Where to Find Real Indian Food on Koh Tao: 2026 Restaurant Guide
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-23
Looking for Indian food on Koh Tao? We pulled together prices, menus, and what to order from every dedicated Indian restaurant on the island, cross-checked against what is actually open in July 2026.
Koh Tao is small, sandy, and famously more about diving schools than dinner options. So the question travellers ask most often is honest and fair: is there even real koh tao indian restaurant food here, or am I going to live on pad thai and hope for the best? The answer in 2026 is better than it was a few years ago. There are now a few dedicated Indian restaurants operating on the island, plus a couple of Thai kitchens that will do a credible veg thali if you ask the right way. This guide is the rundown, with prices in Thai Baht (roughly 2.87 INR per THB as of July 2026), what to order, and where each place falls short so you can walk in with your eyes open. For broader regional planning, see our Sea Backpacking Hub. If you are also planning a Thailand loop, factor in the visa rules before you book ferries.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| How many dedicated Indian restaurants are on Koh Tao? | 3 (Shalimar Indian, Taste of India, and one more rotating spot in Mae Haad) | , |
| Cheapest Indian meal on the island? | Shalimar’s veg thali at lunch | ₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34) |
| Best Indian place for non-veg? | Shalimar Indian Restaurant (chicken tikka, butter chicken, fish curry) | ₹629-₹1,001 (~220-350 THB or ~$6.53-$10.39) |
| Is there Jain food (no onion/garlic) on Koh Tao? | Limited; ask at Shalimar, they cook to order | , |
| Can I get paneer or dal on Koh Tao? | Yes, at Shalimar and Taste of India | ₹515-₹800 (~180-280 THB or ~$5.34-$8.31) |
The Indian Food Scene on Koh Tao in 2026
Let me set the scene properly. Koh Tao is a roughly 21-square-kilometre island in the Gulf of Thailand, two hours by ferry from Chumphon. The full-time population is around 2,000, but during high season (December to March) the backpacker crowd swells the island significantly. Most of those travellers are European divers on a budget. Indian visitors are a smaller but growing segment, many of them diving students on their Open Water certification or families passing through on a Thailand loop.
Given those numbers, you would expect the Indian food scene to be almost nonexistent. A few years ago it was. Today, a handful of dedicated Indian restaurants compete for the trade, mostly concentrated in Mae Haad (the main pier town) and Sairee (the long beach to the north). Outside those, you are looking at Thai kitchens with a couple of “Indian-style” items that, honestly, taste nothing like home.
This is not Bangkok or even Krabi. The depth here is shallow, the menus rotate based on what the chef can source, and during monsoon season (October to December) one or two of these places close for weeks at a time. Always call ahead or message on WhatsApp if you have your heart set on a particular dish.
Tip: Travel between November and February if Indian food matters to you. Off-season, Koh Tao runs on a skeleton crew and at least one Indian spot may be on a break.
Shalimar Indian Restaurant: The Anchor
If you only eat one Indian meal on Koh Tao, the most consistently recommended option is Shalimar. Located on the main road in Mae Haad, about 200 metres from the pier, it has been around for several years and covers the basics well: tandoor, fresh roti, basmati rice cooked properly.
What to order:
- Veg thali (lunch only, ₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34)). Two sabzis, dal, roti, rice, pickle, papad. Honest, filling, and the closest thing to a home-cooked thali you will find this side of Surat.
- Paneer butter masala (₹629 (~220 THB or ~$6.53)). Standard execution, slightly sweet, good with the garlic naan.
- Chole bhature (₹572 (~200 THB or ~$5.94)). Only available at lunch and on weekends. The bhature puff up properly here, which is a relief compared to some of the thinner versions you find elsewhere on the island.
- Butter chicken (₹715 (~250 THB or ~$7.42)). Mild by Delhi standards, so ask for extra green chilli if you want heat.
- Chicken tikka (₹800 (~280 THB or ~$8.31)). Tandoor-cooked, char marks and all.
What to skip:
- The biryani. It’s a Thai-rice-based version that disappoints.
- Anything marked “Thai-Indian fusion.” Just don’t.
Prices and practicalities:
- Mains range from ₹515-₹1,001 (~180-350 THB or ~$5.34-$10.39).
- Naan and roti are ₹114-₹172 (~40-60 THB or ~$1.19-$1.78).
- They do free delivery within Mae Haad and Sairee on orders above ₹1,429 (~500 THB or ~$14.84).
- Order the day before for Jain food, they will cook without onion and garlic. The other two Indian spots do not advertise Jain options, so Shalimar is the reliable pick for this.
Shalimar is small, maybe 12 tables, and fills up between 7 and 9 pm. Get there by 6:30 pm or book ahead during full moon week, when the island’s party crowd is at its peak and every Indian traveller on the island has the same idea.
