MOJO SAMUI — Restaurant in Ko Samui

The Worst Dining Experience in 25 Years. Avoid Mojo Samui Bar and Grill

I’ve been coming to Koh Samui for over 25 years. I’ve lived here, trained here, and dined in hundreds of places across the island, and I can honestly say this was the worst experience I’ve ever had in Koh Samui.

Mojo Samui advertises itself as a bar and grill. At no point, on signage, menus, or website, is it mentioned that it’s a French restaurant. My partner ordered what was listed as a classic dish, beef bourguignon. What she received looked barely cooked, with meat that resembled raw beef on mashed potatoes. After one mouthful, she couldn’t eat another bite and we asked if it could be cooked a bit more.

We didn’t ask to speak to anyone, we just asked for the meat to cooked more because it appeared raw, but instead the chef came out. Instead of offering help or a solution, he came out visibly irritated, instantly confrontational, explaining how it had been made and that it was French dish cooked by himself and that he was French and suggested we were the problem for not appreciating the dish. His tone was rude, defensive, and frankly condescending, especially to my girlfriend. The cook disappeared and then the manager appeared, who escalated the situation further. With a smug attitude, he explained that we were in a “French restaurant,” as if we were too ignorant to understand, and implied that we simply didn’t get it because we were English. The tone felt racial, patronising, and aggressive. He refused to replace the dish and told us that if we didn’t pay for the uneaten food, he would call the police. The fact is the meal is inexpensive to the restaurant and therefore at little cost to them to offer an option. He instead thrusted the plate under our noses asking what he should do now with this dish. I wanted to tell him but refrained from doing so. He was extremely arrogant and rude.

We were in shock. My partner was humiliated. I couldn’t even finish my own meal after witnessing how she was treated. The entire ordeal left a bitter taste (excuse the pun) not just because of the food, but the arrogance and hostility of the management.

To be clear: in my 25 years coming to this island, I’ve only ever had warm, welcoming, respectful experiences, especially with Thai people. What happened at Mojo was completely at odds with the spirit of this island and its hospitality.

If you’re considering dining here, do yourself a favour and go elsewhere. There are countless fantastic restaurants in Samui run by people who care. Mojo Samui Bar and Grill is not...

During our vacation in Koh Samui, my partner and I stumbled upon a restaurant that far exceeded every expectation – Mojo Samui. Let me start by saying that this place isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an experience.

The design immediately transported us back to the boardwalks of Miami – modern, with vintage beachside diner touches, yet still somehow preserving the relaxed, magical soul of Koh Samui. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by an incredibly kind and attentive team, eager to help and answer any question with a genuine smile.

We ordered several salads and shared a tomahawk steak – every dish was crafted with precision, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. And as for the service – my beer glass literally never ran empty. Our amazing waiter refilled it before I could even notice it was getting low.

To top it all off, my partner had secretly told the staff that it was my birthday. Not only did they remember, but they went above and beyond – within minutes, the entire staff surprised me with a cake, a candle, and a cheerful birthday song. It was such a heartwarming gesture, and they truly nailed it.

And lastly – but definitely not least – the owner. A truly wonderful person who came by multiple times to check in and even took a few moments to chat with us. We didn’t feel like guests at a restaurant – we felt like we had walked into a place where people genuinely care.

Highly recommended – we’ll definitely be back. Thank you, Mojo Samui, for one of the most special nights...

Disappointing Experience at Mojo Samui

We recently dined at Mojo Samui with high expectations, but unfortunately, the experience fell far short of what we anticipated. We ordered four dishes, but two of them were particularly problematic due to poor communication and inattentive service.

One of the dishes—a salmon tartare—had to be redone three times. My wife has a severe onion allergy, which we clearly informed the staff about when ordering. Despite this, the dish arrived with onions the first time. Upon returning it, the second attempt was simply plain salmon without any seasoning or accompaniments. On the third try, what we received barely resembled a tartare—it seemed to be made from cooked fish, completely different from the menu description. To make matters worse, when we asked the waiter what type of fish it was, he was unable to answer.

Another dish we requested to be non-spicy arrived extremely spicy, making it difficult to enjoy.

The service itself left much to be desired. The staff was not particularly friendly or attentive, and despite the repeated mistakes, there was no genuine effort to address or rectify the situation in a professional manner.

Overall, the experience was disappointing—the food quality and service did not justify the price. Given the multiple errors and the lack of attentive service, we cannot recommend Mojo Samui and would suggest exploring other dining options...