Andaman Coast, Thailand
Thai cuisine is known for its balance of five fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. This creates a harmonious and complex flavor profile.
Krabi's cuisine, being coastal, features abundant fresh seafood. It draws influences from Southern Thai and Malay cooking, which includes rich curries made with coconut milk and a generous use of fresh herbs and spices like turmeric.
Chopsticks mainly for noodle dishes. For most other dishes, use a spoon (right hand) and fork (left), using the fork to push food onto your spoon.
Dishes are typically served communal-style and shared among diners. Order a variety of dishes to sample different flavors and textures.
Avoid pointing with your feet. Do not stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice; this resembles an offering at a funeral.
Ao Nang has a delicious array of dishes. Try these local favorites.
A rich, relatively mild Thai curry with Persian influences. Typically with chicken or beef, potatoes, peanuts, and creamy coconut milk.
Find it in most Thai restaurants.
Thailand's famous hot and sour shrimp soup. Intense flavors from lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, mushrooms, and chili.
Widely available at almost every restaurant.
A spicy coconut milk-based curry characterized by its green chilies, bamboo shoots, and basil. Order it with chicken, beef, or fish balls.
Non-alcoholic: Fresh coconut water, Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen), Thai Iced Coffee (Oliang), and fresh fruit shakes. Alcoholic: Local beers like Singha, Chang, and Leo. Local spirits include Mekhong and SangSom.
Khao Niao Mamuang (Sticky Rice with Mango) is a highly popular seasonal dessert. Kanom Krok: small, crispy-outside, creamy-inside coconut pancakes. Various fried snacks from street vendors.
True fine dining remains rare in Ao Nang itself, which generally has a more casual dining scene.
Numerous mid-range options exist along Ao Nang Beach Road and inland. These restaurants offer a mix of traditional Thai dishes and international cuisine.
Abundant street food stalls line Ao Nang Beach Road, Nopparat Thara Beach, and especially the Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, specifically in the evenings.
A daily night market featuring a multitude of food stalls offering fresh seafood, a wide array of Thai dishes, and various snacks.
Similar to the night market, this also operates in the evenings and provides numerous food stalls and small eateries.
A wide variety of international cuisine due to tourists.
Halal food is widely available, notably in Krabi province, which has a significant Muslim population. Look for halal-certified restaurants.
Kosher food remains very difficult to find.
Use translation apps like Google Translate to communicate your dietary needs. Research restaurants beforehand using online reviews or apps.
Many Thai dishes are naturally gluten-free (e.g., curries often use rice noodles or are served with rice).
Several cooking schools in Ao Nang offer half-day or full-day classes. Learn to prepare traditional Thai dishes from scratch.
Some cooking schools or resorts may offer basic fruit carving lessons, a traditional Thai art form.
No dedicated language schools exist in Ao Nang for formal Thai language learning.
Some restaurants located on rafts or piers offer fresh seafood with a view, especially in Krabi Town.
Enjoying a meal with your feet in the sand on Ao Nang Beach or Railay, a relaxed and memorable experience, especially at sunset.
Most menus have English translations. Staff understand basic English regarding food preferences.
Explore local recommendations for authentic dishes, often found at smaller, less touristy eateries.
Seafood prices depend on weight and market rates. Confirm pricing before ordering, especially for fresh catch.
Tipping is appreciated in tourist areas. Refer to section 2.3 for more details on tipping customs.
