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Ann Cha Lee Restaurant
Restaurants & Food
Krabi

Ann Cha Lee Restaurant

4.5(1,372 reviews)$$$$

Tucked along Maharaj Road in central Krabi's Pak Nam area, this family restaurant has built a strong following among both locals and travellers for its consistently high-quality Thai cooking. Dishes are prepared with genuine care, and the kitchen clearly takes pride in its craft — reviewers regularly describe the food as some of the best they have encountered during extended trips through Thailand. The menu leans into classic Thai flavours executed well. Standout dishes include a crispy fish with lime, ginger, chilli, red onion, cashews, and crispy shallots, alongside a much-praised massaman curry and a generously sized tom yum soup. Portions are notably large across the board, offering solid value at mid-range prices. The restaurant itself is spacious and unpretentious, with welcoming, friendly staff and a relaxed family dining atmosphere. Delivery through Grab is also available for those eating in nearby accommodation. Good to know: the restaurant opens at 4:30 PM every day of the week and closes at 9:30 PM, with no days off. Arriving closer to opening time is a sensible strategy, as the dining room can fill up during peak evening hours. The central location on Maharaj Road is walkable from many hotels and guesthouses in the area. Check their bio.link profile before visiting for current menu information or contact details.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite
Mid-range

Pair your visit. After Ann Cha Lee Restaurant, round out your day in Krabi with contrasting stops nearby.

Visitor Reviews

Best dinner we’ve had in Thailand so far (2.5 weeks into our trip). Ordered: 1. Crispy fish with lime, ginger, chilli, red onion, cashews and crispy shallots (first thing on their recommended page) - 9.5/10. Fresh chillies make it sharp and hot, so one of us enjoyed the spice while the other took the chillies off and avoided the sauce and loved it equally 2. Burnt eggplant salad with coconut milk, shrimp, egg, chillies, mint and crispy shallot - 9.5/10. An unexpected surprise. The eggplant is served peeled, soaks up the soft acidic sauce wonderfully (coconut milk with lime juice) 3. Pork and green peppercorn curry - 9/10. The spice from the red chillies was milder than the fish dish. 4. Took also plain rice on the side, iced milk tea and iced lemon tea. We’ve had both drinks around 10 times by now and they were a 10/10 both. Not too sweet, not too watery, just perfect. Overall, across Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Lanta and Krabi) we’ve found that even if you ask for spicy, they’ll look at your western face and give you a milder version, but the salads are always spicy, as they’re marinated in a sauce that cannot be adjusted.

We ordered a few times on Grab and were always pleasantly surprised by the portion size and quality of food, so we decided to try eating at the restaurant. It is a very big restaurant surrounded by nature. Unfortunately, multiple dishes were not like we ordered them and needed to fix. They fixed it but it took a long time before we got what we ordered. The pad kra paw had way too much black sauce, and was therefore also sweet. Not really good. The food in general is tasty here though.

Superb authentic Thai food! Fresh, thee food came quickly l, and servicing size was perfect. The staff are welcoming and friendly!

Location Info

315/5 Maharaj Rd, Tambon Pak Nam, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000, Thailand+66 75 611 560bio.link/anchalikrabi
Opening Hours
Monday16:30-21:30
Tuesday16:30-21:30
Wednesday16:30-21:30
Thursday16:30-21:30
Friday16:30-21:30
Saturday16:30-21:30
Sunday16:30-21:30

Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food

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.

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.

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Visitor Information

Best time to visit

November – April

Avoid: June – September (rough Andaman seas)

Rainy season

May – October

Avg. temperature

23°C – 33°C(73°F – 91°F)

Crowds

High

Peak: December – February

Getting there

Krabi Airport (KBV) has direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hrs). Ferries connect to Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket. Bus/minivan from Phuket takes ~3 hrs.

Getting around

  • Long-tail boats (islands & Railay Beach)
  • Songthaews in Ao Nang
  • Grab (limited, mainly Ao Nang)
  • Motorbike rental