The first time we visited Ko Samui more than 10 years ago, we popped into Angela’s Bakery & Cafe (as it was called until recently). After weeks of Thai food, good bread and cheese made a pleasant change. At that stage, Angela’s had no other buildings surrounding it on the stretch of ring road along Mae Nam, so it was easy to spot when exploring the island on scooter. Now the ring road is packed with other buildings so if it wasn’t for its bright yellow sign advertising Angela’s Diner you may drive past, which would be a pity.

Look out for the red awning and yellow sign.

Angela (who is from Malaysia) has now been keeping expats happy for more than a decade, and her cafe was one of the first places you could get ‘real’ bread, rather than the fluffy, sweet variety popular locally. The interior is warm and inviting — or rather, cool and inviting, as in the last year Angela has glassed in the main restaurant and added air-con. Shelves hold a collection of teapots, quirky signs and comical adverts, a large model aeroplane hangs from the ceiling, and display fridges tempt you with cheeses, German meats and Angela’s cakes baked on site – cheesecake, carrot cake, and her very popular apple pie.

Delicious daily specials. Try something with avo.

Tables are either padded diner-style benches, or cafe-style with checked tablecloths. A covered patio is surrounded by hanging plants and gives the smokers a hang out, and blackboards display the daily specials.

Although Angela offers Thai food, it’s her Western food that draws the local expats and regular visitors to Samui. Bread is baked fresh right on site, and sandwiches are packed full of ingredients. One of the most popular is the chicken and avo sandwich (150 baht). Avocado is not easy to get on the island, and the few places that have it, stock the flavourless, watery variety. Angela has a secret stash – apparently she has a tree, or at least access to a tree. However she gets it, when you need an avo fix, Angela’s is the place to go. Also popular is her roast lamb and mint sauce on a baguette (200 baht).

Choose air-con or smoke outside. And there’s always a newspaper to read.

The breakfast menu, boasts a good variety of options, including smoked salmon scrambled eggs on a bagel (220 baht) and shrimp poor boy, curried creamy shrimps served on scrambled eggs in a baguette (220 baht).

Juices are freshly squeezed, ranging in price from 70 to 90 baht, and the coffee’s great too. Although Angela’s isn’t the cheapest meal you’ll find on the island, the prices are reasonable for the quality and portions provided. If it’s cheap food you’re after, try local street food, either at local stalls, or the popular walking street markets. Mae Nam hosts theirs on a Thursday night.

Sausages, sausages, sausages, oh, and avo!

If you fancy a change from Thai food, pop into Angela’s. There are always a few newspapers lying about, as well as free WiFi, so it’s a good place to catch up on those emails when travelling.

Angela’s Diner
Mae Nam ring road, near the police station on the opposite side of the road, Ko Samui
T: (077) 427 396

More still
» Previous post: Sunday roasts on Ko Tao
» Next post: Chiang Mai nightlife: Loi Kroh

Disclaimer
Travelfish.org always pays its way. No exceptions.