Taste of India: The Sairee Option
The second dedicated Indian restaurant on Koh Tao sits in Sairee, roughly 2-3 kilometres north of Mae Haad. Taste of India has a following among the dive students who stay up that end of the island.
What to order:
- Dal makhani (₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34)). Rich and creamy, close to the North Indian standard.
- Palak paneer (₹572 (~200 THB or ~$5.94)). Creamy, spinach-forward.
- Chicken curry (₹629 (~220 THB or ~$6.53)). Coconut-milk leaning, not a classic Punjabi version, but tasty.
- Veg fried rice “Indian style” (₹457 (~160 THB or ~$4.75)). Sounds weird, works fine when you want a break from rice and curry.
What to skip:
- The seafood items. The fish curry is more Thai than Indian.
- The “Haryali” kebabs, which are usually frozen and reheated.
Prices and practicalities:
- Mains from ₹457-₹800 (~160-280 THB or ~$4.75-$8.31).
- Smaller menu than Shalimar, maybe 35 items.
- No tandoor, so no proper tandoori chicken or naan. They do a passable tawa roti.
Taste of India is the right call if you are staying in Sairee and do not want to taxi down to Mae Haad for dinner. The food is not as consistent as Shalimar, and the menu changes more often (chefs rotate faster on Koh Tao than on the mainland), but the dal makhani alone is worth a visit.
The Rotating Third Spot
I will not name this one with confidence because it has changed hands multiple times in recent years and may be on yet another iteration by the time you read this. As of mid-2026, there is an Indian kitchen operating out of a shared food court in Mae Haad, near the 7-Eleven by the pier. They do a basic menu of dal, sabzi, roti, rice, and chicken curry. Prices are the lowest on the island (₹429-₹629 (~150-220 THB or ~$4.45-$6.53)) and the quality is hit-or-miss.
If Shalimar is full and Taste of India is too far, walk past the 7-Eleven in Mae Haad and look for a small signboard with “Indian” written in English. That is probably this place. Order the dal chawal if nothing else.
Quick Comparison: Koh Tao’s Indian Restaurants
| Restaurant | Location | Veg thali | Butter chicken | Naan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shalimar Indian | Mae Haad | ₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34) | ₹715 (~250 THB or ~$7.42) | ₹143 (~50 THB or ~$1.48) | Consistency, Jain food, tandoor |
| Taste of India | Sairee | ₹457 (~160 THB or ~$4.75) | ₹629 (~220 THB or ~$6.53) | Tawa roti ₹114 (~40 THB or ~$1.19) | Dal makhani, Sairee stays |
| Rotating spot | Mae Haad food court | ₹429 (~150 THB or ~$4.45) | ₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34) | ₹114 (~40 THB or ~$1.19) | Budget, when others are closed |
Thai Food That Works for Indian Veg Travellers
Here is the part most guides skip. Koh Tao has excellent Thai food, and a meaningful chunk of it is vegetarian or easily customised. If you spend 5 of your 14 days eating Indian meals and 9 eating Thai, your trip will be cheaper and, frankly, more interesting.
The keyword is “Jay” (เจ), pronounced “Jay” with a hard J, which signals vegan and typically excludes onion, garlic, and any animal product including fish sauce and oyster sauce. Thai Buddhist vegetarians understand this term and most kitchens can do a Jay version of their regular menu.
Dishes that work well:
- Pad Pak Jay (stir-fried mixed vegetables, no oyster sauce, no fish sauce). ₹229-₹343 (~80-120 THB or ~$2.37-$3.56). Specify “no oyster sauce” (mai sai nam man hoi) when ordering.
- Tom Yum Jay (spicy-sour soup, vegetable broth, no shrimp paste). ₹286-₹429 (~100-150 THB or ~$2.97-$4.45). The flavour is close to rasam meets hot-and-sour soup. Excellent when you want something light.
- Green Curry Jay (green curry with tofu, no fish sauce). ₹343-₹457 (~120-160 THB or ~$3.56-$4.75). Coconut-rich, spicy, and a near-perfect meal with rice.
- Pad Thai Jay (no egg, no fish sauce, extra tofu). ₹229-₹343 (~80-120 THB or ~$2.37-$3.56). Order as “Pad Thai Jay, mai sai khai, mai sai nam pla”, no egg, no fish sauce.
- Mango Sticky Rice (khao niao mamuang). ₹172-₹286 (~60-100 THB or ~$1.78-$2.97). Dessert, vegetarian, available everywhere.
For context on what is safe across Southeast Asia more broadly, the street food safety guide covers the same principles in more detail. If you are also budgeting for the wider region, our Southeast Asia trip cost breakdown gives per-country benchmarks.
Two reliable Thai restaurants on the island that handle Jay orders well:
- Love Koh Tao (Mae Haad, near the pier), they have a clear Jay section on the menu and the kitchen is used to the request. The massaman curry with tofu comes in at around ₹457 (~160 THB or ~$4.75).
