Nab Daw
Family-run Thai cooking in Mae Nam that looks like nothing and tastes like everything.
Plan your visit
- Price
- $$$$
- Budget
Learn the Spice Scale
Say 'mai pet' for no spice, 'pet nit noi' for a little spice, or 'pet mak' if you want it Thai-hot. Most cooks will default to a toned-down version for foreigners unless you specify otherwise.
Details
Taste more of Koh Samui
Street-food tours, market visits and Thai cooking classes near Nab Daw.
Why go, and how to do it well
The exterior won't sell you on it. Plastic tables, no styling, nothing designed to pull tourists off the road except the smell of chicken on the grill, which is apparently enough on its own. This is a family-run kitchen in Mae Nam cooking everyday Thai food at everyday Thai prices, and the people who find it tend to keep coming back, sometimes daily.
Order the mango sticky rice. Reviewers who've eaten their way across the country single it out, and that's not a claim people make lightly. Beyond that, the greatest hits do their job, pad thai, fried rice with chicken, coconut soup, crispy pork, garlic chicken with sticky rice, coconut shakes. Someone flagged the som tam as worth ordering too. The cooks will adjust chilli to what you can actually handle, so say something before it arrives rather than after.
One honest caveat. The kitchen juggles a steady flow of takeout orders alongside the tables, so food can be slow when it's busy. If you're on a schedule, this isn't your restaurant. If you've got an hour and an appetite, it very much is.
Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Oct 2026
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Taste more of Koh Samui
Street-food tours, market visits and Thai cooking classes near Nab Daw.
Around here, on foot
Well-rated places within a short walk of Nab Daw, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.
- 2 minMeeting Bar Samui – Live Music & Thai FoodNightlife & Bars · 190 m · 4.9★
- 4 minZazen Boutique ResortHotels & Resorts · 290 m · 4.6★
- 5 minClay Beach Samui Luxury Beachfront Pool VillaHotels & Resorts · 430 m · 4.8★
- 7 minTreehouse Silent BeachHotels & Resorts · 560 m · 4.7★
- 7 minThe Flow Samui Beach ResortHotels & Resorts · 590 m · 4.7★
- 9 minFair HouseTemples & Culture · 710 m · 4.5★
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Nab Daw, round out your day in Koh Samui with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
Amazing spot! The staff is super friendly and the food is just incredible. It might not look like the typical “mainstream” place you’d walk into at first glance, but trust me – it’s so worth it. I had the best mango sticky rice in all of Thailand here (and I’ve tried quite a few 😅) plus a really delicious Pad Thai. Prices are great too. If you want a truly authentic Thai experience and real flavors, come here instead of overpaying at fancier-looking but worse places.
Here’s your quick 5-star Google review in English: ★★★★★ A true hidden gem! This family-run Thai restaurant offers an authentic local atmosphere and incredibly friendly owners. We had Sticky Mango Rice, Coconut soup, Pad Thai, and Fried Rice with Chicken – everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. On top of that, the prices were amazingly cheap and great value for money. A wonderfully authentic experience. Highly recommended!
A typical family run Thai restaurant. Good tasty food at fairly priced. Food might be slow to arrive, if they have some takeaways to deal with. Thai dishes we try were all delicious. I recommend try their papaya salad. They can prepare food according to your chilie tolerance. Simple table and chairs, don't accept fine dinning, I recommended.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 334 reviews on Google.
H287+8RM, 4169, Tambon Mae Nam, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84320, Thailand
Open in Google MapsMore restaurants & food nearby
All within 1.6 km of Nab Daw.
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Passa
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Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food
Follow the Crowds
The busiest street stalls are almost always the best — high turnover means fresh ingredients and a recipe that locals vouch for. An empty restaurant at dinner time is a red flag.
Ice Is Safe
Factory-made tube or cylinder ice (used in virtually all restaurants and stalls) is made from purified water and is safe to consume. You don't need to skip the iced Thai tea.
Use Grab for Delivery
The Grab app works for food delivery across Thailand, letting you order from street stalls and restaurants alike. It's invaluable on rainy days or when you want to eat in your hotel.
Nab Daw: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nab Daw worth visiting?
Nab Daw holds a 4.9★ rating from 334 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated restaurants & food in Koh Samui.
How expensive is Nab Daw?
Nab Daw is budget-friendly (฿) relative to other restaurants & food in Koh Samui.
When is the best time to visit Nab Daw?
The best months to visit Koh Samui are January – September, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in July – August & December — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: October – December (Gulf Coast monsoon).
Where is Nab Daw located?
Nab Daw is at H287+8RM, 4169, Tambon Mae Nam, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84320, Thailand, in Koh Samui. Getting around Koh Samui: Songthaews (fixed routes around the ring road); Motorbike or scooter rental.
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