Karma Kafe — Restaurant in Surat Thani Province

Disclaimer: I know I'm harder on highly gentrified places than on authentic ones, especially when they aim the spiritual tourists... A lot of gentrified people love that place, I don't. So, read this review understanding that it is a personal point of view of someone who is also a vegan cook (even though eating meat) and who is not at all into spiritual storytelling...

The food is ok but too expensive for what it is, I mean, when you know the price of organic veggies you can still deduce that it's a money operation to resell them to you for so much. Vegan burrito is a bestseller, not bad but not wow neither! People claim to love the food but I don't understand why with so many other vegan places around. "Fresh" is a word my friends used when I asked them, a d it does indeed tastes "fresh", so I leave that to them...

I do believe that a lot of the love for Karma's food comes from the visual. Colours everywhere are telling your brain it must be good. Not sure if a blind test would give the same result. So yeah, in my views, you pay for your Instagram dish in your Instagram restaurant surrounded by other people who are also there to be among like minded people telling each other that the world is changing fir the better! Burmese staff in the kitchen would have to work a day at Burmese wage to eat in the same restaurant as you, bit that's their karma right?

If you go there, at least watch your Burmese rental slave in the eyes and give him a tip, maybe that will...

I have been a regular customer since 2018. Karma Kafe is my favorite cafe on the whole island. The staff is wonderful and the food is healthy and delicious. Huge plus for offering all *gluten-free and vegan menu. Extra points for the complimentary water offered as soon as you sit down.🧡

Edit: *Caution needed with some items that normally contain wheat and other gluten grains, such as soy sauce. The kitchen uses 2 types - one with wheat and one that is gluten free. Mix ups do happen. It would be safer and better if there was only gluten-free soy sauce in use. Gluten is not needed in it.

My favorite dishes are breakfast burrito, pancakes, sushi, Slightly Spicy Burger, and Kalefornia bowl. Fresh black coffee is an every morning staple for me, often followed by iced matcha.💚

Try the butterfly pea lemonade too!

The only critique I have is about the fish that is kept in the 'pool' at the side of the cafe. Please free them or at least arrange much more spacious and pleasant living conditions for them. Fish belong in freedom, their purpose and birth right is to live in the ocean. They shouldn't be kept in a small dark 'aquarium' with nowhere to go except circling around the same place day...

Apart from eggs I believe Karma kafe is all vegan, and they serve substitute products like coconut yogurt and cashew cheese. Unfortunately, they don’t offer fake meat, but do have tofu and tempeh, as well as vegan salmon.

What I’ve tried and how I’ve liked it: peachberry soda: watery, not much flavour and not sweet at all eggplant quesadilla: perfect! Loved everything. Does not resemble of a quesadilla at all, because the spices are more Asian/Indian, but it’s cooked to perfection, the tortilla, though gluten free, is lovely and crunchy, the cashew cheese is perfect, the tomato side salad super flavourful karma burrito: great size of serving, the same lovely cashew cheese sauce, but could use some more spices/flavour (maybe better if you add the tempeh) peanut butter smoothie: nice, but nothing special (but that was clear from the description and we felt like it anyways)

Great choice of searing in the venue and lovely designed. Will come...