- Jumbo Restaurant (Sairee, mid-beach), local kitchen, no English on the menu, but the staff will sort you out if you point at the Jay sign. Pad pak and tom yum both come in at ₹229-₹343 (~80-120 THB or ~$2.37-$3.56).
- Chacha Beach Café & Restaurant (Mae Haad, beachfront), a casual spot with a friendly atmosphere and solid Thai dishes. Good for a relaxed breakfast or lunch when you want a break from curry.
How Koh Tao’s Prices Compare to the Mainland
Indian food on Koh Tao costs more than on the mainland, mostly because everything from rice to onions has to come over by ferry. A veg thali at Shalimar runs ₹515 (~180 THB or ~$5.34); the same thali in Bangkok or even Surat Thani will set you back ₹286-₹372 (~100-130 THB or ~$2.97-$3.86). Butter chicken at Shalimar is ₹715 (~250 THB or ~$7.42); in Bangkok’s Indian restaurants it is ₹515-₹629 (~180-220 THB or ~$5.34-$6.53). You are paying the island tax, which is unavoidable.
If you are doing a Thailand loop and want to save on Indian food, eat your fill in Bangkok before heading south to Koh Tao. Treat the Indian food here as a comfort option, not a daily meal.
Getting Connected
You will want data on Koh Tao for Google Maps (Mae Haad and Sairee look identical after dark), WhatsApp to message ahead, and translation help if you are pointing at Thai-language menus. A local SIM is the simplest move: AIS, TrueMove, and DTAC all sell tourist SIMs at Chumphon pier before the ferry, typically ₹855 (~299 THB or ~$8.87) for 8 days with 15 GB. For a broader look at SIM and eSIM options across Southeast Asia, our translation app guide also covers connectivity basics.
If you prefer to skip the airport-counter queue, Get Nomad eSIM gets you data before you fly, useful for the moment you land.
Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Make on Koh Tao
Assuming there is a big Indian restaurant scene. There are three. That is it. If you arrive expecting a Little India situation like Singapore or even Bangkok’s Phahurat, you will be disappointed. Plan your Indian meals around the three spots, and eat Thai the rest of the time.
Not booking ahead during peak season. December, January, and February are full to bursting. Popular Indian spots can fill up quickly on weekends. WhatsApp your order the morning of, or call between 4 and 6 pm to reserve a table.
Ordering biryani. None of the dedicated Indian restaurants on Koh Tao are known for a passable biryani. Stick to thalis, dals, curries, and tandoor items.
Walking into Thai restaurants and expecting English menus. Sairee has plenty of local places with Thai-only menus and no English-speaking staff. Pointing works for basic dishes, but if you want a properly customised Jay meal, go to a place with an English menu or at least one staff member who speaks basic English. Love Koh Tao and Jumbo Restaurant both qualify.
Skipping the tap water. Koh Tao’s tap water is not potable. Stick to bottled water for drinking and for brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach. The same goes for ice in some of the cheaper spots. This is standard Thailand advice, but worth repeating.
The Bottom Line
Koh Tao is not going to win any awards for Indian food variety. There are a few dedicated spots, one of which might be closed when you arrive, and every meal costs more than it should because the island is small and the ferries are expensive. But if you go in knowing that, anchor your meals at the most recommended spot, eat Thai at Love Koh Tao or Jumbo on the in-between nights, and stop trying to order biryani, you will eat well for a week. The diving is the reason you came, not the food. Treat Indian meals as a comfort, not a crutch, and the island works.
FAQ
Is there any Indian restaurant on Koh Tao besides Shalimar?
Yes, Taste of India in Sairee and a smaller rotating kitchen near the Mae Haad pier. Shalimar is the most consistent of the three.
Can I get Jain food (no onion, no garlic) on Koh Tao?
Shalimar can prepare Jain meals if you order at least a day ahead via WhatsApp. The other two spots do not reliably cater to this.
Is Indian food on Koh Tao more expensive than the mainland?
Yes, expect to pay more than Bangkok or Surat Thani for similar dishes, mostly because ingredients arrive by ferry.
Are there any pure vegetarian Indian restaurants on Koh Tao?
Shalimar’s veg thali and most of its veg menu are vegetarian. The kitchen is vegetarian-friendly and takes care with separate utensils for veg and non-veg orders. Confirm with the staff when you order.
Do I need to book Shalimar in advance?
During high season (December to February), yes. During monsoon, walk-ins are usually fine.
Is Thai food on Koh Tao safe for Indian vegetarians?
Yes, if you say “Jay” and confirm “no fish sauce” and “no oyster sauce.” Most Thai kitchens on Koh Tao understand the term.
Can I find Indian food delivery on Koh Tao?
Shalimar delivers free within Mae Haad and Sairee above ₹1,429 (~500 THB or ~$14.84). Taste of India does not deliver.
