Food Court Lotus's

Come here for a cheap plate of Thai food in air conditioning, not for an evening out. It's the food court inside the Lotus's superstore over on the Maret side of the island, and it does exactly what these places do everywhere in Thailand: a handful of stalls, plastic trays, fluorescent light, and a meal that costs a fraction of what the beach road charges for the same thing.

I rate it for two situations. One, you're already in there buying water and washing powder and you'd rather eat than cook. Two, it's the middle of the afternoon, the heat is unbearable, and you want to sit somewhere cold for twenty minutes. Beyond that, there are better places to eat on Samui, and I wouldn't drive across the island for it. Expect Thai staples and everyday comfort food rather than anything you'll be talking about later.