Buddy Restaurant — Restaurant in Surat Thani Province

I got really bad food poisoning. I was by myself so I had my headphones in and was watching a movie while I slowly ate and after about 20/30 minutes I felt this horrible feeling in my upper stomach and chest. I paid for my food and left immediately to the pharmacy. I ordered a cut up mango, papaya salad, and fried rice with green curry and beef. The beef was really chewy so I ordered the garlic stir fry shrimp and maybe that’s what gave it to me I’m not sure. This may have just been a one time thing because the place was packed. The owner even offered me a phone stand to watch a movie so he was kind besides him him insinuating that I was overeating when I ordered the shrimp and him raising his voice at one of the ladies who were helping in the restaurant. The atmosphere was nice, tables were clean, and there was a cute dog roaming around. Like I said it was probably a one time thing, but it is something they need to look into. So if you do visit maybe just order something simple...

Plastic chairs, wobbly tables, sticky plastic tablecloths. The order was communicated multiple times. Instead of green curry, we got green curry soup. Taste-wise, meh… The ordered rice noodles never arrived, despite repeated requests, so my partner had to eat her cold soup without a side. The Panang Beef Curry was fantastic—intense and full of umami. The side dish, however, was a massive basket of barely steamed broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower… I don’t travel halfway around the world to eat the same vegetables I already can’t stand at home. Besides, the portion was tiny. But at least the price was reasonable. I didn’t get full, so we ended up eating somewhere else—which, in a way, had its own...

If you're in Koh Tao, do yourself a favor and stop by Buddy Restaurant. The food is seriously amazing, especially the steamed rice in pineapple, which is not only super tasty but also looks great when it arrives at the table. It’s one of those dishes you don’t forget. The place is run by a lovely local family, and honestly, they’re all super friendly and kind. The woman who runs it is the absolute best, so welcoming and full of good vibes. It’s a chill spot, nothing fancy, but that’s part of the charm. Great food, good prices, and people who make you feel right at home....