When it comes to selecting a restaurant here on the island to eat at there are many variables one must consider in making that choice. The people on Koh Samui, both Thai and foreigner, are very fortunate to have such a wide array of eateries to select from not only in terms of types of food, like Thai, Chinese, French, Italian, etc., but also in terms of price, location, reputation and so on.

Thai food is a good example of these considerations. There are the hundreds (thousands?) of small stall/restaurants propped up everywhere there is space. Normally a decent meal is served and the price is fairly reasonable. Then there are the higher class Thai places that provide the same food as the cheaper ones but in a more comfortable and formal setting.

However, the Thai restaurant Phu Chaweng is one Thai restaurant that sets a new level of food and service quality combined with a location of stunning proportions.

Located on a steep hillside in Chaweng, Phu Chaweng restaurant is very difficult to find if someone does not know where they are going. “We have been open for three years and have not done any advertising; it has all been word of mouth through the Thai community. Now I want to share what we offer to everyone on the island not just Thais,” says Khun Rungsin Khouypibool, owner and operator of Phu Chaweng. “Getting here can be difficult but everyone finds it well worth it once they are here.”

The restaurant is reminiscent of a tree house. It is tucked away on the hill by lush green foliage and has huge boulders spread in and around it as well. However, the restaurant was built to accommodate and make use of these natural settings using little paths and stairways going up and down and around. In fact, in the men’s toilet, one complete wall and half the ceiling is one huge boulder.

There are many different leveled terraces to choose from too all still providing that excellent view. That being said, the most outstanding feature of Phu Chaweng is the view. One has Bangrak, Bophut, Choengmon, Chaweng, and parts of Lamai as well as Koh Phangan to look out over. Khun Rungsin says, “This is a great place to be on New Year’s Eve because you can see all the fireworks from all the places, even from Koh Phangan.”

The most important part, the food, is also unique just like the restaurant. The food is local to Koh Samui in the way that it is prepared. They have an extensive menu using different herbs and spices to create different dishes. For example, they can create a variety of white snapper dishes by changing the herbs that they use and since local Thai food is normally very spicy, Westerners can request the use of less chili in their portions.

“All of our seafood comes from the markets here and is delivered fresh daily,” says Khun Rungsin. “As well as the produce, if what we need is grown here on the island then that is what we use if it is good and fresh enough, which it always is.”

The fruit salad (Bt150) at Phu Chaweng is a must-try. Consisting of papaya, grape, potato, carrot and apple, it is not the normal fruit salad that is served in the west but is still a delicious alternative. Also, the duck salad, for Bt150 is very good.

For those who are adventurous, the menu has some items that are not normally found in the more commercial restaurants on Chaweng beach road. Wasp curry, among other tasty treats, is available at Phu Chaweng for those that feel the need to eat that.

While enjoying the wasp curry it cannot be helped but to also enjoy the fantastic view mentioned earlier. The view really gives the sense of how close everything really is to each other as when driving it feels like everything is a million miles apart. The hillside setting allows for a constant pleasant breeze also.

As for getting there, when traveling south from Bophut on the main ring road and after passing Tesco on the right, there is a red light. Immediately after the red light is a road that turns off to the right. It is approximately 4 or 5 kilometers from that point and one must really keep an eye out for the Phu Chaweng signs. Some roads to be taken are paved and some are not. However, there will always be a friendly Thai about willing to help point in the right direction and, as stated earlier, it is well worth the effort.