Afraid there’s nothing to eat on Koh Ta Kiev? Fear not!
While the food and drink options are a little more limited on the island than on the mainland, there are still plenty of choices, and compared to the food on other Cambodian islands, the quality of the grub on Koh Ta Kiev is excellent. Prices are slightly higher than on the mainland, however. And note that most kitchens on the island are only open until about 9 p.m. (and sometimes close earlier), and that others offer food only at set meal times. Here’s a run-down of where to eat on Koh Ta Kiev:
A light snack at Ten103 Treehouse Bay on Koh ta Kiev, all homemade and all delicious.
Ten103
Vibrant and arty Ten103 Treehouse Bay serves up delicious breakfasts, snacks, mains, and desserts all day. Featuring arguably the best breakfasts on the island—our favorite is the irpancakes with caramelized apple, bacon, and palm sugar syrup—Ten103 also offer delicious homemade breads and tapas, plus a variety of Khmer dishes, as well as falafel and hummus, homemade pastas, and shepherd’s pie.
Ten103’s bar is one of the more social on the Long Beach side of the island, with happy hour specials as well as a weekly schedule of events, including open mic nights, karaoke, quizzes, jam sessions, and fire-spinning
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Kitchen hours: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Bar hours: 7:30 a.m. to late.
Ten103 presents Plai
Plai, the island’s first fully vegan restaurant, is a new eco-friendly venture in the site of the old Coral Beach, a beautiful location overlooking a secluded bay. Less than a five-minute walk from Ten103’s famous treehouses, Plai offers a menu with a variety of homemade teas and vegan dishes from around the world.
Crusoe Island
Crusoe offers a wide variety of affordable food, drinks, and specialty island cocktails, and their friendly staff go all out to make everyone feel at home. The menu features a variety of Khmer and Western dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, using recipes passed down from Vanna’s family in Siem Reap. We highly recommend the savory pancake and the traditional-style fish amok.
In addition, Crusoe Island offers one of the best ranges of snacks on the island, including chips and a variety of chocolate bars. You can also get noodle cups and fruit to tide you over until meal times or after the kitchen has closed.
Kitchen hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner served at 7 p.m. but requests must be in by 5 p.m.
Bar hours: 7:30 a.m. until late.
Kactus
Kactus’s daily specials are prepared by their talented in-house French chef, using the highest quality ingredients around. Kactus offer breakfast for their guests from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., your choice of eggs and homemade bread, or pancakes with caramelized apple and bacon, plus coffee or tea, for $4. You’ll need to reserve in advance for lunch or dinner, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively, for $6 and $7. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Even if you’re not staying at Kactus, if you make a reservation you can trek over to their side of the island for a gourmet meal and a delicious cocktail in beautiful surroundings at a reasonable price.
Kitchen hours: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for breakfast, lunch at 1 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.
Bar hours: 7 a.m. until 10-11 p.m.
Drink as much Klang as you can stomach at The Last Point bar.
Last Point
At Last Point food is available from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., and Mr. Leh’s island-famous wood-fired pizza is available from noon. Last Point also make excellent sandwiches on homemade bread, in addition to a variety of Khmer and Western food options. Mains range from $3 to $7.
If you enjoy a cold beer or three, you can try the infamous “Klang 30,” where if you buy one Klang for $1.50 at 3 p.m. you can drink for free all the Klang you can knock back during the next 30 minutes. (The record currently stands at 11.)
After kitchen closing hours, Last Point offers plenty of snacks. The bar stays open as long as people want to hang out, and impromptu parties and jam sessions are regular occurrences.
Kitchen hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pizza available from noon to 9 p.m.
Bar hours: 7 a.m. til late.
Nak’s Shack/Koh Ta Kiev Bungalows
Located in the center of the island, Nak’s Shack is the go-to for cheap and tasty food in a relaxed family atmosphere. Their dishes are full of fresh veggies and herbs grown in their garden, and the kitchen offers an array of Khmer specialties as well as the usual Western fare, with most dishes around the $5 mark. Nak’s Shack also has some of the cheapest drinks on the island, with beers, soft drinks, and coffee for a dollar.
Perhaps that’s why it’s one of the busiest bars on the island, especially during the day. But Nak’s is perfect for visiting at sunset and grabbing a beer and a bite to eat on the jetty, after all the tourist boats have departed.
Kitchen hours: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Bar hours: 7:30 a.m. to 10-11 p.m. (ish).
Grab some local fare at Koh Ta Kiev’s fishing village.
The Fishing Village
If you fancy a bit of a trek around the island for some freshly caught fish, then the local fishing village— a 45-minute walk from most of the resorts—is worth a visit.
The local-run restaurants are low-key, catering more to locals than foreigners. They serve fresh fish grilled island style with chili and lemongrass and served with rice. Contrary to popular belief, the food isn’t as cheap as you might hope; a couple of dishes and drinks will probably set you back between $7 and $10 (for foreigners, at least).
Written by Cassie Wilkins
Looking for more? View the full Koh Ta Kiev island guide for info on how to get there, tips on where to stay, and what to do.