Fig Cafe and Nong Bua Seafood Restaurant, Koh Chang

 

This nice cafe is tucked away in a small street about 100 meters from the main beach road in Kai Bae.  There are a few dining seats inside the cafe, however, I prefer a lot bigger open space in their backyard. This cafe offers great selection of vegetarian snacks and dishes as well as hot and cold drinks. 

I totally recommend their vegetarian pie. The flaky buttery pastry was absolutely delicious and paired with flavoursome filling.  We only ordered two dishes between four of us and they are all gone in a flash. 

Really good iced coffee with extra shot

Vegetarian pie

Pancake with caramelised banana

There is a saying that "You haven't been to Koh Chang if you haven't tried their seafood".  Of course, you are in an island where you can get the freshest seafood produces possible.  One of the very famous restaurants in the area is called Nong Bua Restaurant.  The setting looks really good.  It replicates a beach hut.  Although on a summer season, it could be a little steamy hot to sit outdoor and that small fan won't be much help but otherwise, you will feel privacy. 

I forgot what this dish is called.  But what I clearly remember is the taste of this dish.  It was absolutely wonderful.  Deep fried wonton wrappers topped with minced pork, garlic, onions and chilli.  It was well balanced in both flavour and texture. 

On the second floor, it is a nice simple-looking cafe.  We had a few sweets after our meal.  It is an air-conditioned room, very cool and cozy.  They serve some ice-cream cones as well which is great in a extremely hot day.   

Fig Cafe 

51/62 Moo 4, Koh Chang 

Ph: +66 81 410 4747

Opens: 

Nong Bua Seafood Klong Prao

18/22 Ko Chang

Ph: +66 62 326 0306

Open: Daily 7am - 10pm

Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway, Thailand

Have you heard about Koh Chang before? This island is the third largest island in the Gulf of Thailand, just after Koh Phuket and Koh Samui.  Like their sisterhood islands, Koh Chang is also a very popular tourist destination for both locals and international visitors.  This island is only reachable by boat.  There isn't any airport on the island.  Fortunately, there are a few options available.  First, you can fly to Trat which is the closes airport from here.  Flight will take approximately an hour from Bangkok.  From the airport, you still then need to book a private or shared minibus transfer to hotels in Koh Chang.  It will take another 15 minutes to the main ferry pier or Ao Thammachat and another 30 minutes for the ferry ride.  Otherwise for a cheaper option, catch a shared minibus from Bangkok or take a public bus for the cheapest option.  And of course, drive there with your own car/ hire car is the most convenient way of travelling.   

 

Once the car/bus step on the land in Koh Chang island, they will normally turn to the right.  Why?? Because most of resorts and hotels are located on the right side of the island.  While locals are predominantly living on the left side of the island.  You can find homestays and cheaper seafood around this area.

The first two nights we stayed at Mercure Hideaway in a private pool villa.  The price here is pretty reasonable.  Their room, service and food are great, however the private beach accessed from this resort is a let-down.  If you're aiming to play on the beach, I won't recommend this hotel.  Besides that, our family especially my kids had the best time of our lives staying in this resort.  We were excited, delighted and exhausted at the same time.  I would say it was one of the best resort experiences for us.  My kids can swim all day all night and there is an access from pool to bathroom so we can get change after swim without make the bedroom floor wet.  

We can stay in our room all day too.  It was very quiet and serene.  And we just ordered in-room dining anytime we feel like it.  Very convenient and they served delicious food as well.  

As soon as we got inside our own room, my daughter was looking at the pool and stunned there for a while.  Amazed by the pool.  After that, right every hour onward she keeps asking to go for a swim.  

Private jacuzzi and pool

Kids club

Breakfast zone

in-room dining

in-room dining

Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway

Koh Chang Tai

3 Days 2 Nights Eating Trip in Melbourne Part 6: Bangpop

Previously:

3 Days 2 Nights Eating Trip in Melbourne Part 5: Queen Victoria Market

 

On the second night, we just wanted to be random.  We came across to this nice-looking Thai restaurant along the South Wharf Promenade at the back of DFO.  So, not so far from our hotel at all.  Judging by their menu, they would definitely make our dinner meal wonderful 😋 It was nearly 6:30pm, the shop wasn't that packed but there were a few tables filled.  

The ambience is quite funky.  They decorated their bar island bench with colorful legos.  They also gave kids lego pieces to keep them busy for the whole dinner time.  Nice thought!!!!  My kids loved it and me too. 

Khanom Bueng $18.90

We started with this khanom bueang entree.  In Thailand, khanom bueng will always come in a sweet version, sweet crepe filled with cream and egg yolk thread.  However, in here, they do it differently and serve it as a savoury dish.  This is something new and interesting.  The egg crepes were crunchy and filled with some sticky prawns, sweet turnip, bean sprout and tofu.  It also came with nam jim ajaar dipping sauce or pickled cucumber and red onion.  It was pretty good actually.

Beef short ribs $34.90

OMG!!!!  This beef short rib was the best dish tonight and it was one of the best short ribs I have ever tried as well.  It was sweet with a tiny bit of spiciness.  It is accompanied with some fresh greens on the side like cucumber, mint, coriander and house pickled vegetables and some seafood dipping to balance off the flavour.  This rib was finger-licking goooood. 

Pad Thai 19.90

Their Pad Thai was an ordinary stir-fried rice noodles with tofu, egg, garlic chives, dried shrimp, pickled turnips, bean sprouts, dried chilli flakes and peanuts.  For $19.90, it doesn't come with any meats unless you order extra.  We didn't realise at first, but it was still alright without meats though.

 

Tom yum soup 

Clear spicy & sour soup with some baby corn, young bamboo, king brown mushroom and cherry tomatoes.  I noticed that they used fresh herbs and spices in this soup like chilli, coriander and galangal.  Taste wise, less piquant and pretty mild for a tom yum soup.  Maybe they just try to suit most Westerner palates.

Kahnom Lher Ther $14.90

For dessert, we had what they called kahnom lher ther.  Lher Ther in Thailand means messy.  Because it looks messy on the plate.  This dessert also replicates eton mess somehow.  It has a mango panna cotta accompanied with some broken vanilla meringues, deep fried Chinese doughnut sticks, with pandan custard, a scoop of Thai milk tea ice cream and raspberries.  They did well on the panna cotta.  However, as too many sweet items on the plate, I think they should put something more refreshing flavoured ice cream instead of that Thai milk tea.  We did try it with raspberry ice cream that we ordered separately and tasted a lot better.  Also, that deep-fired dough shouldn't be there actually, they were fried too long.  It became hard and unpleasant.  I completely find without them.

Raspberry sorbet $3

Bai Toey Talay $23 - Chartruese, Malibu rum, pandan custard, pandan syrup, coconut water & vegan wonderfoam

Lychee Pop $22 - Havana club 3 white rum, lychee liquor, mint and lime

After dinner, we walked toward the casino to watch this gas brigades or fire flames show along the Yarra River promenade.  It lights up every hour on the hour dot every night from 9 on weekday and from 8p on weekend.  You can also view them from some of the riverside restaurants but make sure to get the seat by the window to be able to enjoy the clear view.  Thank you for reading all and Octie Appetie...