Cooked with Love and Served with Care

 Dara Kitchen offers family-run Thai dining at its best.

Dara Kitchen in Lamai is the quintessential family-run Thai restaurant. Set in the family home of 77 years, and run as a family business since 1983 by mum – Khun Dara. All the recipes have been passed down through generations of the family and are true examples of fresh and healthy basic Thai dishes and flavours. No MSG, no artificial flavourings, just fresh, honest food. Khun Dara’s two daughters now manage the restaurant, whilst mum mainly looks after the business side of things, but can also be found in the immaculate, open-plan kitchen within the restaurant. Khun Dao is in charge of the kitchen area and cooking, whilst Khun Thida favours beverages and guest relations. They are all super-friendly and the restaurant has the feel of an American diner, just Thai style. It’s a relatively small cosy space, yet spacious and scrupulously clean, with warm lighting and lots of ceiling fans to keep you cool. The new coffee bar at the front allows you to sit and watch the world go by whilst sipping a cappuccino or iced tea. Only 100% Arabica coffee beans are used which they grind themselves, offering fantastic Italian style coffee, whichever way you want it. 

At Dara Kitchen, they pride themselves on going back to basics. Their juice and smoothie menu is chock full of healthy slow pressed pure fruit and vegetable juices, 100% natural with no extra sugar, ice or water added. Try the Relax and Detox – green apple and lemongrass, Brain Booster – tomato and carrot or Happy Friday – beetroot, carrot and pineapple, said to be high in antioxidants and vitamin A. Good for skin and eye health whilst lowering blood pressure. Want something sweeter? Opt for a Mango Melon Smoothie, a refreshing Fresh Passionfruit Soda or fresh young coconut water served straight from the husk. Other soft drinks and beer are also available. 

Now you have your hydration and hopefully, vitamin intake sorted, it’s time to think about some satisfying food for your belly. Start with traditional steamed dumplings – pork, pork and seaweed, crab, shrimp and vegetable, or a Samui steamed bun – pork and egg, black bean or a sweet custard filling. The spring rolls are divine and the chicken wings, super-tasty. 

The business originally started with a noodle soup stall, for which Dara became famous in the Lamai area. People travelled from all over the island to taste Dara’s pork noodle soup with its secret family recipe and special cooking technique. She later added a seafood noodle soup with the plentiful supply on the island from the local fisherman. There are now five different varieties, including spare ribs (slow-cooked for two hours), chicken and tofu. The slightly spicy, sweet and sour soup really does have a special flavour. It’s fresh and light with a delicate flavour, making it a tasty and satisfying dish for any time of the day. 

Pad Thai is another speciality of Dara Kitchen. This traditional Thai noodle dish is made with another family secret recipe sauce and is rumoured to be the best on the island! Other hot favourites are the Pineapple Fried Rice, Stir-fried Sukiyaki and Seafood Papaya Salad. Also on the menu are Tom Yum Soup, Green Curry Fried Rice, Thai curries, and a variety of stir-fried dishes. All come with a choice of pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, seafood or egg and of course steamed rice. There is a vegetarian and a children’s menu, and if you are vegan or have any allergies or sensitivities just ask. Khun Thida speaks perfect English (she also has a degree in statistics!) and she will willingly talk you through the menu and ensure that your order is right for you. Khun Dao in the kitchen even speaks a little French. Every meal is cooked individually to order, ensuring thorough freshness and no contamination from other dishes. It is served piping hot with a smile, every time. 

Dara Kitchen serves light and healthy, tasty and satisfying traditional Thai fare in a contemporary setting at very competitive prices. The friendly and homely restaurant is a great place to meet with friends or to dine alone. Ninety percent of the customers are repeat guests, which speaks volumes about the food, ambience and service. Open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm in the high season, otherwise closing at 8:00 pm, they also offer a delivery service in the local area. To find them, head for Wat Lamai, on the ring road where it takes a sharp 90-degree turn. Dara Kitchen is right next to it and opposite the pharmacy. You can park inside the temple as the road can be quite busy here. 

Dara Kitchen is family dining at its best. Warm smiles, fresh and healthy Thai food, ‘cooked with love and served with care’.

Karan Ladd