of Railay East and West. Railay West has sunset terraces with Thai and international menus; Railay East and the walking street between the beaches have cheaper Thai restaurants and roti stalls. Expect higher prices than on the mainland, as all supplies arrive by boat.
Southern Thai dishes to try at the best restaurants in Krabi
| Dish | What it is | Spice level |
|---|---|---|
| Gaeng som | Sour orange curry with fish and vegetables | Hot |
| Gaeng tai pla | Pungent southern curry with fermented fish | Very hot |
| Khao mok gai | Thai-Muslim chicken biryani | Mild |
| Kua kling | Dry-fried minced meat with curry paste | Very hot |
| Pla tod khamin | Fried fish with turmeric and garlic | Mild |
| Roti | Flatbread with curry or sweet toppings | Mild |
Spice level
Southern Thai food is the spiciest in Thailand. Say “mai phet” (not spicy) or “phet nit noi” (a little spicy) when ordering.
Seafood at the best restaurants in Krabi
Seafood restaurants in Krabi often display fresh fish, prawns, crab and squid on ice, priced by weight. Choose your seafood, agree the weight and price, then pick a cooking style: grilled, steamed with lime and chilli, or deep-fried with garlic. Busy places with a fast turnover are the freshest.
Learn to cook southern Thai food
A cooking class is a fun way to understand what you have been eating. Most classes include a market visit and several dishes, with hotel pickup in Ao Nang or Krabi Town.
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Tips for eating out in Krabi
- Carry cash for markets and small restaurants.
- Check prices for seafood sold by weight before ordering.
- Many Muslim-run restaurants in Krabi do not serve alcohol or pork.
- Service charge may be added at larger restaurants; tipping is optional.
- Drink bottled or filtered water; ice in restaurants is generally made from purified water.
For more on Thai food, see the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Where to stay for food lovers
Stay in Krabi Town for local food and markets, or in central Ao Nang for variety and sea views. See where to stay in Krabi.
Krabi hotels
Compare Ao Nang and Krabi Town hotels on Agoda.
Best restaurants in Krabi by occasion
| Occasion | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Romantic sunset dinner | Sea-view terraces on Ao Nang hillside or Railay West |
| Authentic local lunch | Family-run restaurants and noodle shops in Krabi Town |
| Budget dinner | Ao Nang night market or Krabi Town Walking Street |
| Family meal | Larger restaurants on the Ao Nang beach road with Thai and Western menus |
| Seafood feast | Seafood restaurants with fish on ice, priced by weight |
Many of the best restaurants in Krabi are small and informal: plastic chairs, open kitchens and a menu on the wall. Do not judge by appearances — some of the most memorable meals come from the simplest places.
How we choose the best restaurants in Krabi
We focus on long-running restaurants that are well known to locals and visitors, cover a range of budgets and represent the local food culture. We do not accept payment for listings, and we do not quote prices or ratings, which change too often to stay accurate. Before you go, check recent reviews and opening days, as many family restaurants close one day a week and some close for part of the low season.
Eating etiquette in Thailand
- Thai food is eaten with a spoon and fork; the fork pushes food onto the spoon.
- Dishes are usually shared, so order several and eat family-style.
- Chopsticks are for noodle soups.
- It is polite to leave a little food on the plate rather than clearing every grain of rice.
Dietary needs
Allergies are not always well understood. Carry a card in Thai that explains what you cannot eat, especially for nut or shellfish allergies.
With a mix of night markets, family kitchens and sea-view terraces, the best restaurants in Krabi offer something for every budget, and eating well is one of the easiest pleasures of a trip to the Andaman coast.
Beyond Ao Nang and Krabi Town
Some of the best restaurants in Krabi are outside the main centres. Klong Muang and Tubkaek have resort restaurants with island views, Nopparat Thara has simple seafood places near the national park, and the fishing villages along the coast serve the catch of the day. On Koh Lanta, Old Town has waterside seafood restaurants on stilts, a favourite for a long lunch.
Desserts and coffee
Finish with mango sticky rice in season, banana roti from a street stall, or a Thai iced tea. Krabi Town and Ao Nang also have a growing number of independent cafés serving local and imported coffee, which make a good base for a slow breakfast before a day on the boats. Ask locals for their favourite spots: the best restaurants in Krabi are often recommended by word of mouth rather than signposted.
Quick picks
Quick picks from the best restaurants in Krabi: for local food, head to Krabi Town; for sunset views, choose Ao Nang. The best restaurants in Krabi for seafood display the catch on ice, and the best restaurants in Krabi for value are often the night markets. Bookmark this list of the best restaurants in Krabi and the best restaurants in Krabi Town will never be far away.
Best restaurants in Krabi: FAQ
Where are the best restaurants in Krabi for local food?
In Krabi Town, where family-run restaurants and night markets serve authentic southern Thai food.
What food is Krabi known for?
Southern Thai curries such as gaeng som, Thai-Muslim dishes like khao mok gai, and fresh Andaman seafood.
Is food in Krabi spicy?
Southern Thai food is the spiciest in Thailand. Ask for “mai phet” if you want it mild.
Are there vegetarian restaurants in Krabi?
Yes. Many restaurants have vegetarian dishes; say “jay” for vegan or “mangsawirat” for vegetarian.
Is it safe to eat street food in Krabi?
Generally yes. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh in front of you.
Sources: local restaurant listings and travel guides (Krabi Nature, Amazing Lanta); InsideSamui editorial research. Restaurants change; check recent reviews. Last updated 13 November 2026.
Photos: Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Stefan Fussan (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Wendy Harman (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); kallerna (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Takeaway (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); kallerna (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons).
Disclosure: InsideSamui may earn a commission when you book through some of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and timetables quoted here were checked on 13 November 2026; they change by season and operator, so confirm when you book.