Practically all resorts have their own restaurants and most tourists choose to eat in, but there are a few other options as well. Be adventurous and strike out on your own to savour the numerous foods at the stalls and restaurants all over Langkawi. Try one of the many seafood restaurants. Having said that, beware of certain restaurants advertised in the brochures targeting tourists. An example of such restaurant is the 'Coco Beach Restaurant', close to the airport.

If you choose lobsters or crabs in a seafood restaurant, take note if the price is by weight or by a set price for the dish. The unwary can be hit with a much larger bill than expected. Also, beware of staffs fooling you that they only have the bigger size lobsters available when you ask for a smaller one, as that is what they tell everyone (a common practice at Coco Beach Restaurant). When your lobster or crab is served, you will discover that you will definitely be paying for 900g of shell instead of meat!

For a taste of simple Malay-style breakfast, just walk up to a small stall opposite the Underwater World in the mornings and feast on the famous freshly-prepared banana leaf-wrapped nasi lemak (steamed rice in coconut milk). The price is most affordable at less than RM 2 for a pack. Go local and enjoy this with a glass of hot teh tarik or really good local coffee. This very unassuming stall is just simple and great (clean too!) The nasi lemak comes with curried beef, squid in chili, friend salted fish or chicken.

• Restoran Fatimah near the Kampung Tok Senik Resort on the road to Ulu Melaka. Try this for really authentic Malay food. Their lunch spread is amazing - so amazing that they attract bus loads of Malaysian visitors. If you are bent on trying things local this is the place. Just enjoy the food and leave your cultural baggage and complaints behind as you will be in a totally different ambiance but friendly, nevertheless.

• Rafi's Place is a rustic shack sandwiched between Restoran Aliah's and Tomato Nasi Kandar on Pantai Cenang. No visible signboard either but ask around and you will find Rafi's. Locals come here for the nasi lemak (RM3) and the local tea and coffee (RM1) which are good by the way. Rafi is a Penangite but has been on the island since 1988 so he considers himself very much local. Ask him for recommendations and he'll happily tell you. Ample parking space in front of his 'shack'. Good ambience especially early mornings.

• AddaMaya Café on Pantai Cenang (near Haji Ramli's; or opposite Nadia's Comfort Inn) is a small, cosy place for meals and coffee. The chef can whip up great meals - from local dishes to western fast food easily (and in that little cabin of his). Problem is, it can get a bit dusty as it is located fronting the main road. Locals like to come here for good food at reasonable prices.
  

• Breakfast Station , Pantai Cenang. Great Balinese decor, rustic with cozy ambience. Fantastic Lavazza Coffee for RM4 and fantastic Nasi Lemak. The Western spread is a pleasant suprise. Best omelette in town. Lunch starts at 12 pm, which also means the end of the breakfast menu. A couple of minutes walk from Restoran Haji Ramli.

• Beach Garden Resort's Beer Garden Pantai Cenang offers 1st class Western & Malay dishes in a stylish holiday - beach atmosphere. Superb wine selection, draft beer and German wheat beer (own import) as well as cocktails.

• Champor Champur , Pantai Cenang. Moderately wacky fusion food in a fusion setting courtesy of a Dutch-Malaysian couple with an affinity for Africa.

• Fat Mum Restaurant , Pantai Tengah, Tel : 012-4707863. Just up the road from Awana Resort. Great authentic local Chinese seafood restaurant, and at a reasonable price.

• Fook Look Chinese Restaurant , at the Oriental Village. Your dinner comes with a free Chinese theatre performance!

• Hole in the Wall Fishfarm & Restaurant , Kilim River. Usually it is not a big deal to go out for a good meal but in this case only insiders will find the way to Rahmad's floating restaurant & fish farm. The Hole in the Wall is a unique spot where you can combine a pleasant seafood lunch or dinner with nature & lifestyle. They serve the freshest Malay style seafood you will be able to eat on Langkawi island. The traditional dishes of freshly caught fish, prawns, crab, lobster etc. are famous. Enjoy Lunch or Dinner in the green environment of the mangroves. Sailing yachts parked around the place give a very special ambience. Animal lovers can feed the resident stingray and other exotic fish. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants in Langkawi but none of them is floating on river. This stream is not like most people know rivers. It is part of the amazing scenery of the Kilim Mangrove Forest and its surrounding is so impressive that it is hard to describe only with words. After your meal you might have one, two or even more drinks at the floating bar. Apart from soft drinks,beer, wine and mixed drinks are served. Shuttle service from Kilim jetty to the fishfarm restaurant and return is free of charge for lunch and dinner guests. In case you arrive with dinghy or kayak, the restaurant provides free parking.

• Restoran Haji Ramli , Pantai Cenang. Your Nasi Campur haunt by day and run-of-the-mill Tom Yam shack by night. 'Ikan Bakar' - Grilled fish and other fresh seafood a'la carte after 3 pm. Fresh terubuk (shad) which is unheard off in the mainland! Grab a couple of fist-sized prawns and cuttlefish (squid) cooked Tom Yam style for a gastronomical lesson in local seafood. Opens till 1 am.

• Matahari/Sun Village , Pantai Tengah. Offers good but not necessarily authentic Malay food in an atmospheric garden full of lush greenery, water features and exotic art.

• Oasis (Pantai Tengah/Cenang) is a great beach hangout serving western meals and drinks. It comes alive in the evenings. Come shoeless as the feel of the soft powdery sand is, oh so, good...

• Red Tomato Splash , Right on the Pantai Cenang beach behind Tomato Nasi Kandar. Has great Western breakfast and lunch menus, and pasta and pizza for dinner. Beach patio setting is very relaxed - bring your own beer or wine.

• Tulsi Garden at Pantai Tengah. Good Indian food (northern and southern). You may even get to talk to the owner, Palani on some nights. Quiet place to have dinner and chat with friends. Best part is you can ask the chef to tone down the chili or spiciness levels.

• Mare Blu at Perdana Quay, Telaga Harbour Park (Pantai Kok) is the only authentic Italian restaurant on Langkawi island. Lorenzo, Partner & chef offers typical Italian food, good wines and draft beer. The Mediterranean style surrounding is just beautiful and the tables are set up right on the waterfront. The Telaga Harbour Park is near the Hotels Mutiara Burau Bay, Berjaya, Sheraton Beach and Tanjung Sanctuary, The Datai & Andaman.
• The Loaf at Perdana Quay, Telaga Harbour Park (Pantai Kok) is a Japanese-style bakery & bistro opened in August 2006 and owned by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia. Quality breads and full meals daily except Thursday. Open from 8am to 11pm. Amazing view of the harbour and the yachts especially if you have your breakfast al-fresco outside. Attentive staff. Bread prices starts from RM4 while beverages average RM8. Try Tun's Favourite Breakfast set (2 softboiled eggs, a bowl of mutton curry and thick toasted bread) with coffee and orange juice. Good place to have a leisurely breakfast