Whilst welcoming global visitors to its beautiful shores, Koh Lanta maintains a unique Thai food culture with local families involved in operating small family-run restaurants and street food stalls. They use recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation, using traditional Thai spices, making the food spicier and creamier than in northern and central Thailand.

Seafood

Enjoying seafood dishes is a breeze in Koh Lanta with many Krabi restaurants and even street food stalls. There is a range of tantalizing preparations such as grilled Andaman lobster with creamy garlic butter, grilled fish with herbs, stir-fried squid with black pepper and more. Whether you stay at a beautiful hideaway like Avani + Koh Lanta Krabi Resort or any other property, these freshly made seafood dishes are a must-try.

Popular Thai Dishes

Koh Lanta is a beautiful, laidback island that enables you to relish popular Thai dishes. Try these as you enjoy your holiday. Some of them go well with steamed rice to make a filling meal.

  • Tom Yum Goong – Also known as “spicy shrimp soup”, is an aromatic soup with lemongrass and other traditional herbs and spices cooked with prawns.
  • Pad Thai – This is a quintessential Thai noodle dish relished by locals and visitors that has tofu, egg, meat or seafood of your choice.
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  • Green Papaya Salad – A refreshing salad that contains peanuts, lime juice, fish sauce, chilli, and shredded green papaya that is pounded and seasoned to perfection.

Street Food

The Koh Lanta Night Market Walking Street has a range of street food, including Thai desserts. However, don’t miss those street food stalls run by small-time vendors as you go about in Saladan. They have delicious snacks and food close to the pier. Favourites among them are satay (chicken, beef or seafood), Thai iced tea or coffee, crispy fried chicken with rice, and the famous Thai dessert, mango sticky rice.

Enjoy food with activities

Savouring Koh Lanta food can be a part of your excursions and activities.

  • Mangrove Kayaking Tour – This can be combined with a lunch at a local restaurant offering Southern Thai fare.
  • Snorkelling Trip – Plan to stay on to watch the sunset and enjoy a BBQ dinner after a day of snorkelling.