Region: Eastern Thailand> Province: Trat> Location: Ko Maak

Ko Maak

The easiest option is to eat at your bungalow or resort, as they each have restaurants of varying quality, but there are some great-value eateries around if you do decide to venture out. Ko Maak goes to bed early, with virtually all of the restaurants closing by 21:00 or 22:00. There are three areas for eating outside of the resorts; at the north and south ends of Ao Kao Beach, and on the main road leading to the main pier in the south east.

Opposite the Makathanee Resort in Ao Kao are 3 outlets, of which Aimmy Food is by far the most popular. The menu consists of all the local favourites as well as some western specials. In high season they operate a very popular BBQ with fish, steaks, shrimps and kebabs. Prices are competitive, a bit cheaper than the resorts. The friendly owner, Mr A, also runs a taxi service around the island. The neighbouring Baan Sabaii also offers decent food and has an internet service with wireless. At the southern end of Ao Kao beach, up behind Island Hut and Lazy Days is the newly opened Koh Mak Rib Shack, by Star, a friendly venue that serves delicious BBQ food, particularly their famous Ribs which are marinated in a lip-smacking secret recipe. Other highlights are their seafood grills with scallops, rock lobster and tiger prawn all available at a decent price. Set in a spacious garden full of beautiful trees and flowers it's a great place to have a sunset beer or a sumptuous feast. The neighbouring Noodle Stop! serves undoubtedly the best noodle soup on the island, (if you can get a seat).

Over on Ao Nid, you'll find one of the best on the island, Ao Nid Restaurant -- a seaside seafood restaurant which has been an integral part of the island's culinary scene for years. Freshly-caught seafood is of course the specialty, and recommended is the king prawn dish with chillies and ginger. Dining tables and mats are loosely spread out over a series of jetties and pavilions over the water, making for quite an atmospheric setting after dusk.

Just next to the main pier, Mr Ball Cafe is the perfect place for those needing a caffeine injection whilst checking the emails. The cafe has a good range of expresso coffees and a few cakes and biscuits to keep you going. The internet access is reasonable at 2B/min, and there's a big selection of old Thai Esquire magazines to browse through. Mr Ball can organise passage to the other islands or back to Trat.

On the main road through Ao Nid, you'll find Belle -- a little old lady whose tiny eatery seems to supply half the local inhabitants, particularly in the low season when she's pretty much the only place open. Serving no nonsense fast food like fried rice or pad krapow you cant really go wrong here, though if you don't like chilli be sure to ask for 'mai pet' as otherwise you're inducing a firestorm. The pick of the dishes here is Lad Na, a gravy like dish with vegetables and wide noodles, a bargain for 30B.