Value Restaurants
Pattaya may well have grown up as the bricks and mortar equivalent of the national  ‘black sheep of the family’, but in recent years the growth of a vibrant dining out scene has turned the city into arguably one of Southeast Asia’s premier dining resorts.
While the vibrant bar scene remains the city’s raison d’etre, increasingly it is attracting visitors whose primary, or at least secondary, erogenous zone gravitates closer to their stomach rather than their nether regions. Pattaya and Jomtien, its little sister over the hill, are home to some of the most diversified collection of dining establishments anywhere in Thailand.
Whether you’re looking for French, German, Italian, Indian, Mexican, English, American, Swedish, Swiss, Dutch, Belgian, Japanese, Chinese, or vegetarian, Pattaya and Jomtien have at least one or more eateries to suit any taste and budget.
Greg, the owner of the eponymous Greg’s Kitchen (Second Road, just before Soi 6), popular for its fine English fare, claims Pattaya has the best ‘restaurants in Asia.’ It’s a bold statement, consigning culinary destinations such as Hong Kong and Singapore to the backbenches.
Greg’s claim may not be the hyperbolic ramblings of a sun-stroked member of Noel Coward’s ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ coterie. After all, if the essential ingredients of variety (there are almost 600 registered restaurants), quality, quantity, and cost are mixed into the equation bowl, Pattaya’s claim to being the culinary capital of Southeast Asia may not be so far-fetched.
The following is a hardly comprehensive look at a number of restaurants that offer great food at good value (compared to the Western world), still others that are very cheap with average but satisfying and clean food.

South Pattaya
One of the longest running European-owned operations in Pattaya (since 1970 is the claim) Tip’s (50 metres after Soi 13/4, aka Soi Pattayaland 2) has a wide menu offering anything anyone could wish for at cheap prices from as early as 6:40am until 1:00am.
Down on Walking Street, the Roo Bar might appear rough and ready but it has a basic menu with filling dishes in what they euphemistically call their ‘pot luck’ kitchen.
In Soi 14, off Walking Street, the Secrets hotel and coyote dance bar also has an extensive menu list.
Situated off South Pattaya Road, there are three un-named and un-numbered soi’s colloquially known as Day-Night (near the Tukcom store). In Soi Day-Night 2 there are two restaurants offering daily set menus at low prices. Cuisine Au Buerre, a Swiss-French establishment, has a three-course daily special menu offer and offers a regular diners card. After partaking of 10 special menu meals, hand the card in and your next one is free. Le Petite Planet, (closed on Sunday’s) is Belgian-run and has a daily choice of three courses. The popularity of these restaurants can be gauged by the number of regulars each attracts. For some, the faces are the same night after night.
Across on South Pattaya Road is Cucumber, a nicely appointed restaurant offering freshly cooked items in air-conditioned comfort or diners can choose to sit on the terrace outside.
The highly acclaimed Chez Georges (Third Road, approximately 100 metres on the left from the entrance to The Village; closed Tuesday’s) is perhaps the pre-eminent French dining experience in south Pattaya. The chef and owner formerly ran a successful restaurant on Walking Street for many years. His new place has limited seating but has quickly become a favourite with the gourmand set.
Well off the beaten track in Soi Khao Talo (eastern Pattaya) Papa David’s II opened in mid 2009. Dishes start from as low as 35 baht and they have a full range of English and European dishes as well as Thai food.

Central Pattaya
Soi Chaiyapoon could arguably be called the cheap restaurant street of Pattaya, with a number of basic but popular eateries. Seaside II has a regular following and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Prices are still ridiculously cheap for very basic but filling fare. Crazy Dave’s is known for his cheap but filling English breakfasts and constant re-runs of English TV sitcoms such as Only Fool’s and Horses. Canterbury Tales opens from morning until late afternoon with a range of dishes and plenty of second-hand books to peruse. Neeroys doesn’t open until 2:00pm but doesn’t close until 4:00am. It offers cheap fish and chips, English breakfasts, and English-style Indian curries and has built up a regular following.
Just around the corner in Soi Buakhow, is the Witherspoon’s bar and restaurant where a variety of sports are shown 24/7 on a bank of TVs and where the pub-grub is basic but good.
Out on Third Road, the Wi’s and Cherry’s restaurants offer virtually the same dishes at similar prices and both are highly recommended. More expensive than their counterparts in Soi Chaiyapoon, they nevertheless represent outstanding quality and value.
Tequila Reef (Soi 7), as the name might suggest, offers Mexican food. One of the few where the Mexican menu is prepared fresh.
Greg’s Kitchen (mentioned above) is on Second Road near Soi 6. Down in Soi 6 is the long-running Sportsman’s Inn which has a front terrace as well as air-conditioned diner. English food is their speciality, and there is a second Sportsman’s down in Soi 13. Also in Soi 6, the Queen Victoria Inn also provides quality English and Thai food.

North Pattaya
Mainly known for its German restaurants, so if bratwurst and sauerkraut are your thing then head to north Pattaya where there is an abundance of Tuetonic places to dine.

Jomtien
On the way up the hill to Jomtien is the famed Buondi Danon (Thappraya Road, at the entrance to Jomtien Nivate complex). Formerly known to locals simply as ‘Spaghetti 80 baht’ (this traditional dish is now more expensive). There is nothing fancy about the place but it is hugely popular because of the quality, quantity and value for money of the spaghetti meals. There are those who are adamant the lasagne is even better.
L’Olivier (Jomtien Complex) offers a superb selection of entrees, main meals and desserts with a daily special menu. What’s a little different about the pricing is that diners can choose a main dish not on the special menu and by paying a few baht extra can also indulge in the entrees and desserts. As the name suggests, French cuisine is the primary fare.
Papa David’s (near the Hanuman Statue) began life in South Pattaya but moved to bigger premises close to Jomtien and has done well with basic but well cooked fare.
Ace Cafe (also near the Hanuman Statue) is not really known for its food but does have a limited but tasty menu at reasonable prices. Perfect for a snack between drinks.
The Jomtien Boathouse (Jomtien Beach Road) is the brainchild of long-time Thailand resident Ib Ottesen and his wife Kannikar. Opened in 2003, the Jomtien Boathouse is situated opposite the beachfront. Customers are seduced by the fresh sea breezes and sshhh of the waves as they roll onto the nearby sand. The Boathouse is one of Jomtien’s prime positions for bringing reality to the dream of being in a tropical paradise.